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Trainee Indie Animation Studio Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Game Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$182K/yr

Design the moments of delight, interaction, animation, feedback, and reward presentation that give ... Review and collaborate with external game studios to raise the quality of gameplay and player ...

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Trainee Indie Animation Studio information

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How much do trainee indie animation studio jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for trainee indie animation studio in the United States is $20.72, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.75 and $22.36 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Trainee at an Indie Animation Studio, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Trainee at an Indie Animation Studio, you typically need foundational skills in animation principles, drawing, and storytelling, often supported by a relevant degree or coursework. Familiarity with animation software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Toon Boom, or Blender is highly valued. Creativity, teamwork, adaptability, and strong communication skills help trainees contribute effectively to collaborative projects. These abilities are crucial for producing high-quality animations and integrating smoothly into a fast-paced, creative studio environment.

What are typical responsibilities and learning opportunities for a trainee at an indie animation studio?

As a trainee at an indie animation studio, you'll often assist with a variety of tasks ranging from storyboarding and character design to helping with basic animation sequences or post-production editing. You'll work closely with experienced animators and directors, gaining hands-on experience across different stages of the animation pipeline. The smaller team environment typical of indie studios means you'll likely have opportunities to contribute ideas and take on more diverse responsibilities, accelerating your learning. This role is ideal for developing a strong foundation in animation and building a professional portfolio.

What is the difference between Trainee Indie Animation Studio vs Junior Animator?

AspectTrainee Indie Animation StudioJunior Animator
CredentialsOften enrolled in or recently completed relevant courses or degreesTypically holds a degree or diploma in animation or related field
Work EnvironmentSmall indie studio or self-directed projectsEstablished animation studios or media companies
Industry UsageUsed for entry-level or learning roles in indie settingsCommonly used in professional studio settings for early-career roles

The main difference is that a Trainee Indie Animation Studio is usually an entry-level or learning position within an indie or small studio environment, often involving mentorship or self-guided projects. A Junior Animator, on the other hand, is a more established role in professional studios, requiring some prior experience or education, and involves contributing to ongoing animation projects in a team setting.

What is a Trainee Indie Animation Studio?

A Trainee Indie Animation Studio is an entry-level position at a small, independent animation company where individuals learn the fundamentals of animation production. Trainees typically assist with tasks such as storyboarding, character design, and animation software operation under the guidance of experienced animators. This role is designed to help newcomers gain practical experience, develop their creative skills, and understand the workflow of indie animation projects. It's an excellent starting point for those looking to build a career in animation, especially within the independent film or media sector.
More about Trainee Indie Animation Studio jobs
What cities are hiring for Trainee Indie Animation Studio jobs? Cities with the most Trainee Indie Animation Studio job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Indie Animation Studio jobs? The most popular types of Indie Animation Studio jobs are:
What states have the most Trainee Indie Animation Studio jobs? States with the most job openings for Trainee Indie Animation Studio jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Trainee Indie Animation Studio jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Trainee Indie Animation Studio jobs are:
Infographic showing various Trainee Indie Animation Studio job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 6% Internship, 64% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 3% Temporary, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 70% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 27% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,104 per year, or $20.7 per hour.
Asst. Professor Game Scoring and Adaptive Music, Media Design School

Asst. Professor Game Scoring and Adaptive Music, Media Design School

Strayer University

Chamblee, GA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 12 days ago


Job description

Media Design School at Strayer, a part of Strayer University and Strategic Education, Inc., is a globally recognized provider of creative and technology-focused education. Originally established in New Zealand and now integrated within Strayer's academic portfolio, Media Design School combines industry-driven curriculum with an emphasis on innovation, preparing students for careers in fields such as game development, animation, and digital design. As part of Strayer's broader mission to deliver flexible, career-relevant education and expand access to future-focused learning opportunities, Media Design School leverages global resources, industry partnerships, and a collaborative academic environment.
The Assistant Professor of Game Scoring and Adaptive Music will lead the development and delivery of curriculum focused on adaptive music for interactive media within both the Master of Fine Arts in Screen Scoring & Music Design and the corresponding Online Graduate Certificate program. This role serves as a key liaison to game arts programs at Media Design School, fostering collaboration among faculty and students across disciplines. The position reports directly to the Executive Dean.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
  • Lead instruction for MFA521 (Screen Scoring III: Adaptive) and MFA524 (Music Design Technology Lab), as well as related courses within the Online Graduate Certificate program
  • Recruit, mentor, and supervise adjunct faculty specializing in game scoring, adaptive music, and music design technology
  • Conduct ongoing research to ensure curriculum and student projects remain aligned with current industry standards, practices, and emerging trends
  • Build and maintain relationships with game studios and independent developers to support program relevance and student opportunities
  • Foster collaborative partnerships with Media Design School and other game design programs
Technical Skills
  • Advanced proficiency in Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) for game music composition (e.g., Logic Pro, Cubase, Reaper, Pro Tools)
  • Advanced experience with game audio implementation middleware, including Wwise and FMOD
  • Demonstrated expertise with game development platforms such as Unity and Unreal Engine
Professional Experience
  • 2-3 years of professional experience in a full-time or active freelance capacity with a game development studio (e.g., Riot Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft) or comparable organization; experience with independent (indie) developers will also be considered
  • Proven experience composing adaptive music for games and interactive media
Education
  • Bachelor's degree (e.g., B.A., B.F.A., B.M., or B.Mus.) in Music Composition or a related field with a focus on screen or interactive media, or a Bachelor's degree in a related game design discipline
  • Master's degree (e.g., M.A. or M.F.A.) in a relevant field preferred; equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree

Other:

  • Must be able to travel occasionally should a business need arise. For most roles travel would not be common. Travel may involve plane, car or metro. In accordance with ADA policies, reasonable accommodations regarding travel limitations can be provided. Travel will be more common for roles such as Account Executives (25 - 50%), senior leaders (10 - 20%) or Capella Core Faculty (5 - 10%).
  • Ability to work onsite in Corporate or Campus location (in a typical office environment) may be required based on role. If so, this would include being mobile within the office, including movement from floor-to-floor using elevators or stairs.
  • If offsite or hybrid role, must have access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at a remote location.
  • Faculty and Federal Work Study roles require access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including computer, privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at a remote location.
  • This role may require lifting, however reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with our ADA policies.
  • Must be able to meet critical thinking and problem solving aspects aligned to job duties, as well as effectively communicating with co-workers.
  • Must be able to work more than 40 hours per week when business needs warrant. Accommodations related to schedule may be considered.
  • Able to access information using a computer.
  • Other essential functions and marginal job functions are subject to modification.

#LI-JD1


SEI offers a comprehensive package of benefits to employees scheduled 30 hours or more per week. In addition to medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans, SEI employees may take advantage of well-being incentives, parental leave, paid time off, certain paid holidays, tax saving accounts (FSA, HSA), 401(k) retirement benefit, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, tuition assistance as well as entertainment and retail discounts. Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay, if applicable.

Careers - Our Benefits, Strategic Education, Inc


SEI is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture where individuals can grow their careers and contribute fully. We strive to attract talent with broad experiences, skills and perspectives. We welcome applications from all. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top end of the pay range at SEI, we offer a competitive salary. The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate may vary depending on multiple factors including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, geographical location, and internal pay equity. Our Talent Acquisition Team is ready to discuss your interest in joining SEI. The expected salary range for this position is below.

$67,700.00 - $101,500.00 - Salary


If you require reasonable accommodations to complete our application process, please contact our Human Resources Department at Careers@strategiced.com.