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Trainee Visual Effects Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

DePaul

Adjunct Faculty in Visual Effects

Chicago, IL · On-site

$4.8K - $6.1K/wk

Adjunct Faculty in Visual Effects Full-time Faculty Positions Full-time faculty positions will be ... Animation, Creative Producing, Documentary, and Screenwriting on the Loop campus and at DePaul ...

Ember Lab

Lead VFX Artist

Orange, CA · On-site

$130K - $170K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Art, Animation, or a related field, or equivalent experience. * Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in creating visual effects for video games, with a strong portfolio ...

Ember Lab

Lead VFX Artist

Orange, CA · On-site

$130K - $170K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Art, Animation, or a related field, or equivalent experience. * Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in creating visual effects for video games, with a strong portfolio ...

Ember Lab

Lead VFX Artist

Orange, CA · On-site

$130K - $170K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Art, Animation, or a related field, or equivalent experience. * Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in creating visual effects for video games, with a strong portfolio ...

Ember Lab

Lead VFX Artist

Orange, CA · On-site

$130K - $170K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Art, Animation, or a related field, or equivalent experience. * Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in creating visual effects for video games, with a strong portfolio ...

Weekday AI

Character and Facial Animation Consultant

$60 - $90/hr

... character animator, with character and human performance as a primary area of expertise ... visual effects without substantial character-performance experience. 5. Equal Opportunity We are ...

Leland

Animation & CGI Coach

$108K - $123K/yr

... visual effects. Coaches also guide students through CGI production and post-production workflows, animation software proficiency, and animation direction, while helping them explore paths in film ...

AGBO

Expression of Interest - Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

AGBO is seeking a talented Animator to join our Visual Effects (VFX) team. The Animator is responsible for designing and creating the motion of computer graphics characters. This role will help lead ...

Local SEO Tulsa

Vfx Artist

Tulsa, OK

$85K - $95K/yr

Create high-quality visual effects for marketing materials, including videos, animations, and graphics. * Collaborate with the creative team to understand project requirements and deliver results ...

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Trainee Visual Effects Animator information

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How much do trainee visual effects animator jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for trainee visual effects animator in the United States is $39.41, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.88 and $63.94 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a trainee visual effects animator do?

A Trainee Visual Effects Animator assists in creating digital effects for films, television, games, and other media. They typically work under the supervision of more experienced animators, learning how to use specialized software to produce realistic movements, simulate environments, or enhance live-action footage. Their tasks may include preparing assets, creating simple animations, and supporting the VFX team in daily operations. This role is often an entry-level position, providing a pathway to more advanced roles within the visual effects industry.

What are the typical daily tasks and collaborative processes for a trainee visual effects animator?

As a Trainee Visual Effects Animator, your daily tasks often include assisting senior animators with creating and refining computer-generated imagery, preparing assets for animation, and learning industry-standard software. You'll frequently attend team meetings to discuss project requirements and receive feedback on your work. Collaboration is key, as you'll work closely with artists, compositors, and technical directors to ensure your animations integrate seamlessly into the final production. This role provides valuable exposure to various stages of the VFX pipeline and is designed to help you build foundational skills for future advancement.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a trainee visual effects animator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Trainee Visual Effects Animator, you need a solid understanding of animation principles, a relevant degree or diploma in animation or media, and a strong portfolio showcasing your work. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as Maya, Houdini, After Effects, and Nuke, as well as a basic knowledge of rendering and compositing techniques, is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate effectively with team members are crucial soft skills for this role. These competencies ensure the delivery of high-quality visual content and seamless integration into production pipelines in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

What is the difference between Trainee Visual Effects Animator vs Junior Visual Effects Artist?

AspectTrainee Visual Effects AnimatorJunior Visual Effects Artist
CredentialsBasic diploma or certification, some trainingRelevant degree or certification, some experience
Work EnvironmentEntry-level, supervised training projectsProfessional projects, collaborative teams
Industry UsageLearning phase, internship or apprenticeshipActive contributor to visual effects production

The main difference is that a Trainee Visual Effects Animator is in the learning stage, focusing on gaining skills under supervision, while a Junior Visual Effects Artist is an entry-level professional actively working on projects with more independence. The trainee role emphasizes training and skill development, whereas the junior role involves applying those skills in real-world projects.

What cities are hiring for Trainee Visual Effects Animator jobs?

Cities with the most Trainee Visual Effects Animator job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Visual Effects Animator jobs?

The most popular types of Visual Effects Animator jobs are:

What states have the most Trainee Visual Effects Animator jobs?

States with the most job openings for Trainee Visual Effects Animator jobs include:

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For Trainee Visual Effects Animator jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Trainee Visual Effects Animator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Trainee Visual Effects Animator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 67% Full Time, 27% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,974 per year, or $39.4 per hour.

Principal Visual Artist

New York, NY • On-site

Fanatics Collectibles
See more jobs at Fanatics Collectiblesexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 6 days ago

Job description

Principal Visual Artist

We're building a small, senior team to create exceptional real-time, web-first interactive experiences across our portfolio. Work that pushes what WebGL can do and sets the bar for high-craft fan engagement. We blend the creative sensibility of top interactive studios with the technical ambition of game development, and we're hiring the founding members who will shape everything that follows.

We're looking for a Principal Visual Artist to lead the visual identity and art direction of our interactive work. You'll partner with the Creative Director to define the look and feel of each project, set the visual standard for the team, and drive that quality from early concept through to production-ready assets across 2D and 3D. As the team grows, you'll lead and mentor artists, shape workflows, and own the visual direction of features end to end.

You care about craft at every stage. You understand that great real-time art starts with smart decisions made early, and you're comfortable taking ownership across disciplines in a small team where your judgment sets the quality bar.

What you'll do

  • Lead the visual direction of features and projects, translating creative vision into clear production direction through concepts, style frames, and visual references
  • Define and maintain the visual language, tone, and quality standard across all output as the team and portfolio grow
  • Lead, mentor, and grow a team of artists, providing feedback, direction, and career development support
  • Produce concept, illustration, and 2D art assets (textures, surface detail, iconography, UI elements, graphic work) that integrate into 3D and interactive environments
  • Model, UV, texture, rig, and animate 3D assets to production standard, working within defined real-time budgets
  • Use motion and animation tools to produce motion references and effects concepts that guide technical implementation
  • Collaborate closely with the wider creative team to ensure clean, well-structured handoff for runtime, iterating based on how art behaves in-engine
  • Shape art production workflows, asset pipelines, and standards as the team scales

What we're looking for

  • A portfolio that spans disciplines: concept and illustration, texture and surface work, 3D modelling, and asset production, showing both range and depth
  • Proven experience leading visual direction on features or projects, with the judgment to make art decisions that serve the overall experience
  • Experience leading, mentoring, or growing artists on a team
  • Strong visual development skills: style frames, mood boards, colour theory, and composition thinking
  • Proficiency in Blender (or equivalent) for 3D modelling, UV layout, texturing, rigging, and animation
  • Strong 2D skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, or equivalent, with a focus on texture creation, graphic design, and illustrative work
  • Understanding of real-time asset constraints: poly budgets, texture resolution and atlasing, material complexity, and what makes assets performant at runtime
  • A collaborative approach: you hand off cleanly, communicate constraints clearly, and take technical feedback without friction

Bonus

  • Background in game development (highly preferred) or experience producing assets for a real-time engine
  • Experience with motion design, animated asset production, or creating animation references to guide a technical team
  • Familiarity with glTF pipelines and well-structured, runtime-ready exports
  • Experience with shader authoring or authoring tools

Ensure your Fanatics job offer is legitimate and don't fall victim to fraud.  Fanatics never seeks payment from job applicants. Feel free to ask your recruiter for a phone call or other type of communication for interview, and ensure your communication is coming from a Fanatics email address (including @collectfanatics.com).  For added security, where possible, apply through our company website at www.fanaticsinc.com/careers

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