Character Animator Jobs

Character Animator jobs are open across film, television, gaming, and advertising studios, from junior and mid-level to senior and lead, with specializations in creature performance, dialogue and lip sync, and motion capture cleanup. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles24
Top stateNew York
Top employerRWS Global
Top cityNew York, NY
Work type44% On-site
Top industryElectronics

Showing 5 of 24+ Character Animator jobs

High School Character Development (Ingenium) Teacher (Immediate Placement)
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High School Character Development (Ingenium) Teacher (Immediate Placement)
Amplus Academy
Las Vegas, Nevada
Corporate Training
Higher Education
K-12 Teaching
$51k - $80k/yr
High school graduation planning

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Character Behavior Developer- Generative AI Experiences SW
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Added 1w ago
Character Behavior Developer- Generative AI Experiences SW
Apple
Cupertino, California
Data Science
Data Science & Analytics
ML (Machine Learning)
$145k - $264k/yr
10,000+

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Adjunct Instructor (Character Design & 3D Printing)
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Added 1w ago
Adjunct Instructor (Character Design & 3D Printing)
Neumont College of Computer Science
Salt Lake City, Utah
Corporate Training
Higher Education
Teaching & Instruction
51-200

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Adventureland Park 2027 - Character Performer
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Added 1w ago
Adventureland Park 2027 - Character Performer
Herschend Family Entertainment
Altoona, Iowa
Customer Service
Customer Support
Hospitality & Guest Services
1,001-5,000

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Gymnastics Coach - Develop Skills, Confidence and Character!
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Added 2w ago
Gymnastics Coach - Develop Skills, Confidence and Character!
East Bay Gymnastics
Concord, California
Corporate Training
Higher Education
Teaching & Instruction
$22 - $28/hr
On-Site

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See All 24 Character Animator Jobs

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Character Animator Job Market

Who's Hiring

RWS Global6 open roles
Sony Interactive Entertainment3 open roles
Apple1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Electronics & Hardware
  • Consulting & Professional Services

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in character animator jobs.

  • Proficiency in Maya, Blender, or studio-specified 3D animation software
  • Portfolio or demo reel demonstrating character performance and acting range
  • Understanding of the 12 principles of animation in a production context
  • Experience working within a studio animation pipeline and meeting deadlines
  • Ability to interpret and execute direction from an animation supervisor or director
  • Familiarity with motion capture cleanup and integration workflows

Tips for Your Character Animator Job Search

Tailor your reel to each studio

A single general reel rarely lands interviews. Pull clips that match the studio's output, whether that's stylized 2D, realistic creature work, or game-ready performance, and lead with your strongest shot in the first ten seconds.

Label every shot in your portfolio

Hiring managers want to know what you animated versus what a rigger or effects artist contributed. Add a brief breakdown for each clip noting your exact responsibilities, software used, and whether the shot was a solo or collaborative effort.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists character animator openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Read job posts for software requirements

Studios specify Maya, Blender, Toon Boom, or proprietary pipelines in their postings. Cross-reference the exact tools listed before applying and address any gaps directly in your cover letter rather than hoping the interviewer won't notice.

Prepare a performance breakdown for interviews

Most character animator interviews include a reel review where you walk through your creative decisions shot by shot. Practice explaining your acting choices, timing adjustments, and how you interpreted direction, not just the technical steps you followed.

Negotiate start date around project cycles

Animation studios often hire to meet production milestones. Asking about the current production phase before negotiating your start date signals awareness of studio workflow and gives you a stronger position than negotiating on compensation alone.

Character Animator Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most character animators?

RWS Global, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Apple are hiring the most character animators right now, with openings concentrated in New York, California, and New Jersey, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand tends to cluster around studios with active film, television, or game production slates.

How many character animator jobs are remote?

About 56% of character animator openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting a shift that accelerated during recent production disruptions. Remote availability is highest for game studios and advertising projects, while feature film and episodic television roles more often require on-site or on-site hybrid arrangements tied to proprietary pipeline access.

How do you become a character animator?

Start by studying the 12 principles of animation through foundational courses or a degree program in animation or digital arts. Build proficiency in industry-standard 3D software, then develop a demo reel focused on character performance rather than effects or technical showcases. Seek internships or junior roles at smaller studios to accumulate production credits, and refine your reel continuously based on feedback from working animators.

How do you get hired as a character animator with little experience?

Focus your reel on two or three strong acting shots rather than quantity, since hiring managers screen out weak clips quickly. Contribute to student films, indie game projects, or open-source animation exercises to build production-context credits. Reaching out to character animators for portfolio reviews before applying helps you identify and fix gaps that would otherwise end your candidacy at the reel review stage.

What does the character animator interview process look like?

Most studios begin with a reel review call where you walk a lead animator or recruiter through your demo work and explain your creative decisions. A test animation assignment is common at mid-to-senior levels, typically a short acting scene you complete within a set turnaround window using provided rigs. Final rounds usually involve a panel review with the animation supervisor, art director, and sometimes a producer to assess fit with the current production's style and schedule.

Where can I find and apply to character animator jobs?

You can find and apply to character animator jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from studios and production companies across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to each one that fits.

See All 24 Character Animator Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Character Animator Jobs