2D Animation Jobs

2D Animator Jobs

Curated 2D animator job openings from game studios, animation companies, and media agencies. Salary on every listing.

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Types of 2D Animator Jobs

2D animation spans games, film, TV, advertising, and digital media. Here are the most common roles in the field.

🎮

Game 2D Animator

Character sprites, UI animations, cutscenes, and gameplay FX in game engines.

🎖

Character Animator

Frame-by-frame character performance for TV, film, and web animation.

🚀

Motion Graphics

Broadcast graphics, title sequences, and animated brand content in After Effects.

📺

Explainer Video

Animated explainer and promotional videos for SaaS, marketing, and education.

🎬

Cutscene Animator

Cinematic sequences for games and interactive media. Storytelling focus.

🌀

VFX / FX Animator

Particle effects, magic spells, explosions, and environmental FX in 2D.

📱

Mobile App Animation

UI motion design and onboarding animations for apps and mobile games.

🍀

Freelance Animator

Contract and remote animation across all formats. Short projects to long-term retainers.

Studios Hiring 2D Animators

Game studios, animation houses, and agencies posting 2D animator roles.

Gameloft
Moon Active
Riot Games
Blue Zoo Animation
Hogarth
WPP Production
Twinkl
Silver Monkey Studio
Soul Atlas
Gear Games
Twine
+ Hundreds More

2D Animator Salary Ranges

What 2D animators earn across games, film, TV, and advertising.

For broader animation salary data, see the game artist salary guide.

Junior 2D Animator
$42K - $62K
Mid-Level 2D Animator
$62K - $88K
Senior 2D Animator
$85K - $120K
Lead 2D Animator
$110K - $150K

*US market data. TV/film animation often pays 10-20% more than mobile games at junior levels.

Skills Employers Look For

The tools and techniques listed in 2D animator job postings.

💻 Software

  • Toon Boom Harmony
  • Adobe Animate
  • After Effects
  • TVPaint
  • Spine / Dragonbones

🎯 Animation Skills

  • 12 principles of animation
  • Frame-by-frame drawing
  • Rigged character animation
  • Lip sync and facial performance
  • Walk cycles and locomotion

🎨 Art Foundation

  • Life drawing
  • Figure and motion study
  • Color and composition
  • Storyboarding
  • Character design basics

🎮 Game-Specific

  • Unity / Unreal animation tools
  • Sprite sheet optimization
  • State machine animation
  • FX animation (particle, effects)
  • UI motion design

2D Animator Jobs FAQ

What does a 2D animator do?
2D animators create motion in flat, two-dimensional art. This covers frame-by-frame character animation, motion graphics, cutscene animation, UI animations for games, and explainer video production. Tools vary by industry: Toon Boom Harmony for TV, Spine for games, After Effects for motion graphics.
What is the difference between a 2D animator and a motion graphics designer?
A 2D animator typically focuses on character performance and storytelling, often using frame-by-frame techniques. A motion graphics designer creates abstract animated graphics for branding, advertising, and broadcast, usually in After Effects. Many job postings blur this line, especially at smaller agencies.
What software do 2D animators need to know?
For games: Spine, Dragonbones, or Unity animation tools. For TV and film: Toon Boom Harmony (industry standard) or TVPaint. For motion graphics and advertising: Adobe After Effects. Most roles expect proficiency in at least one of these plus drawing skills in Photoshop or Clip Studio Paint.
Are 2D animator jobs in demand?
Yes. 2D animation has seen a resurgence with the rise of indie games, streaming animation, and short-form video content. Mobile games especially rely heavily on 2D animators. The market is competitive at junior level but strong demand exists at mid-senior level for experienced animators.
Are there remote 2D animator jobs?
2D animation is one of the most remote-friendly disciplines in the industry. The work is file-based and collaborative tools like Frame.io and Slack make remote workflows practical. Many agencies and game studios hire remote 2D animators globally. ArtBlast marks every listing with its work model.

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