Character Designer

Sony Pictures Animation is hiring a Character Designer to join their pre-production team in Los Angeles, California. This role sits within the art department and focuses on developing the full visual identity of characters across feature animation and animated series projects, from early pitch exploration through to approved final designs. It suits an artist with strong draftsmanship and a track record in animation production who can move fluidly between loose conceptual passes and polished, production-ready work.

About the Role

The Character Designer works directly with the Director and Art Director to shape how characters look, move, and read on screen. Day-to-day output includes rough iterations, expression sheets, character poses, and turnarounds that inform both the story and the downstream modeling and texturing pipeline. Each project at Sony Pictures Animation carries its own distinct visual language, so this person needs to adapt their approach to serve the specific world being built.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop multiple design iterations for each character across pitch, design, and production phases, covering poses, facial expressions, and full turnarounds in both rough and final approved form.
• Work closely with the Art Director to identify and resolve design problems as they arise through the production process.
• Propose character design approaches that account for the needs of modeling and texturing departments further down the animation pipeline.
• Conduct research to ground character design in historically or contextually accurate costume and visual references.
• Translate directorial and creative lead notes into clear visual solutions that serve the story and the overall aesthetic of the project.
• Maintain the ability to work independently on design assignments while staying aligned with the broader creative direction of the production.

What You Bring

• Previous credits on an animated feature film, episodic animated series, or game production are preferred.
• Proficiency in Photoshop is required for this role.
• Strong foundational skills in anatomy, volumetric drawing, and costume design research.
• Stylistic range across different design aesthetics, given the varied visual approaches across Sony Pictures Animation projects.
• The ability to clearly articulate design decisions to directors and other creative leads.
• This is a union covered position under a collective bargaining agreement.

Why This Role

Sony Pictures Animation has built a reputation for giving artists genuine creative ownership, which shows in the range and ambition of their feature animation and series output. The anticipated base salary for this position is $59.16/hour to $72/hour, with benefits pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement, and the actual salary offered will depend on a variety of factors. For a Character Designer looking to work on projects that prioritize distinct visual storytelling, this studio is a serious credit.

Apply now for the Character Designer position at Sony Pictures Animation and submit your portfolio and resume through the link on this page.