Color Designer – Disney Television Animation

Job Position(s): Color Designer - Disney Television Animation

Disney is hiring a Color Designer for Disney Television Animation, based on-site in Glendale, CA. This role sits within the Color Design department and is responsible for creating and maintaining color assets across episodic animation productions, from character color keys and prop palettes to effects and size comps. It’s a strong fit for an experienced animation color professional who understands how color decisions affect tone, atmosphere, and visual consistency across a series.

About the Role

Disney Television Animation has over 40 years of history producing kids and family content across a wide range of formats, including traditional 2D, rig-based 2D, CG, and stop-motion. The Color Designer works directly with the Art Director and Color Design Supervisor to carry a show’s visual language from design through delivery to the animation service provider. Day to day, that means building color scripts, organizing shipment files, maintaining style guide accuracy, and problem-solving with external production partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with the Art Director and Color Design Supervisor to implement the approved color palette across characters, props, expressions, effects, and special poses for each episode.
• Obtain creative approval on all color designs before packaging and shipping assets to the assigned animation service provider.
• Prepare, organize, and ship design element files to the animation service provider per episode shipment schedule, following production workflow standards.
• Maintain color consistency against background designs and paintings throughout the episodic television production pipeline.
• Convert Photoshop files to Harmony as required by the series process, using TVA-provided Harmony scripts to ensure data integrity.
• Communicate progress and flag color design issues with supervisors and cross-departmental teams within the animation studio.

What You Bring

• Expert understanding of color theory and its practical application in animation production.
• Proficiency in Toon Boom Harmony and the Adobe Creative Suite, with working knowledge of 3D technology where applicable.
• Experience creating and maintaining detailed style guides for episodic animation or similar long-form animation production.
• Ability to adapt color sensibility to match the specific aesthetic of a given series rather than imposing a personal style.
• This role falls under a Collective Bargaining Agreement, and compensation follows the agreed pay scale.
• A bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent professional experience in an animation studio environment.

Why This Role

Disney Television Animation’s production slate spans multiple formats and styles simultaneously, which means Color Designers here work across genuinely varied projects rather than a single look or pipeline. The pay rate for this role in California is $56.44 to $62.11 per hour, in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Applications submitted to this posting remain valid until December 31, 2026, and Disney may consider candidates for any Color Designer positions that open within that period.

Apply now for the Color Designer position at Disney Television Animation and bring your color design experience to one of the most established animation studios in the industry.