Character Design Lead - Disney Television Animation

Disney; Glendale (CA); On-site; USD 103,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

Disney Television Animation in Glendale, CA, seeks a Character Design Lead to drive the look of an animated series. The role partners with the Executive Producer, Art Director, and production team to craft characters and establish the show's visual style.

Qualifications include 5–7 years in artistic animation production and leadership experience. On-site in California with competitive hourly pay and comprehensive benefits, reflective of studio standards.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in artistic animation production.
• Experience leading a team preferred.
• Ability to design and create a variety of characters, turnarounds, mouth charts, expressions sheets and special poses.
• Experience working with overseas vendor studios.
• A broad knowledge of artistic styles, latest technology and film is essential.
• Knowledge of drawing software that includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Harmony and 3D technology, where applicable.
• Ability to align with style and sensibility of show.
• Strong leadership qualities with the ability to partner with Creatives and Executives, collaborate with peers, and manage and mentor artists.
• Positive attitude with the ability to be flexible.
• Excellent organizational, verbal, written, e-social skills and acumen.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Art Director to review scripts and storyboards and for characters that need to be designed for each episode.
• In collaboration with the Executive Producer and Art Director, set the visual style of the series, creating conceptual and production artwork.
• Ensure that the high quality and style of show established by the Executive Producer and Art Director is achieved and maintained.
• Further the storytelling process by developing the look, personality and feel of characters.
• Capture the personality and life of a character with their design and attire.
• Create turnarounds, special poses, mouth charts and expression sheets and provide a clean pass of the final approved design.
• May oversee the Character Design team, delegating work and monitoring their schedules to create and maintain consistency with the design of the project.
• Communicate and problem-solve with vendor animation studio.

Skills

Character design

Leadership

Animation production

Storyboarding

Education

Bachelor degree or equivalent work experience

Tools

Photoshop

Illustrator

Harmony

3D software

Job description

Job Posting Title:

Character Design Lead - Disney Television Animation

Req ID:

10159762

Job Description:

About this Role and our Studio

Disney Television Animation(DTVA)has over 40 years of legacy as a top producer of kids & family entertainment. Our work is integraltoThe Walt Disney Company, bringing Disney-branded characters and stories to families’ homes across the globe.

DTVA createsboth long-form and short-form content spanningtraditional2D, rig-based 2D, CG (preschool), CG (premium), and stop-motion.We createshows ina broad range of unique and innovative styles, and we aim to match the right talent with the right production in terms of skill and artistic style.

Bysubmittingan applicationfor thisCharacter Design Lead role, youmaybeconsideredforanyCharacter Design Leadpositions that arise until theexpirationdate provided.

Applications submitted to this job posting will remain valid until December 31, 2026.

Whatyou willdo

This is a key leadership role that partners with the Executive Producer, Art Director Line Producer, Production and Creative Executives to execute the creative vision of theseries. The Character Design Lead will work directly with the team to ensure a quality and consistency of style throughout the series.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Art Director to review scripts and storyboards andfor characters that need to be designed for each episode.Flag complexity issues as they arise.
• In collaboration withthe Executive Producer and Art Director,setthe visual style of the series, creating conceptual and production artwork.
• Ensure that the high quality and style of showestablishedby the Executive Producer andArt Director is achieved andmaintained.
• Furtherthe storytelling process by developing the look, personality and feel of characters.
• Capture the personality and life of a character with their design and attire.
• Create turnarounds, special poses, mouthchartsand expression sheets and provide aclean pass of the final approved design.
• May oversee the Character Design team,delegatingwork andmonitoringtheir schedules to create andmaintainconsistency with the design of the project
• Communicate and problem-solve with vendor animation studio.

Required Qualificationsand Skills

• 5-7 years of experience in artistic animation production.
• Experience leading a team preferred.
• Ability to design and create a variety of characters, turnarounds, mouth charts, expressionsheetsand special poses.
• Experience working withoverseesvendor studios.
• A broad knowledge of artistic styles, latest technology and film is essential.
• Knowledge of drawing software that includes Photoshop, Illustrator,Harmonyand 3D technology, where applicable.
• Ability to align with style and sensibility of show.
• Strong leadership qualities with the ability to partner with Creatives and Executives, collaborate with peers, and manage and mentor artists.
• Positive attitudewith the ability to be flexible.
• Excellent organizational, verbal, written, e-socialskillsand acumen.

Education

• Bachelordegree or equivalent work experience

Job Location

• This is a fully on-site role based in Glendale, CA.

The pay rate for this role in California is $74.68 to $82.15 per hour, which follows the pay scale agreed upon in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The base pay actually offered may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other factors. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered. To learn more about our benefits visit: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

Job Posting Segment:

Disney Branded Television

Job Posting Primary Business:

TVA Production Management

Primary Job Posting Category:

Modeling

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Glendale, CA, USA

Date Posted:

2026-08-31