Hire the Top 3% of Freelance Character Animators

Toptal is a marketplace for top Character animators. Top companies and startups choose Toptal Character Animation freelancers for their mission critical design projects.

No-Risk Trial, Pay Only If Satisfied.

Trusted by leading brands and startups

Hire Freelance Character Animators

Pedro De La Cruz

United States
Toptal Member Since July 17, 2023

Pedro is a video game enthusiast passionate about animation. With a Bachelor of Science in game art and design and over seven years of hands-on experience, he brings expertise in creating captivating experiences that transport audiences into immersive worlds. Pedro specializes in 3D animation because he enjoys expressing his creativity in the three-dimensional realm.

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Austin Booker

United States
Toptal Member Since July 14, 2020

Austin is a technical artist and designer who has extensive experience working with games, simulations, and virtual reality using the Unreal Engine, Unity game engine, and other proprietary systems. Austin believes in versatility, diversity, and exploring new avenues of technology in order to achieve the best results for his clients.

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Miha Rinne

Finland
Toptal Member Since June 30, 2023

Miha is a senior game developer, art director, 3D modeler, 2D/3D animator, and game designer with three decades of experience in creating game art, 3D and traditional animations, and managing teams with clients such as Housemarque, Rovio, and Maze Theory. His broad skill sets and extensive experience give Miha the perspective to analyze the project's needs and implement them with solutions that best fit the available schedules, tools, and resources.

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Sara Mengual Aragones

Spain
Toptal Member Since August 1, 2022

Sara is an illustrator, artist, and 2D animator from Barcelona. For the past six years, she has focused on illustration as a freelancer, working with many international clients and applying her art for digital, print, and commercial purposes. Sara loves bringing her character designs to life through different personalities and expressions. Nature serves as a comprehensive source of inspiration for her work, where she is constantly developing new compositions with strong and vibrant colors.

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Renan Kogut

Portugal
Toptal Member Since November 10, 2022

Renan is a senior 2D animator and motion designer with eight years of professional experience. He has worked for animation studios like Boulder Media, Netflix TV series production, Mighty Studios BBC TV series, and MoonBow animated advertisements. Renan also worked on projects like the Steam Community Awards for Valve, one of the world's biggest video games publishers and distributors, and Rocket League Esports social media animations, a well-acclaimed and award-winning video game.

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Malcolm Overend

Canada
Toptal Member Since December 8, 2022

Malcolm is a motion designer and 3D generalist with over 15 years of production experience across various digital mediums. He utilizes design, animation, and creative technologies to enhance marketing material, communications, product features, and interface elements.

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Derrek Turner

United States
Toptal Member Since March 23, 2021

Derrek is a product designer and illustrator with a history of providing working solutions for notable clientele such as Delta/Virgin Airlines, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and the Charlotte Hornets. His mobile AR gaming app for Delta Airlines earned a 4.7 in the App Store. Derrek is a dedicated creative professional focused on human-centered design, digital strategy, and the delivery of high-quality products and experiences.

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Cesar Maximiliano Salazar Cortez

Mexico
Toptal Member Since July 13, 2023

Cesar is a dedicated 3D and immersive worlds artist with over six years of game industry experience. Meticulous and hard-working, he consistently delivers high-quality work within project constraints, always learning and staying up-to-date with industry trends. Cesar thrives in collaborative environments and is committed to providing exceptional results and making a positive impact.

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Jorge Gonzalez Miksi

Colombia
Toptal Member Since April 29, 2020

With 10 years of design and animation experience, Jorge has helped companies and individuals develop their voices through design and motion. Jorge has an undergraduate degree in graphic design from Universidad del Norte and an MFA in animation from the University of Edinburgh. He was a recipient of the Colfuturo Scholarship and was supported by the Colombian Film Development Fund to study in Scotland.

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Gabriel Smetzer

Canada
Toptal Member Since November 28, 2022

Gabriel is a freelance designer and creative director with over a decade of experience working for great studios and clients, including Apple, Google, and Meta. Gabriel combines his expertise in design theory, story design, and emerging technologies with the ability to rapidly build and test product ideas for the market or exemplify already great products.

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David Nuff

Canada
Toptal Member Since June 27, 2017

David’s first job was as a junior designer on Montreal’s public bike system, named one of Time Magazine’s inventions of 2008. He has since led product design efforts for brands like Cisco, Nestlé, and the Royal Conservatory of Music. He also works in brand and visual identity—his work for the Museum of Jewish Montreal led to a spot as a finalist in Openbrand’s Rising Star 2015. In his spare time, David makes interactive art installations and paints murals.

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Toptal in the press

... allows corporations to quickly assemble teams that have the right skills for specific projects.

Despite accelerating demand for coders, Toptal prides itself on almost Ivy League-level vetting.

Our clients
Creating an app for the game
Conor Kenney
Creating an app for the game
Leading a digital transformation
Elmar Platzer
Leading a digital transformation
Building a cross-platform app to be used worldwide
Building a cross-platform app to be used worldwide
Drilling into real-time data creates an industry game changer
Drilling into real-time data creates an industry game changer
Testimonials
Michael is an incredible designer, and has been a great fit for our project. He just gets it in a way that can’t be taught. My goal was to pay Toptal to find me a high quality designer for my project, and that is exactly what happened. It was easy. Being able to see the portfolio work on Toptal’s platform is what gave me the infomation I needed to choose Michael. I have nothing but good things to say about Toptal and am looking forward to using Toptal for other projects in the future.

Edward Daniel

Co-Founder

I've worked very closely with Martina for over a year and have to say she is one of the best people I have ever worked with. Instead of simply following instructions blindly, she thinks through the task at hand, becoming a thought partner to help with whatever the project may be. Besides being super talented at design, she possesses specific qualities that make her exceptional to work with given the fast paced nature of being a startup. I would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for a talented, professional designer who doesn't need much direction to hit the ground running.

Sahil Khanna

Sr. Manager, Marketing

Darko did a great job figuring out the user architecture for our concept, which led him to produce terrific wireframes. His knowledge of usability and design was a perfect match for the outside voice we needed to help jumpstart our project. We would certainly recommend him and work with him again in the future.

Rich Danker

Founder

Carlos has the unique talent of blending both quantitative and qualitative research to keenly identify UX challenges and opportunities. He thinks methodically, emphatically, and holistically to produce data-driven strategies and well-executed designs. Over the past 8 years of working with fully or partially distributed teams, Carlos manages working remotely far better than anyone I've encountered because of his strong communication and presentation skills. He is the first on my list the next time I need a UX designer.

Michelle Krogmeier

Project Manager

Rafael is an amazing designer. His aesthetic sense is spot on, and he seems to be able to anticipate our needs before we even know what they are. He's taken the time to understand both our company and our clientele, and his solutions are consistently in-line with our values, interests, and our customers' needs. He delivers on time (if not earlier), works quickly, is well organized, and very effective. He's a pleasure to work with, and we're very happy to have found him through Toptal.

Ethan Brooks

CTO

How to Hire Character Animators Through Toptal

1

Talk to One of Our Industry Experts

A Toptal director of design will work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics.
2

Work With Hand-Selected Talent

Within days, we'll introduce you to the right Character animator for your project. Average time to match is under 24 hours.
3

The Right Fit, Guaranteed

Work with your new Character animator for a trial period (pay only if satisfied), ensuring they're the right fit before starting the engagement.

FAQs

  • How quickly can you hire with Toptal?

    Typically, you can hire a Character animator with Toptal in about 48 hours. For larger teams of talent or Managed Delivery, timelines may vary. Our talent matchers are highly skilled in the same fields they’re matching in—they’re not recruiters or HR reps. They’ll work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics, and match you with ideal candidates from our vetted global talent network.

    Once you select your Character animator, you’ll have a no-risk trial period to ensure they’re the perfect fit. Our matching process has a 98% trial-to-hire rate, so you can rest assured that you’re getting the best fit every time.

  • How do I hire a Character animator?

    To hire the right Character animator, it’s important to evaluate a candidate’s experience, technical skills, and communication skills. You’ll also want to consider the fit with your particular industry, company, and project. Toptal’s rigorous screening process ensures that every member of our network has excellent experience and skills, and our team will match you with the perfect Character animators for your project.

  • How are Toptal Character animators different?

    At Toptal, we thoroughly screen our Character animators to ensure we only match you with the highest caliber of talent. Of the more than 200,000 people who apply to join the Toptal network each year, fewer than 3% make the cut.

    In addition to screening for industry-leading expertise, we also assess candidates’ language and interpersonal skills to ensure that you have a smooth working relationship.

    When you hire with Toptal, you’ll always work with world-class, custom-matched Character animators ready to help you achieve your goals.

  • Can you hire Character animators on an hourly basis or for project-based tasks?

    You can hire Character animators on an hourly, part-time, or full-time basis. Toptal can also manage the entire project from end-to-end with our Managed Delivery offering. Whether you hire an expert for a full- or part-time position, you’ll have the control and flexibility to scale your team up or down as your needs evolve. Our Character animators can fully integrate into your existing team for a seamless working experience.

  • What is the no-risk trial period for Toptal Character animators?

    We make sure that each engagement between you and your Character animator begins with a trial period of up to two weeks. This means that you have time to confirm the engagement will be successful. If you’re completely satisfied with the results, we’ll bill you for the time and continue the engagement for as long as you’d like. If you’re not completely satisfied, you won’t be billed. From there, we can either part ways, or we can provide you with another expert who may be a better fit and with whom we will begin a second, no-risk trial.

Tap Into World-Class Talent

  • Trusted Experts Only

    Trusted Experts Only

    All of our talent are seasoned experts who ramp up quickly, readily contribute as core team members, and work with you to minimize onboarding time.

  • The Right Fit

    The Right Fit

    We have a knack for matching you with the right fit. Start working with your new hire on a no-risk trial period, paying only if satisfied.

  • Scale as Needed

    Scale as Needed

    Hire talent within 48 hours and scale your team up or down as needed, no strings attached.

  • Seamless Hiring

    Seamless Hiring

    We handle all aspects of billing, payments, and NDA’s. Let us take care of the overhead while you focus on building great products.

  • Flexible Engagements

    Flexible Engagements

    Choose the engagement type that suits your needs — hourly, part-time, or full-time — with the ability to change anytime.

  • Expert Talent Matching

    Expert Talent Matching

    Focus on your project and enjoy support from your dedicated account executive and expert talent matcher.

Top Character Animators Are in High Demand.

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