WildBrain Studios is looking for a Lead Animator to join our team!   

Reporting to the Animation Supervisor, in this role you’ll lead animators assigned to your sequences, ensure character readiness, and help develop the animation style of the show. Present from early stages of the production, the Lead Animator plays an important role, providing input on departmental workflows and ensuring effective communication with Production Management and other departments. Significant expertise and experience in animation is expected. 

Find a job that lets your imagination run wild! 

WildBrain Studios produces fan-favorite animation and award-winning content that kids and families love in every corner of the globe. We love what we do and it shows in the quality content we produce! Our custom-built Vancouver studio in beautiful British Columbia is a wonderful backdrop for our artists, but it doesn’t end there, we have employees working remotely across BC, Canada, and the world!  Our artist-centric culture means we invest in our people, we provide training and growth opportunities, a healthy work-life balance, and fun activities throughout the year to meet, mingle and get creative with your team. If you like what you are reading so far, well buckle up, we’re just getting started! 

What You’ll Do:

• Complete Rig Testing and liaise with the design, modelling, rigging, lighting, and FX department to ensure assets meet the needs for animation, communicate any challenges to the show following studio guidelines
• Create on model and in character poses as well as production animation cycles to populate Studio Library  
• Complete Picker Testing to ensure all necessary controls are present and ready for animators
• Complete Character Development animation tests in order to develop character performance traits, animation style, and on model posing
• Guide animators by providing feedback and mentorship on their shots, ensuring the execution of character performances are appropriate for the moment, on model, and hitting the Directors’ vision
• Produce shot animation at a reduced quota on their assigned sequences
• Provide feedback to the Animation Director and Supervisor on shot casting and bidding for sequences assigned to their team
• Work with the Animation Director and Supervisor to provide clarity to the Director's Sequence Launch and help communicate it to their animation team
• Attend all Animation Director Dailies as well as Director Reviews for their team’s sequences, providing input or ideas where necessary 
• Work with the Animation Director and Supervisor to ensure the sequence is ready for animation, flagging elements that they notice as missing or not ready
• Help identify workflow improvements
• Mentor animators on the team, providing career and development advice
• Partner with Production Management to ensure shots stay on schedule while also communicating potential delays and challenges 
• Work with their team to plan sequence and shot work, guiding them on time management and prioritization of workload
• If necessary, work with the Animation Director and Supervisor and Recruiters to help evaluate demo reels and interview candidates 

What You’ll Bring:

• Minimum 3 years of experience as a senior animator on a feature production, previous Lead experience preferable
• Proficient in CG animation packages (Maya, etc.)
  Excellent organizational, communication and interpersonal skills
• A proven understanding of body mechanics and physicality for character animation 
• Experience and ability to create different styles of animation
• Excellent acting skills with a thorough understanding of facial animation
• Excellent understanding of storyboard/animatic/layout/cinematography and ability to work within the constraints and performance of key-frame animation  
• Skilled at providing feedback that inspires and motivates animators to always achieve better performance
• An understanding of rigs and typical rigging set-ups, animation pipelines and transferring data between tools, desirable  
• Adaptability and the willingness to learn new processes and technical skills
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment and take directThis is a Union position and the terms and conditions of employment are covered by a collective agreement. 

Pay Range: 
$1,873.40 - $1900 CAD per week based on a 40-hour work week. 

Candidates are paid within the range posted, but their exact pay will vary based on the level, responsibilities and expectations of the role. We also take into consideration the experience and skills that individual brings, with consideration of our internal equity.   
 
 
We make sure to take care of all our hard-working Wild Brains by offering a comprehensive benefits package and a workplace culture that values our employees’ wellbeing. Our staff enjoy RRSP matching, multi-tiered benefits so you can pick the coverage that’s best for you, free mental health resources, and additional perks like regular events to connect our teams virtually, and in-person.  

 
Learn more about our benefits here and IATSE Local 938 site.  

In short – life is good on the Wild side!
Visit wildbrain.com/studios to learn more!

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" WildBrain Studio provides an atmosphere free from barriers to promote inclusion, equity and diversity. We demonstrate our commitment to this by providing a supportive work environment and a culture that welcomes and encourages equal opportunities for all employees. WildBrain Studio also accommodates people with disabilities throughout the selection process. Should you require accommodation, please let us know your requirements when contacted.”