Job description
NovaFrame Animation, a premium studio known for award-winning character animation, is seeking a Senior Character Animator to join our Los Angeles team.
In this role, you will drive the performances of principal characters from concept through final polish, collaborating with directors, riggers, lighting, and layout to deliver cinematic storytelling.
What we offer: competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, flexible work arrangements, and opportunities for growth within a cutting-edge studio.
Key responsibilities, creative ownership, and a collaborative culture await you.
Responsibility
- Lead and animate high-quality character performances for feature-quality sequences across 2D and 3D projects.
- Collaborate with directors, modelers, riggers, layout, and lighting to achieve expressive movement and timing.
- Develop and maintain robust animation pipelines, asset handoffs, and style consistency with production design.
- Mentor junior animators, providing constructive feedback and direction to elevate team output.
- Review animation quality, timing, weight, and expression to ensure shots meet creative goals and deadlines.
- Iterate quickly using feedback, adapt to changes in shot direction, and manage priorities across scenes.
- Optimize motion for performance in real-time pipelines when applicable and maintain clean rigs and data.
Qualification
- 5+ years professional animation experience in film, TV, or games with a strong portfolio of character animation.
- Proficiency in Maya and Blender; working knowledge of After Effects or Nuke; familiarity with Toon Boom is a plus.
- Solid understanding of acting, timing, weight, anticipation, and storytelling through motion.
- Experience with rigging, skinning, and collaboration with riggers and technical directors.
- Ability to interpret concept art and translate into expressive character performances.
- Strong communication skills and ability to mentor junior artists in a fast-paced production environment.
- Bachelor's degree in animation, fine arts, or a related field or equivalent practical experience.
- Eligible to work in the United States and able to work on-site in Los Angeles or as per studio policy.