Job description
Join NovaFrame, a premium animation studio based in Los Angeles, crafting cinematic visuals for film, TV, and interactive media. We are seeking a Senior Character Animator who can drive the look and performance of our flagship projects from concept through delivery. The ideal candidate combines traditional drawing skills with modern 2D and 3D animation pipelines to create fluid, expressive characters, acting, and storytelling.
You will collaborate with directors, riggers, and voice teams to ensure character movement aligns with narrative arcs and production timelines. We offer a collaborative, creative environment with competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for growth.
Responsibility
- Lead character animation for major sequences in reels, films, and games, ensuring performance quality and consistency.
- Collaborate with directors to establish character style, timing, and acting beats.
- Create, refine, and deliver clean animation cycles using 2D and 3D pipelines.
- Rig and adjust animation timing to ensure readability across cameras and formats.
- Mentor junior animators and share best practices to raise the team’s output.
- Work closely with riggers to ensure rigs support expressive acting and efficient workflows.
- Review shots, provide constructive feedback, and manage schedule milestones.
- Contribute to look development and storytelling through weight, anticipation, and performance.
Qualification
- Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or related field, or equivalent industry experience.
- Minimum 5+ years of professional animation experience in 2D and 3D character animation.
- Proficiency with industry tools such as Maya or Blender, After Effects, and Toon Boom Harmony.
- Strong knowledge of anatomy, timing, and storytelling to convey emotion through performance.
- Portfolio showcasing diverse character animation across styles and pipelines.
- Experience with rigging concepts and collaboration with riggers to optimize rigs for performance.
- Excellent communication, time management, and ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Collaborative mindset and a passion for mentorship and creative exploration.