Junior Animator

Job Description

Junior Animator (TV) Vancouver, BC

Description

Position at Industrial Light & Magic

The Junior Animator (TV) contributes to the creation of high quality motion of computer graphics creatures and objects within a shot, using a variety of animation software programs, and working with the support of Senior Level and Animation Supervisors.

Primary Responsibilities
• Day-to-day show support including:
• troubleshooting flow of data in/out of department;
• escalating tech issues to appropriate show or tech group;
• updating Animators shotfiles with newly released assets;
• rendering movies for dailies; and,
• reference gathering and organization
• Responsible for the successful animation of shots on a specific project
• Participate as a team member in determining various aesthetic solutions; provide feedback to other members of the production by attending dailies on a regular basis
• Animate entry-level shots, time permitting
• Facilitate the publishing of Animators’ work down the pipeline
• Responsible for assisting in maintaining Asset congruency to current releases in Animators’ shots
• Create Animation Cycles
• Create polish animation for shots including finger, toes, ear, tail, and wing animation, cleaning up contact sliding, body penetrations, tweaking arcs etc
• Problem-solve and fix any issues that may arise from updating assets in Animators’ shotfiles (This could include constraint blending fixes, global positioning fixes etc.)
• Set up animation scene files
• Assisting Animators in passing shots along to other disciplines
• Build UI for character rigs
• Process Mocap performances onto show Assets
• Blend Mocap animation performances and add Polish to said performances (This could include fixing penetrations, adding finger and hand animation, exaggerating key poses etc.)
• Responsible for Mocap processing in shot production and cycle creation
• Cleaned Mocap and cycle animation to the MotionDataBase
• Collaboration with stage team may be required
• Occasionally may be required to perform hands-on shot work on show and provide reference performances including motion capture performances as part of assigned shot work and to assist the animation team

Job Requirements

Education / Experience
• Minimum 1 year of VFX Film or TV animation experience and at least a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Traditional Animation; OR at least 3 years of relevant professional VFX experience.

Required Skills / Competencies
• Firm understanding of traditional animation principles, acting, film production and compositional design
• Experience and a firm knowledge of Maya
• Good organization and communication skills
• Ability to take on a delegated task with a minimum of supervision
• Ability to work under pressure and deadlines
• Strong communication and follow through; Proactive, self-sufficient individual
• A demo reel demonstrating a strong knowledge of Animation principles and artistic ability is required

Preferred Skills / Competencies
• Proficiency with Linux desired
• Experience with Motion Capture data a plus
• Scripting knowledge (Python, Mel) a plus

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-reo4y8-18-191-195-110-42 in your application.