Layout Artist

Job Description

Mikros Animation is a global CGI animation studio located in Paris, Montreal, Los Angeles, Bangalore and London, offering front end services through to final picture for feature, long-form episodic and traditional episodic animation. Thanks to our global capabilities, we adapt our scale to always serve every project in the best possible way.

We believe great animation is about making connections with real people. To ignite connection and to make images unforgettable, we unite with filmmakers to tell their stories. We embrace our clients' creative ideas in our culture of collaboration, making our studios the home of the projects we are entrusted with. We help filmmakers define and develop their vision from script up to screen to make every project a unique one. We craft striking CG animation and we create characters that connect with audiences on an authentic and emotional level, at the highest creative quality and best price possible.

In less than ten years, Mikros Animation has contributed to ten released feature animations and to numerous high-quality episodic shows for the world's best-known animation studios, either as creative studio, line producer or executive producer. Mikros Animation has also produced more than 250 hours of programming, broadcast by notable channels including Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, TF1, France TV, Gulli, M6, Gloob, and Super RTL. Our episodic content airs and streams globally, in over 180 countries.

The layout artist works in collaboration with the film director, his/her supervisor & lead to establish the camera angle and staging required to successfully recreate the ideas from the script/storyboard into 3D. They are the stylistic and technical eye of the entire scene, as well as choreographers of character action.

Layout artists interpret storyboards & animatics to their final iterations. They determine the position of characters within frame according to the dialogue and action of the script.

Role & responsibilities:
• Liaising with the supervisor/lead regarding the execution of the layout.
• Preparing for sequence launches in advance & clearing out all doubts during the launch discussions.
• Having a clear understanding of the objectives and director requirements before starting work.
• Working from the storyboard/animatic/previz & director notes to set up the layout file for animation.
• Setting the camera & staging of characters in a scene.
• Ensuring continuity between shots.
• Experimenting with camera angles for improvisation to arrive at the best possible output.
• Providing various options of scenes (at the behest of the director/supervisor) during the layout process.
• Identifying and communicating potential problems to the lead/supervisor accurately (before they become a concern for the client) and also offering the relevant solutions.
• Providing assistance & guidance to the newer/junior members in the team.

Skills required:
• Good level of prior work experience as a 'Layout artist'.
• Exceptional knowledge of cameras and lenses.
• Advanced visual skills of scale, proportion, point of view, perspective, size, color, form, composition and depth of field (experience in photography is an advantage).
• Strong understanding of film language & filmmaking techniques such as cinematography, staging, lighting, acting, choreography, etc.
• Knowledge of the basics of animation, with a good understanding of anatomy & posing.
• High consistent standard of quality and speed.
• Planning and organizing – ability to work on a number of priorities and turn around shots in a timely manner.
• Ability to operate independently with minimum supervision.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to problem solve.
• Knowledge of basic editing skills.

Qualifications

Layout Essentials:
• Experience with Maya.
• Experience with physical cameras, photography and image composition.

Any of the following experience is a great advantage:
• A demonstrable interest in the more technical areas of CGI (Rigging, FX, etc.)

The details above provide an outline of the skills and experience we are looking out for. Within our artist team structure, we have a range of positions. These are:
• Junior
• Mid
• Senior
• Lead

During our recruitment process we will be assessing where your skills and experience best fit.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-d8m9ox-3-133-131-168-42 in your application.