Framestore

Job description

We’re looking for a Lead Technical Animator to join our Montreal studio and guide a small, dedicated team focused on supporting the Animation Department by providing the technical foundation that enables animators to work faster, smarter, and more creatively. The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with a solid foundation in animation principles and excels at clear, effective communication. This role requires a proactive mindset, a passion for overcoming challenges, and the ability to bridge the gap between creative vision and technical execution.

Responsibilities:

• Work with local Animation HOD and Department Manager to assign crew, ensuring appropriate show casting and allocation of tasks for members of the Technical Animation team
• Attend show kick offs and work closely with Animation Supervisors to actively suggest and advise on how the Technical Animation team can support their shows
• Manage and spec Technical Animation assignments
• Have a thorough understanding of the Technical Animation tasks the team will be working on and the potential challenges involved
• Act as the key contact for production and supervisors, ensuring clear communication, dealing with technical challenges, solutions and adapting to changes in production & scheduling
• Provide regular updates to HOD and Department manager as to the progress of a show, challenges in the work, schedule or any team requirements
• Establish workflow templates, approach and methods documentation to provide to the team
• Work closely with Pipeline Developers and ATD’s developing tools and testing the release of new and modified software systems
• Ensure that department tools are available to the team and properly set up for each show
• Inform HOD of any advances made on a project for integration into other shows
• Work alongside the training team to follow through on learning and development needs for the Animation Team and assist with any related events as appropriate
• Oversee, train and support the Technical Animation team to ensure ongoing individual development
• Maintain good relations with all other departments and address issues promptly
• Where necessary, provide regular Technical Animator assistance on shows in a delivery crunch and oversee more complex tasks :

1. Animating both primary and secondary characters and elements
2. Working closely with Leads of multiple departments including Rigging and FX to improve communication lines in and out of the Animation department.
3. Helping to maintain a wide array of existing workflows and tools
4. Providing front-line support to Animation Artists, troubleshooting assets and shots, and helping artists with general problem-solving
5. Working closely with Pipeline Developers in testing and releasing new and modified software systems
6. Acting as an on-call resource for show production staff, primarily for complex, animation related urgent problems
7. Providing front-line support, resolving complex user errors, and guiding Pipeline Developers with debugging technical issues
8. Updating documentation for the pipeline and tools to reflect any changes that are made
9. Meeting schedules and show deadlines
10. Ongoing communication with Production and Lead regarding schedules and deadlines

Job requirements

Essential Skills:

• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Effective time management skills to meet deadlines without sacrificing quality
• A thorough knowledge of Maya
• A working knowledge of Modelling, Rigging and Mel/Python scripting
• An understanding of physical motion, weight, balance, texture, and form
• An understanding of rigs and typical rigging set-ups, animation pipelines and transferring data between tools
• Being open to direction and able to embrace change
• Attention to detail
• A demonstrable commitment to creative collaboration within a team and with other departments
• Adaptability and the willingness to learn new processes and technical skills
• A love of puzzles and problem solving

Desirable Skills:

• Previous experience in a similar role
• Experience as a CG Animator
• A traditional animation and/or art background
• Cloth or FX experience
• Tracking experience

Framestore is proud to employ extraordinary talent across all genders, races, nationalities, religions, ages, abilities and sexual preferences. We aim to encourage and support all of our current and future employees to achieve their potential. No job applicant will receive less favourable treatment on any basis when applying for a career with us