Art Director

Designation: Art Director
Reports to: Head of Studio
Reporters: Senior/Lead Artists

Our 450+ M2 family is a wealth of multicultural talents and consists of more than 20 nationalities from all over the world. Our range covers from storytelling to design, from modeling to texturing, from camera layout to animation and lighting, and from effects to color grading. Right now, M2 Animation is looking for a Art Director (2D) to contribute to a CG TV Series for a top client. Our teams produce a variety of series-format animations: Tween, 2D, preschool etc.

Key Responsibilities 

• Creative
• On-Time Delivery 
• Team Management
• Technical
• Collaboration
• Communication

Creative: The Art Director drives the development and communication of the series' visual identity, setting the tone and atmosphere through concept art, mood boards, and style guides. Overseeing the creation of visually appealing and consistent character and environment designs.

• Develop and communicate the visual style, tone, and atmosphere of the project while staying within the production parameters
• Create concept art, mood boards, and style guides to guide the artistic direction
• Oversee character and environment design to ensure visual appeal and consistency
• Champion Excellence through offering support, guidance, and inspiration to team members
• Have clarity on quality expectations by taking point on client kick-offs and calls
• Work daily with their team to ensure quality expectations are being achieved within the production scope
• Review work with an eye towards the big picture so individual artistic tasks are executed in line with their project’s broader vision and parameters
• Approve work to be sent for client review
• Ensure client notes are addressed
• Support Director in setting quality benchmarks through example
• Assist Leads in working with the team to gather/create appropriate references.
• Attend Dailies sessions with the team to analyze notes / understand client expectations
• Conduct weekly sessions with the team to analyze notes / understand client expectations
• Be aware of artistic quality benchmarks being achieved across the industry.

On Time Delivery: The Art Director efficiently manages tasks and priorities to meet production schedules and deadlines, ensuring a smooth workflow by coordinating with other departments. Conducting regular quality reviews to uphold a consistent, high-quality artistic standard throughout the series.

• Manage and prioritize tasks to meet tight production schedules and deadlines.
• Coordinate with other departments for a streamlined workflow and timely delivery of assets.
• Identify and flag issues that may interfere with delivering on time, and collaborate on solutions
• Ensure work is reviewed in a timely manner
• Be cognitive of deadlines to ensure review points are properly prioritized 
• Help ensure technical requirements for the team are satisfied

Team Management: The Art Director leads and inspires the art team, offering constructive feedback for continuous improvement. Foster effective collaboration and communication within the team to maintain a positive and productive working environment.

• Lead and inspire the whole team, including animators, storyboard artists, and character designers
• Provide constructive feedback to artists for continuous improvement
• Ensure effective collaboration and communication within the team
• Ensure that Leads and Artists properly understand their responsibilities and are reliably executing on them
• Ensure work is properly cast among the team
• Conduct daily reviews at a set time in collaboration with Production to ensure artists have clear delivery goals, and have their work reviewed in a timely manner
• Have strong familiarity with the individual team members strengths and weaknesses
• Convey notes / information to the team and individuals as constructively and positively as possible
• Foster a positive, enjoyable culture in the team
• Conduct team training and mentor individual artists as required
• Identify and actively promote best practices in all areas

Technical: The Art Director keeps abreast of the latest technical advancements in their field, and where appropriate takes point on implementing these advancements, ensuring that Team Leads and Artists face minimal technical hurdles, are provided the proper software & tools, and are meeting the technical requirements of the pipeline

• Work with Sups, Supervising TD, Pipeline Team, Leads, to identify tools, software, or hardware that can streamline and strengthen current workflows
• Have in-depth understanding of and proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and equivalents
• Improve efficiency between Departments and between various sections of their respective Department through identifying opportunities for improvement and innovation
• Be industry aware regarding advancements in software, hardware, tools, technical workflows, etc. being utilized outside the studio
• Where appropriate, take point on facilitating testing and implementation of these industry advancements within the studio, including any necessary team training

Collaboration: Works closely with the director and key stakeholders to understand and interpret the creative vision. Collaborate across departments to ensure a cohesive and integrated production process, adapting to feedback and changes while preserving the overall artistic vision.

• Work closely with the director, writers, and key stakeholders to understand and interpret the creative vision
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure a cohesive and integrated production process
• Adapt to feedback and changes in direction while maintaining the overall artistic vision.
• Collaborate with CG Supervisors & Technical Directors to implement pipeline and workflow improvements
• Collaborate with Production to ensure timely deliveries, proper staffing, daily challenges are met, leaves are properly managed, etc
• Collaborate with Production on employee performance feedback 
• Collaborate with Production and HR on casting, crewing, and hiring

Communication: The Art Director sets the tone through example for positive, constructive, and effective communication inside the studio, and is an ambassador to the industry outside it. Clearly conveys the visual style, expectations, and artistic direction to the creative team, fostering open communication channels within and across departments. Collaborates with key stakeholders to maintain alignment with the project's overarching goals and objectives.

• Approach all team interactions as constructively and positively as possible
• Demonstrate to clients through communication and actions a high level of trustworthiness, dependability, accommodation, and helpfulness as a foundation for long-term relationships
• Clearly communicate the visual style, expectations, and artistic direction to the creative team
• Foster open communication channels within the team and across departments
• Collaborate with other key stakeholders to ensure alignment with the overall project goals
• Offer reassurances and guidance to resolve conflict or tension within the Department they represent

Terms of employment, salary, and benefits will be individually negotiated.
The position is as soon as possible.

Can you see yourself in our M2 Family? Then we would love to hear from you and receive your application.

If you have any questions regarding the positions or the recruitment process please contact HR: jobs@m2animation.com

M2 Animation is a part of M2 Group which is a Danish owned company. M2 Animation is an English-speaking international CG studio operated by North American standards and Scandinavian sensibilities. Our modern studio has high standards with ambitious employees and an informal atmosphere.
At M2 Group we care for people. Diversity and inclusion are embedded in our values and we believe in creating a work environment where all co-workers feel welcomed, respected, supported, and appreciated, no matter who they are or where they come from. We believe in teamwork and that we can only succeed together.