The Compositing Supervisor at Sony Pictures Animation oversees lighting and compositing for CG animated series, ensuring visual consistency and high-quality output aligned with the creative vision. This role involves collaborating with the Art Director, Production Designer, and Producers, reporting to the Supervising Producer for pipeline and workflow. The supervisor leads a team of artists, designs complex lighting setups, manages compositing workflows, and maintains visual continuity across episodes, ensuring broadcast standards are met. They also coordinate with post-production and stay updated on industry trends to enhance efficiency and quality.

Must Have

• Ensure artistic vision alignment with creative leadership.
• Supervise lighting and compositing artists, providing direction and mentorship.
• Design and execute complex lighting setups for 2D or 3D animated scenes.
• Oversee compositing workflows, including layering, color correction, effects integration.
• Ensure consistency of lighting and compositing across episodes.
• Review and approve lighting and compositing shots for quality control.
• Coordinate with post-production teams for smooth asset handoff.
• Stay current on industry trends and emerging technologies.
• Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Film, Visual Effects, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5 years experience in lighting and compositing.
• At least 2 years in a supervisory or lead role.
• Expertise in Nuke, Maya, Arnold, Blender, Houdini, After Effects.
• Strong understanding of lighting principles, color theory, and cinematography.
• Experience managing render pipelines and optimizing workflows.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, mentoring teams, fostering collaboration.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot technical issues.
• Strong communication skills for liaising with directors and department leads.
• Familiarity with TV animation production schedules.
• A portfolio showcasing a range of lighting and compositing work.

Good to Have

• Knowledge of scripting (e.g., Python, MEL) to automate workflows or customize tools.

Perks & Benefits

• Qualifies for benefits pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement.

Compositing Supervisor - Series

At Sony Pictures Animation, the Compositing Supervisor is responsible for overseeing the lighting and compositing work done by our vendor partners on their designated television CG animated series. This role ensures visual consistency, high-quality output, and adherence to the creative vision.

The Compositing Supervisor collaborates with the Art Director, Production Designer, and Producers, and reports directly to the Supervising Producer for pipeline and workflow matters.

Sony Pictures Animation is an animation studio based in Los Angeles, California, creating both feature animation and animated series with artists from around the world. We pride ourselves on empowering filmmakers to lead the creative process and allowing the hand of the artist to be truly felt, with the goal of producing bold and innovative visual storytelling.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure artistic vision alignment with the creative leadership (e.g., Art Director, Showrunners).
• Supervise a team of lighting and compositing artists, providing creative direction, feedback, and mentorship to ensure high-quality deliverables.
• Design and execute complex lighting setups for 2D or 3D animated scenes, optimizing for mood, atmosphere, and narrative impact.
• Oversee compositing workflows, including layering, color correction, effects integration, and final shot assembly, ensuring seamless visual continuity.
• Ensure consistency of lighting and compositing across episodes, maintaining a cohesive look despite varying sequences or environments.
• Review and approve lighting and compositing shots for quality control, ensuring they meet broadcast standards and creative expectations.
• Coordinate with post-production teams to ensure a smooth handoff of assets for final editing and delivery.
• Stay current on industry trends and emerging technologies with the Global VFX Supervisor to enhance production efficiency and visual quality.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Film, Visual Effects, a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in lighting and compositing for animation or visual effects, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or lead role.
• Proven expertise in industry-standard software, such as Nuke, Maya, Arnold, Blender, Houdini, After Effects, or equivalent tools.
• Strong understanding of lighting principles, color theory, and cinematography, with the ability to translate artistic concepts into technical execution.
• Experience managing render pipelines and optimizing workflows for large-scale animation or VFX projects.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, with experience mentoring teams and fostering collaboration in fast-paced production environments.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot technical issues and propose creative solutions.
• Strong communication skills to liaise with directors, animators, and other department leads to ensure cohesive project execution.
• Familiarity with TV animation production schedules and the ability to deliver high-quality work on schedule.
• Knowledge of scripting (e.g., Python, MEL) to automate workflows or customize tools is a plus.
• A portfolio showcasing a range of lighting and compositing work, with an emphasis on animated series or similar projects.
• A passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail in creating visually compelling animation.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $3,055/week to $3,300/week. This role qualifies for benefits pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement. The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of factors.

This position requires a hybrid work model, with an expectation of a minimum of three days per week in the office. To apply, please include a resume and a link to your reel/portfolio. Please make sure to include any passwords to your work in your cover letter and/or in your resume.

Sony Pictures Animation is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.