Incidental Animator

About us

Established in 2000, the studio has become one of Ireland's largest animation studios. Combining our passion, expertise, and experience, we believe in the power of our creativity and our ability to deliver world-class animated entertainment experiences. The studio has produced many great shows, including Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, The Amazing World of Gumball, El Tigre, Wander Over Yonder, My Little Pony: Pony Life, DC Super Hero Girls, Transformers Cyberverse, Danger Mouse, Cat Burglar, and the Netflix hit feature film – My Little Pony: A New Generation.

About our culture

The studio is not only a very hard-working creative studio, but we also have a jam-packed social calendar. From celebrating the end of each show with wrap parties to our famous Halloween fancy dress and Christmas celebrations to bake-offs, table quizzes, dungeons & dragons, online and offline meet-ups, and sketch-ups. We put on cultural events to celebrate our international staff and make them feel at home, away from home. What makes the studio special is the people who fill the studio and bring life to everything we do. The studio is a family, a very nurturing and open space for all to come and be themselves and express who they are through creativity. We would love you to be part of our animation adventure!

About the role

The primary role is animating all incidental characters and is responsible for bringing to life the extra characters that populate the scenes, adding depth and realism to the animated world. Your role involves creating fluid and believable movements for these characters, ensuring they interact seamlessly with the main action and environment, including any props required for the show. The role will work as part of the Animation department and liaise closely with their Incidental Animation Team Lead, the Rig and Design (Cleanup) team.

Skills & Other Requirements

Key Responsibilities

General

• Attend creative, production and management meetings as/when required.
• Attain an understanding of the style and expectations of the show by following the guidance and instructions provided by the production team and animation leads.
• Submit animation to the standard required by the show.
• Ensure any concerns or questions in relation to the scenes and deadlines are communicated in a clear and timely manner to your team lead and supervisors.
• Ensure your assignments, scenes, and retakes are in line to meet the required production schedules.
• Continuously develop your drawing skills and strive to improve those skills with tutorials, life drawing, sketching and general animation research.

Day-To-Day

• Ensure all animatics provided by the Production Team are reviewed before starting a scene.
• Check all episodic materials are available before starting your assignment to ensure completion of daily/weekly tasks.
• Ensure that the daily planners are accurate and saved in the right location as soon as your assignment has been delivered to you by the Production Team.
• Review your assignment, look out for hook-ups, reuse, and stock essentials.
• Analyse the brief provided by your team lead and clarify any questions or concerns you may have prior to starting your assignment.
• Refer to the notes and guidance provided by the Production Team to understand the intent of any given scene.
• Communicate any problems that may arise as early as possible with your team lead.
• Create a rough plan of how you are going to approach your scene with show-level and style of animation requirements in mind.
• Use the libraries, reuse, special poses, expression sheet, size relation charts and any reference material to help you work through your scenes.
• Use reference (mirror, photo, stock images) for posing to make sure your resulting animation is clear and readable.
• Do roughs to get a baseline idea of how the shot will play out when necessary.
• Key out the characters, keeping them on model using good silhouettes and line of action.
• Ensure the produced animation is well timed, has variety, contrast, and personality.
• Minor rigging when working with a limited rig.
• Check your work for scene length, quality control issues, model, or technical mistakes.
• Follow naming conventions, keep work tidy and within the asset manager's guidelines, both on the server and ftrack.
• Follow all guidelines issued by the Pipeline team with regard to workflow.
• As part of your continuous development, you are expected to keep up to date with the latest initiatives and developments in your area of expertise/role, through/such as (but not limited to) training, learning and development initiatives and mentoring.
• Any other duties company management may, from time to time, deem necessary and reasonably require.

What would we look for?

• Strong understanding of animation principles.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team.
• Shows creativity and imagination in their work.
• Time management and organisational skills.
• Proficient in Toon Boom Harmony.
• Knowledge of character rigging is a plus.
• Strong drawing and illustration abilities.
• Understanding of anatomy and movement.
• Ability to take direction and incorporate feedback.
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written.

What do we offer?

• Competitive salary, depending on skills and experience.
• 21 days' holiday per annum (pro rata).
• An extra day off for Good Friday each year.
• Time off for Christmas.
• Paid sick leave.
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity package.
• Death-In-Service Benefit.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Vision/Eye Care.
• Temporary Remote Work Abroad.
• Various in-house social events such as Cake & Fruit Day, Screening nights, Games nights, to name a few.

The studio is an equal opportunity employer committed to supporting diversity and inclusion within our work environment. All applicants, regardless of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, or membership of the Travelling Community, will be given equal consideration for employment based on their skills, experience, and potential.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at jobs@bouldermedia.tv to request accommodation.