Story Artist - Feature

1 Month ago • All levels • Game Story Writing/Narrative Design • $104,000 PA - $160,000 PA

Job Summary

Job Description

Story Artists at Sony Pictures Animation collaborate with directors, producers, and the Head of Story to visually represent the animation's narrative. Responsibilities involve translating scripts into storyboards, depicting action, camera placement, and character acting. Artists pitch storyboards, develop innovative ideas, and revise sketches. Maintaining consistent style and addressing story problems are key. Supervisory responsibilities may include team management, hiring recommendations, and providing feedback. The role requires robust draftsmanship, strong character acting sensibilities, and proficiency in software such as Toon Boom Storyboard Pro and Photoshop.
Must have:
  • Robust draftsmanship
  • Strong character acting
  • Storyboard creation
  • Software proficiency (Toon Boom, Photoshop)
  • Collaboration & pitching skills
  • Problem-solving abilities

Job Details

SUMMARY:  

Story Artists work with a team of the Directors, Producers, and Head of Story to create a visual representation of the animation’s narrative.  These artists translate the script into pictures by producing a series of panels of drawings that plan out the film’s story, action, humor, continuity and pacing. 

Sony Pictures Animation is a pre-production animation studio based in Culver City, 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:

  • Working from a script or descriptions, develop storyboards (thumbnail/rough storyboard panels)  that depict the action, camera placement and acting of sequences.
  • Draw everything from quick sketches to finished detailed storyboard panels.
  • Pitch storyboards to the director, head of story, crew, and executives.
  • Discover and create innovative ideas with performance, action, and humor.
  • Draw storyboards for assigned sequences and revise, edit, and modify sketches as many times as needed.
  • Ensure that the vision and style of the show is consistently adhered to through execution of action, staging, dialogue and camera.
  • Address story and structure problems. We especially value artists that can improve entertainment value!.
  • Supervision of the story team, including conducting interviews, making hiring recommendations, and providing feedback to Artists throughout the production.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Robust draftsmanship with a sense of design, appeal and composition.
  • Ability to work on a range of projects (action, comedy and drama sequences) and in a variety of styles from comic to realistic and highly stylized.
  • Great writing skills.
  • Strong character acting sensibilities; able to convey personality, emotion, and movement.
  • Strong staging, composition and cinematography skills.
  • Capable of drawing characters and environments on model within show style.
  • Ability to write clear and specific directions on storyboards to communicate with the team.
  • Can manage time efficiently and work independently. 
  • Work creatively in a fast paced production environment.
  • Must be open to direction and able to embrace change.
  • Self motivated, good interpersonal skills, and an excellent teammate with a phenomenal outlook.
  • Knowledge of software and hardware including Cintiq, Toon Boom Storyboard Pro and Photoshop.

 

The anticipated base salary for this position is $50/hour to $77/hour. This role qualifies for benefits pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement. The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of factors.

To apply, please submit a resume and a link to your work.  Please make sure to include any passwords needed to review your work in your resume or cover letter.

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.

SPE will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with applicable law.

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About The Company

The studio's latest theatrical release is "Spider-Man™: Across the Spider-Verse," the highly-anticipated sequel to the Academy Award®-winning "Spider-Man™: Into the Spider-Verse" and the second film in the Spider-Verse trilogy.


The division is also behind the visually-groundbreaking and critically-acclaimed "The Mitchells vs. The Machines," the hit film series "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," and "Hotel Transylvania," and the upcoming 2D adult comedy "Fixed" from visionary director Genndy Tartakovsky.


In 2023, the studio released its first two series - "Agent Elvis," an adult animated action comedy, and "Young Love," which expands on the story and characters introduced in the Oscar®-winning short film, “Hair Love.”


Sony Pictures Animation, which was founded in 2002, is a division of the Sony Pictures Motion Pictures Group for Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation.


• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SonyPicturesAnimation

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SonyAnimRecruit

• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SonyAnimation


To send in a general application, please fill out this Express Future Interest Form and we will be in touch if we find a suitable fit: https://bit.ly/4akxrp3

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Los Angeles, California, United States (On-Site)

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