2D Head Animator
Job Summary
Job Description
Boulder Media is seeking a 2D Head Animator with a passion for animation and a commitment to delivering world-class animated entertainment. The role involves working closely with the Animation Director and Rigging Lead to test rigs, create stock animation, and master controllers. Responsibilities include maintaining animation reuse libraries, communicating with the animation team, and creating rough animation for special character poses. The Head Animator will also be responsible for setting the standard for the rest of the team through bespoke and higher-end animation, ensuring all animation meets the show's style and quality expectations, and adhering to production schedules.
Must have:
- Solid knowledge of 2D animation
- Understanding of rigging process and master controllers
- Good understanding of animation principles
- Great aptitude for drawing, animation, and observation
- Ability to work in a team
- Good time management skills
- Ability to work to deadlines
- Flexibility and self-motivation
- Ability to work within a weekly quota
- Good interpersonal skills
- Fluent in English (spoken and written)
Perks:
- Competitive salary
- 21 days holidays per annum
- Extra day off for Good Friday
- 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
7 skills required
Job Details
About us
Established in 2000, Boulder Media 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. Boulder 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
Boulder Media 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 Boulder Media special is the people that fill the studio and bring life to everything we do. Boulder 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
As a Head Animator, you will work closely with the Animation Director and the Rigging Lead to test rigs, create stock animation and master controllers. Reuse and ensure the planning and standard of animation used throughout any show are of the highest standard. You will also take on bespoke and higher-end animation to set the standard for the rest of the team.
Skills & Other Requirements
Key Responsibilities
- Attend creative, production, and management meetings as 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 Director.
- Assist the Animation Director and the Rigging Lead with rig testing.
- Keep the animation stock tracker up to date and filled in correctly.
- Maintain and template animation reuse library.
- Communicate with the production team, letting them know if any stock needs to be sent out to the off-site animation team.
- Communicate with the animation team, letting them know what stock will be available for their episodes.
- Fill in character breakdown if required and leave notes to help the Rigging department.
- Pose out special poses sent by the client if required.
- Create stock animation reuse for tradigital and envelope rigs.
- Create rough animation or help out with special character poses as required.
- Template stock animation and poses from completed episodes.
- Work together with Animation Directors and try to find solutions for any issues that will help make the show run smoother.
- Export final masters or reuse what you have created to Ftrack for the Animation Director's final approval.
- Test any props if they feature heavily within an episode, so they are fit for purpose.
- Build master controllers and pose copiers.
- Submit animation to the standard required by the show.
- Ensure any concerns or questions in relation to the rig, scenes, and deadlines are communicated in a clear and timely manner to your Animation Director/ Team Lead.
- Ensure your assignments, scenes, and retakes are in line to meet the required production schedules.
- Keep up to date with the latest Toonboom techniques while continuously developing your drawing skills and strive to improve those skills with tutorials, life drawing, sketching and general animation research.
Day-To-Day Responsibilities
- Ensure all animatics provided by the Production Team are reviewed before starting a scene.
- Check that 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 Animation Director/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 Animation Director/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.
- Key out the characters, keeping them on model using good silhouettes and lines of action.
- Ensure the produced animation is well-timed and has variety, contrast, and personality.
- 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 for the role, 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?
- A solid knowledge of 2D animation is essential;
- A solid understanding of the rigging process and master controllers;
- A good understanding of the animation principles;
- Great aptitude for drawing, animation, and observation;
- Ability to work in a team;
- Good time management skills and an ability to work to deadlines;
- Must be flexible, willing to learn, and self-motivated;
- Be able to work within a weekly quota and production schedule;
- Must have good interpersonal skills;
- Fluent in English, both spoken and written.
What do we offer?
- Competitive salary, depending on skills and experience.
- 21 days holidays 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.
Boulder Media 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.
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