Animation Director

Company Overview

ICON Creative Studio is Canada’s largest independently owned animation entertainment company, located in the historic Gastown district of Vancouver, BC. Our talented team includes specialists across the entire animation pipeline, working alongside creative and management professionals to deliver outstanding animated content.

Known for our commitment to quality, efficiency, and timely deliveries, ICON has partnered with distributors, broadcasters, and leading streaming platforms worldwide to create and produce noteworthy, impactful projects.

We operate from a holistic philosophy, leveraging the unique skill sets of our team members to maximize production efficiency while maintaining an optimal balance of creativity and quality on-screen.

Why work at ICON?

• Collaborate on top-tier feature and episodic CG franchises for major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, Amazon, Peacock, and Paramount+.
• Be part of a diverse team of artists from around the globe who have joined us here in British Columbia.
• Work with the latest tools and software, ensuring you're always equipped to do your best work.
• Be part of a studio that upholds a premium standard of quality across all productions, putting every resource into what’s on-screen.
• Enjoy flexibility, autonomy, and a supportive workplace culture.
• Access direct deposit and a generous benefits package.
• Grow with us through continuous learning opportunities, mentorship, and empowering you to achieve your professional goals.

Job Overview

We’re looking for an Animation Director to lead a dedicated animation team and help shape the creative heartbeat of our production. Working closely under the guidance of the Animation Supervisor, you’ll play a pivotal role in defining the show’s visual narrative - balancing artistic vision with operational excellence. This role goes beyond supervising shots: you’ll drive strategy, mentor animators, and maintain seamless collaboration across departments to ensure the highest quality of storytelling through animation.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage a specific animation team, cultivating a collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Build and/or maintain episodic edits in Premiere and manage exports for clients and internal supervisors.
• Implement the creative vision set by the Animation Supervisor, ensuring your team’s work meets artistic and technical standards.
• Provide in-depth critiques and constructive feedback to elevate the quality of animation sequences.
• Enforce quality assurance within your team, guaranteeing consistency and excellence across episodes.
• Collaborate with the Animation Supervisor and Production team to address concerns, maintain alignment, and streamline communication.
• Establish efficient workflows and organizational structures to maximize team productivity.
• Manage resources, assignments, and timelines to balance deadlines and quality standards.
• Serve as the go-to problem-solver for complex animation challenges, escalating to the Animation Supervisor as needed.
• Conduct performance evaluations for animators, supporting growth, professional development, and future recommendations.
• Represent your team in dailies, presenting progress, raising concerns, and championing artistic goals.
• Inspire and motivate animators, fostering a culture of innovation and pushing creative boundaries.
• Assist in keeping the show within budget through efficient team management and assignment oversight.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience as a Director in feature or series CG character animation.
• Comfortable filming and working from live-action reference footage.
• Ability to work within an established pipeline and adapt to custom tools.
• Strong ability to interpret storyboards and translate direction into actionable feedback.
• Excellent mentoring skills—able to guide animators technically, artistically, and professionally.
• Strong leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.

The wage range for this role reflects compensation across all of ICON’s projects. The final salary will be determined based on the specific position, the current show assignment, and the applicant’s experience and portfolio. This range accounts for varying levels of experience and responsibilities.

In compliance with British Columbia provincial mandates, we are posting this broad wage range to meet wage transparency requirements.

ICON Creative Studio is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.