Senior Rigging Artist

1 Month ago • 5-8 Years • Animation

Job Summary

Job Description

Skydance Animation seeks a Senior Rigging Artist to develop, implement, and maintain character and prop deformation rigs. Collaborating with various departments (R&D, Art, Modeling, Layout, Animation), responsibilities include creating procedural rig components, working with animators on deformation, troubleshooting rig issues, and collecting artistic feedback. The role requires proficiency in Maya, Python scripting, and anatomical knowledge, along with a strong understanding of animation principles. The ideal candidate will prototype new techniques, provide team support, and stay current with industry methodologies and tools.
Must have:
  • 5+ years VFX/animation experience
  • Proficiency in Maya & Python
  • Strong rigging skills
  • Anatomical knowledge
  • Problem-solving abilities
Good to have:
  • C/C++ knowledge
  • Experience with sculpting tools
  • Knowledge of artistic modeling

Job Details

Skydance offers a dynamic, inclusive, and ever-evolving culture where innovative ideas are welcomed, and growth fostered. The partnership between unique creativity and technological advancements are demonstrated within each pillar of the company. At the heart of it all is a commitment to boldly entertaining and relevant storytelling.
 
While all Animation studios look to hire people who are creative and hard-working, Skydance Animation is specifically looking for pioneers who seek to push the limits of what the world’s most collaborative art form can achieve, and to give those pioneers the space and the resources to build a new studio that’s doing something different.

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As a Senior Rigger you will work closely with the Rigging Supervisor and a variety of departments including; R&D, Art, Modelling, Layout and Animation, to develop, implement, maintain and support character and prop deformation rigs for use in Crowds, Layout and Animation.

Responsibilities

    • Develops and maintains procedural rig components with a specific focus on deformation, using custom tools.
    • Follows a brief to produce complex production ready rig deformations.
    • Works with Animators to aid with deformation rigs to provide a broad range of motion.
    • Supports rigs as they move through the pipeline and provides additional deformation fixes as needed.
    • Responsible for building body, facial and mechanical rig systems to be used by other departments, such as Crowds, Animation and Layout.
    • Troubleshoots and fixes rig issues
    • Collects artistic feedback and fine tunes rig behavior.
    • Works within the pipeline and rigging standards.
    • Keeps up on current artistic methodologies and on technology trends and tools that best suit the production and the company in the development of a stronger creative and technical environment.
    • Deliver on time following Production quality standards.
    • Prototype, develops and implements new techniques and processes to solve unique and technical character production challenges.
    • Works together with the team providing them with support, guidance and instruction in areas that contribute towards their artistic and professional growth.
    • Follows the Supervisor’s and Lead's guidance

Requirements

    • 5+ years in VFX or animation industries.
    • 3+ years in the animation industry.
    • Strong artistic and technical rigging skills.
    • Proficiency within a character pipeline.
    • Proficiency using Maya in a production environment.
    • Experience with sculpting tools in Body, Face and Shot-Finaling.
    • Knowledge of artistic modeling and anatomy tools is a plus.
    • Solid understanding of the principles of animation.
    • Extensive anatomical knowledge of facial muscles and their kinematics functions.
    • Advanced Python scripting follows coding standards including Qt Interfaces and UX.
    • Desirable C/C++ developing knowledge
    • High English level.
    • Spanish desirable.
#Animation #LI-Hybrid

Skydance is a diversified media company founded by David Ellison in 2010 to create high quality, event-level entertainment for global audiences. The Company brings to life stories of immersive worlds across its feature film, television, interactive, and animation divisions.
 
Skydance is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to building and fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce. We welcome and consider applicants for employment regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy status, military/veteran status, disability, or any other protected category. Diversity in the workplace is not just a commitment, it is who we are and a reflection of what makes our world special.  

Recruitment Fraud Alert
It has come to our attention that there may be fraudulent activity by individuals impersonating our Talent Acquisition team. Skydance will only contact you from an official “@skydance.com” email address. If you suspect that you are being contacted by an unauthorized person or believe that the correspondence you have received is suspicious, please do not click on any links or attachments in such emails and submit any questions or concerns to our information security team at information.security@skydance.com

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About The Company

About Skydance Media 

Skydance is a diversified media company founded by David Ellison in 2010 to create high quality, event-level entertainment for global audiences. The Company brings to life stories of immersive worlds across its feature film, television, and interactive platforms. Its feature films include Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Annihilation, LIFE, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, Star Trek Beyond, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Terminator Genisys, World War Z, Star Trek Into Darkness, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Jack Reacher, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, and True Grit. Skydance’s upcoming film releases include Top Gun: Maverick, Gemini Man, The Old Guard, 6 Underground and the nwe untitled Terminator film. In 2017, Skydance formed an animation division to develop and produce a slate of high-end feature films and television series in partnership with Spain’s Ilion Animation Studios. Skydance Television launched in 2013. Its current slate includes Emmy-nominated Grace and Frankie on Netflix, Altered Carbon on Netflix, Jack Ryan on Amazon, and Condor on AT&T Audience Network. Skydance Interactive launched in 2016 to create and publish original and IP-based virtual reality experiences and video games. Skydance Interactive recently debuted its first original title – Archangel, a story-driven VR shooter.


About Skydance Interactive

Skydance Interactive creates and publishes original and IP-based virtual reality games. The division of Skydance Media was launched in 2016 through the acquisition of The Workshop Entertainment. Skydance Interactive’s first VR offering is Archangel, launched on July 18th 2017. Skydance Interactive in 2017 partnered with Skybound Entertainment to develop a number of original virtual reality video games based on the expansive world of The Walking Dead universe. The Walking Dead VR game will be the inaugural co-developed title from both companies. The studio is located in Marina del Rey, CA. 


About Animation

In 2017, Skydance formed an animation division to develop and produce a slate of high-end feature films and television series in partnership with Spain’s Ilion Animation Studios. Skydance’s first three animated features are Luck, Split (working title), and Powerless (working title). Luck, directed by Alessandro Carloni (Kung Fu Panda 3) and written by Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger, is a comedy that pulls back the curtain on the millennia-old battle between the organizations of good luck and bad luck that secretly affects our daily lives. Split, directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek) and written by Linda Woolverton, tells the story of Elian, a teenager who comes of age using her magical powers to defend her family when the opposing forces of light and darkness threaten to divide her kingdom. Nathan Greno (Tangled) is set to direct Powerless. The studio is located in Los Angeles, CA. 

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