Skydance Animation is seeking an Associate Costume Designer to join the studio’s Costume Department. Reporting to the Head of Costume Design, the Associate Costume Designer will expand upon and support the development of wardrobe concepts established in collaboration with the broader Visual Development team and film leadership.
This role ensures the creative vision is carried through consistently, while identifying opportunities to enhance storytelling and elevate character performance through research and design. Additionally, this position will also bring technical expertise in costume packeting, supported by a solid foundation in garment construction, tailoring, fabrics, and sewing techniques.
The ideal candidate brings prior experience in animation visual development, has a passion for how costume design enhances storytelling, and is highly detail orientated.
Responsibilities
- Assist in the development and visual styles of costumes alongside the Head of Costume Design and Production Designer by following the Director’s overall vision for story, character development, and visual tone
- Drive costume research in support of the films vision
- Visually explore research by pitching, iterating, adapting, and designing different costumes taking into consideration leaderships notes and feedback
- Create costume style guide and apply approved design language to primary, secondary, tertiary, and crowds
- Resolve design issues with Production Designer, Lead Character Designer, and rest of Visual Development team
- Provide and share expertise on clothing styles, fabrics, fabrication techniques, and patterns to align with the narratives, character, and show designs
- Prepare detailed costume packets alongside Costume Design Assistants considering downstream departments by including and advising on information such as textiles, fabric properties, and garment construction including pattern making and draping
- Partner with Costume Design Assistants by tracking assignments, giving notes, doing draw overs all while keeping in mind quality set by department leads
- Creative problem solving
- Implement feedback promptly ensuring deadlines are met
- Promote a positive, collaborative, and inclusive team culture within the larger Production and Art team
Requirements
- 5+ years of experience working as a visual development artist on animated projects and 1+ years working on costume designs in visual development, theater, live action, or related field
- Education in Fashion Design, Costume Design, Toy Design, or Art preferred
- Self-starter and organizer with the ability to drive all production needs keeping mind production pipeline and deadlines
- Demonstrated ability to prepare detailed costume packets for downstream animation departments that inform final design execution
- Knowledge of costume terminology, methods, practices, and techniques
- Proficiency in drawing (including human and animal anatomy), design, perspective, composition, painting, lighting and color theory
- Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop
- Requirement to be, or become, a member in good standing of the Animation Guild (Local 839)
Skills Required
- 5+ years of experience as a visual development artist on animated projects
- 1+ years working on costume designs in visual development, theater, live action, or related field
- Education in Fashion Design, Costume Design, Toy Design, or Art
- Demonstrated ability to prepare detailed costume packets for downstream animation departments (textiles, fabric properties, pattern making, draping)
- Knowledge of costume terminology, methods, practices, and techniques
- Proficiency in drawing including human and animal anatomy, design, perspective, composition, painting, lighting and color theory
- Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop
- Experience with garment construction, tailoring, fabrics, and sewing techniques
- Self-starter and organizer able to manage production pipeline and meet deadlines
- Ability to implement feedback promptly and creatively solve design problems
- Requirement to be, or become, a member in good standing of the Animation Guild (Local 839)
What We Do
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
