CG Animation Lead

At Stellar, we aim to build a studio where people actually want to work. We face productions inevitable ups and downs as a supportive, truly connected team, prioritizing open communication over anyone working in isolation. We value honesty, creativity, and looking out for one another.

The Opportunity:

We are staffing up for a new Marvel Studios streaming series, and we are looking for an experienced Animation Lead to help guide our talented animation team. You already know the IP is going to be incredibly fun to work on, so we will skip the heavy sales pitch!

What we really need is an experienced leader and artist who can set the creative benchmark for character performance while supporting the growth of the team. If you excel at dynamic posing, heavy physical action, subtle emotional acting, and helping other animators bring out their best work, we want to talk to you. As an Animation Lead, we are looking for someone who brings top tier talent, strong problem solving skills, and a supportive, ego free energy to the team.

In this role, success looks like:

Leadership and Team Guidance

• Setting the bar: Animate hero shots, key character sequences, and performance tests that establish the animation style and character personalities for the show.
• Mentorship and reviews: Conduct preliminary reviews of team work, giving clear, empathetic, and constructive feedback before supervisor dailies.
• Team support: Be an approachable mentor for animators, helping them troubleshoot creative or technical blocks and supporting their skill growth.

Collaboration and Communication

• Director and Supervisor alignment: Work seamlessly with the Animation Supervisor and Directors to ensure the creative vision is understood and executed consistently across the team.
• Department bridge: Act as a helpful liaison between animation and downstream or upstream departments like Rigging, Layout, and CFX to resolve pipeline issues early.
• Dailies participation: Show up ready to participate actively in reviews, advocate for your team, and collaborate on constructive solutions.

Workflow and Efficiency

• Production balance: Find the sweet spot between creative excellence and schedule requirements, helping monitor team quotas and deadlines.
• Proactive planning: Spot potential production bottlenecks early and work with the Production Manager to adjust workloads, keeping morale high and avoiding burnout.

The Requirements

Must Haves:

• Experience: 5 plus years of TV or Film production experience in 3D character animation, including prior experience as a Lead or Senior Animator on high quality productions.
• Education: No formal education is required, your reel and leadership experience speak for themselves!
• Software: High proficiency in Maya.
• Core Skills: Masterful understanding of the core principles of animation, heavy body mechanics, and nuanced acting, combined with proven mentorship and leadership abilities.
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal English communication skills. You know how to deliver feedback clearly, kindly, and constructively.
• Eligibility: You must be legally eligible to work in British Columbia.

Nice to Haves:

• Traditional animation experience is a wonderful asset.
• Life drawing experience with a strong knowledge of human anatomy, physical motion, form, and balance.
• Working knowledge of Flow Production Tracking (formerly ShotGrid).

Why Join Stellar?

• Flexible Environment: We offer a flexible hybrid schedule that will vary with project and team requirements.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Extended health benefits.
• Growth: Professional development support to help you stay ahead of tech and creative trends.
• Culture: A collaborative, ego free environment where technical expertise fuels creative magic.
• Compensation: The salary range for this position is between $89,000 and $93,000 CAD, based on your level of experience.