Animator - Senior (Short-Term Contract)

Position: Animator - Senior

Hiring Range: $105,000 to $122,000/year for a 40 hour work week

Project Contract: from mid October to December 18th, 2026

Company Benefits: Extended healthcare from day 1, premiums 100% covered by Image Engine, up to 8 paid Health and Wellness days per year.

*Candidates are required to be based in British Columbia and eligible to work in Canada*

ABOUT IMAGE ENGINE

Image Engine is a world-class VFX studio based in Vancouver, BC, that has built a reputation for excellence in the visual effects industry since 1995. We specialize in crafting stunning visual effects for feature films and television with an award-winning portfolio that includes Skeleton Crew, The Book of Boba Fett, The Mandalorian, Game of Thrones, Lost in Space, Jurassic World, and District 9.

We offer a full range of visual effects services, from concept designs and pre-visualization to CG animation, compositing, and explosive volumetric digital effects. Our crew is passionate about storytelling and pushing the artistic and technical boundaries to deliver the highest quality work on every project. R&D is central to our philosophy of driving creativity through innovation and we're committed to continually evolving our robust production pipelines.

At Image Engine, we value diversity and teamwork, and we're proud to foster a workplace culture that is supportive, respectful, and empowering. We believe that our success is a reflection of our exceptionally talented team, and we're always looking for passionate and dedicated individuals to join us on our mission to create unforgettable visual experiences. Join our team and be part of something extraordinary.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Senior Animator is responsible for delivering high quality animation in a quick and efficient manner. They will be responsible for taking on the majority of the difficult shots and will be able to apply briefing notes with minimal direction from team Leads or Supervisors. They will quality check all of their work and deliver all tasks within the required timeframe.They will act as a mentor to junior artists, helping them complete their work should the level of difficulty require it, and, should the Lead need assistance, help QC the work of said junior artists.

In addition, the Senior Animator will help the Leads and Animation Supervisor to flag issues. They will potentially assist in the Lead role on a short term basis in the event of an absence or if production needs require it. They will participate in team meetings when necessary. They will maintain a positive attitude in times of high stress and create a work environment of motivated artists in the event of multiple iterations.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Work primarily with Animation Supervisor/Leads to create convincing performances and motion of character/non-character assets

Animate dynamic, believable and appealing character/non-character assets from simple to difficult with a minimum of supervision

Work with production and supervisor team to understand and manage their schedules and shot deadlines

Work with animation team to maintain continuity and consistent performance within a show

Communicate successes and challenges faced by the team to the Animation Supervisor

Manage time and resources to meet weekly targets

Complete all quality control for animation they have submitted for review for artistic problems (e.g. bad poses, character being off model, crashing, etc.) prior to Supervisor’s review

Be proficient in the pipeline, and be able to troubleshoot any issues

Provide input regarding tools and interfaces to improve throughput

Attend dailies, reviews, and team meetings as required

Accurately address critique and comments from supervisors, and ensure that revisions are completed in a timely manner

Mentor junior animators

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

7+ years’ of experience animating character and non-character assets for VFX/feature films

Demonstrated expert knowledge of traditional animation principles, acting, film production and compositional design

Ability to animate multiple types of character/non-character assets from simple to complex with a minimum of supervision

Strong visual storyteller and well-versed in cinematography: camera angles, composition and continuity

Excellent attention to detail when finalizing, approving or quality controlling work

Ability to balance quick turnaround while achieving a high degree of aesthetic quality

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Technical skills

Expert level knowledge of Maya

A working knowledge of Motion Capture and/or Rigging is a plus

Core skills

Ability to troubleshoot and deal with competing priorities and projects

Ability to take direction positively, work well within a diverse group, and thrive under the pressure of tight production deadlines

Ability to adapt quickly to new technologies and applications

Excellent time management and communication skills