Lead Animator

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 seeking a Lead Animator to guide our animation production team and deliver high-quality, visually compelling animation. This role goes beyond crafting polished shots - you’ll be setting the standard for excellence, mentoring animators, and ensuring a smooth pipeline from concept to final output. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the show’s style, you’ll help bring dynamic characters and worlds to life, from complex technical shots to large-scale crowd sequences.

Responsibilities: 

Lead the animation production team by setting and maintaining high standards for quality and output.

Provide advanced expertise in achieving exceptional polish in all assigned shots, serving as a mentor to junior animators.

Execute a diverse range of shots, including those that involve intricate technical challenges or large-scale group and crowd animations.

Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the show's unique style, ensuring that all animations align with the established artistic vision.

Expedite the shot approval process by swiftly addressing feedback and minimizing the need for repeated notes.

Establish and enforce clean and organized scenes and workflows to optimize efficiency throughout the production pipeline.

Assists the Director in episode preparation. Duties can include providing rig feedback, testing assets, reviewing episode complexity, and supporting team members, etc

Oversee the maintenance of overall series continuity, ensuring a cohesive visual narrative across all episodes.

Take proactive measures to efficiently solve problems as they arise, communicating effectively with the production team, rigging, and asset teams,  Animation Director, and/or Supervisor when necessary.

Play a key role in addressing and communicating larger issues identified in the assets and/or rigs, continuity, and contributing to the overall improvement of the animation process.

Qualifications:

4+ years of professional experience in 3D animation using Maya in film or series production.

Proven experience as a Lead Animator in CG character animation (series or feature).

Strong background and passion for cartoony animation styles.

Experience with quadruped animation highly recommended.

Comfortable filming and working from live-action reference footage.

Strong understanding of production pipelines and ability to use custom tools.

Ability to interpret storyboards, implement Director’s feedback, and provide clear direction to a team.

Strong mentoring and teaching skills—able to guide and inspire animators both technically and artistically.

Excellent communication and collaboration skills with cross-department teams.

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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.

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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.