Junior Animator
Disney, San Francisco, CA, United States
We are looking for a Junior Animator who reflects the creative talent, production excellence, and passion for great filmmaking that define Industrial Light & Magic.
The Junior Animator is responsible for contributing to the creation of high‑quality motion of computer‑graphics creatures and objects within a shot, using a variety of animation software programs, and working under general supervision and support of Senior Level and Animation Supervisors.
What You’ll Do
Day‑to‑day show support:
troubleshoot flow of data in/out of department
escalate tech issues to appropriate show or tech group
update Animator shot files with newly released assets
reference gathering and organization
render movies for dailies
Responsible for the successful animation of shots on a specific project
Participate as a team member in determining aesthetic solutions; provide feedback by attending dailies on a regular basis
Animate entry‑level shots, time permitting
Facilitate the publishing of Animator’s work down the pipeline
Assist in maintaining asset congruency to current releases in Animator’s shots
Create animation cycles
Create polish animation for shots (finger, toes, ear, tail, wing animation, cleaning up contact sliding, body penetrations, tweaking arcs, etc.)
Problem‑solve and fix issues arising from updating assets in Animator shot files (e.g. constraint blending fixes, global positioning fixes)
Set up animation scene files
Assist Animators in passing shots to other disciplines
Build UI for character rigs
Process mocap performances onto show assets
Blend mocap animation performances and add polish (fix penetrations, add finger & hand animation, exaggerate key poses)
Upload cleaned mocap and cycle animation to MotionDataBase
Collaborate with stage team may be required
Occasionally perform hands‑on shot work and provide reference performances, including mocap performances, as part of assigned shot work and to support the animation team
What We’re Looking For
Show an educational or experiential background equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree in Traditional Animation or related fields, or at least 2 years of industry experience (cel, stop‑motion, or computer animation)
Minimum 2 years experience as an entry‑level Animator with recommended advancement by Animation Supervisors and Department Manager
Firm understanding of traditional animation principles, acting, film production, and compositional design
Experience and firm understanding of Maya
Good organization and communication skills
Ability to take on delegated tasks with minimal supervision
Ability to work under pressure and commit to deadlines
Strong communication and follow‑through; proactive, self‑sufficient individual
Demo reel demonstrating strong animation principles and artistic ability
Proficiency with Linux (desired)
Experience with Motion Capture data (plus)
Script knowledge (Python, MEL) (plus)
The hiring range for this position in San Francisco is $59,300 to $77,800 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long‑term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.
Disability Accommodation for Employment Applications The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or apply for a position, please visit the Disney Candidate Disability Accommodations FAQs. We will only respond to requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.
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The Junior Animator is responsible for contributing to the creation of high‑quality motion of computer‑graphics creatures and objects within a shot, using a variety of animation software programs, and working under general supervision and support of Senior Level and Animation Supervisors.
What You’ll Do
Day‑to‑day show support:
troubleshoot flow of data in/out of department
escalate tech issues to appropriate show or tech group
update Animator shot files with newly released assets
reference gathering and organization
render movies for dailies
Responsible for the successful animation of shots on a specific project
Participate as a team member in determining aesthetic solutions; provide feedback by attending dailies on a regular basis
Animate entry‑level shots, time permitting
Facilitate the publishing of Animator’s work down the pipeline
Assist in maintaining asset congruency to current releases in Animator’s shots
Create animation cycles
Create polish animation for shots (finger, toes, ear, tail, wing animation, cleaning up contact sliding, body penetrations, tweaking arcs, etc.)
Problem‑solve and fix issues arising from updating assets in Animator shot files (e.g. constraint blending fixes, global positioning fixes)
Set up animation scene files
Assist Animators in passing shots to other disciplines
Build UI for character rigs
Process mocap performances onto show assets
Blend mocap animation performances and add polish (fix penetrations, add finger & hand animation, exaggerate key poses)
Upload cleaned mocap and cycle animation to MotionDataBase
Collaborate with stage team may be required
Occasionally perform hands‑on shot work and provide reference performances, including mocap performances, as part of assigned shot work and to support the animation team
What We’re Looking For
Show an educational or experiential background equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree in Traditional Animation or related fields, or at least 2 years of industry experience (cel, stop‑motion, or computer animation)
Minimum 2 years experience as an entry‑level Animator with recommended advancement by Animation Supervisors and Department Manager
Firm understanding of traditional animation principles, acting, film production, and compositional design
Experience and firm understanding of Maya
Good organization and communication skills
Ability to take on delegated tasks with minimal supervision
Ability to work under pressure and commit to deadlines
Strong communication and follow‑through; proactive, self‑sufficient individual
Demo reel demonstrating strong animation principles and artistic ability
Proficiency with Linux (desired)
Experience with Motion Capture data (plus)
Script knowledge (Python, MEL) (plus)
The hiring range for this position in San Francisco is $59,300 to $77,800 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long‑term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.
Disability Accommodation for Employment Applications The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or apply for a position, please visit the Disney Candidate Disability Accommodations FAQs. We will only respond to requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.
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