Associate Art Director, Preschool Animation
Pinkfong USA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Location
Hybrid / Century City, Los Angeles (in office Tuesdays and Thursdays, subject to change)
About Pinkfong USA Pinkfong USA is part of The Pinkfong Company, an award‑winning global entertainment company with offices in Los Angeles, Seoul, Tokyo, and Shanghai. We are the creator of beloved preschool brands including Pinkfong, Baby Shark, and Bebefinn; the producer of the Baby Shark Dance, #1 most‑watched video in YouTube history; and the operator of leading kids YouTube channels with over 190M subscribers. Powered by world‑class creative talent, designers, engineers, and operators, we are reimagining how kids and families engage with content.
See our website at: https://www.pinkfong.com/en/
Role Pinkfong USA is seeking an Associate Art Director with proven experience in animation production and a strong foundation in character design to help shape the visual style of our growing slate, including series in development with major streamers, YouTube‑first projects, and new franchise ventures.
Reporting to the Head of Studio, this role will help define and execute the visual direction of preschool‑focused properties across characters, worlds, color, and style. This is a hands‑on role that requires both strong creative execution and the ability to direct external artists and partner studios.
Key Responsibilities
Research, develop, and communicate a clear artistic vision for new franchises and series based on franchise strategy, audience insights, and creative goals
Develop concept artwork and pitch materials that convey the story, world, and visual identity of new properties for presentation to major buyers and partners
Oversee the creation and maintenance of style guides, model packs, key art, and production assets across characters, costumes, environments, backgrounds, props, and color, working hands‑on or with freelance talent as needed
Lead design and color reviews, provide clear feedback and drawovers when needed, and ensure cohesive, on‑model, production‑ready execution
Guide storyboard, animatic, and animation as a key visual stakeholder for our YouTube content
Maintain strong awareness of freelance talent and external partners, and identify the right creative collaborators for each project
Collaborate on creative assets for marketing, PR, and consumer products as needed
Qualifications
5+ years of experience in animation, including character design, visual development, production design, and/or art direction
Art direction experience in children’s media, with strong sensibilities for toddler and preschool content
Experience as an art director and/or production designer on an animated series
Strong painting and drawing skills, with a solid understanding of form, design, and color principles
Experience contributing to a show’s broader visual identity, including style guides, color bibles, and related materials
Experience directing external artists and studios, communicating artistic vision, and providing clear, actionable feedback
Experience with graphics and motion graphics (GFX) is a plus
Self‑starter with a collaborative mindset who takes ownership, moves with urgency, and thrives in a small, ambitious team
Strong organizational, communication, and time‑management skills in a fast‑paced environment
Curious and proactive, with a strong drive to learn, iterate quickly, and continuously improve
Portfolio requirements (to be submitted with application)
Please attach or include a link to your portfolio. Your portfolio should include any style guide or on‑model pages you’ve built or maintained, character explorations and final designs, and additional work that demonstrates your contribution to production‑ready design or visual development.
*If your best work is under NDA, include what you can, and describe your role and constraints clearly.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
About Pinkfong USA Pinkfong USA is part of The Pinkfong Company, an award‑winning global entertainment company with offices in Los Angeles, Seoul, Tokyo, and Shanghai. We are the creator of beloved preschool brands including Pinkfong, Baby Shark, and Bebefinn; the producer of the Baby Shark Dance, #1 most‑watched video in YouTube history; and the operator of leading kids YouTube channels with over 190M subscribers. Powered by world‑class creative talent, designers, engineers, and operators, we are reimagining how kids and families engage with content.
See our website at: https://www.pinkfong.com/en/
Role Pinkfong USA is seeking an Associate Art Director with proven experience in animation production and a strong foundation in character design to help shape the visual style of our growing slate, including series in development with major streamers, YouTube‑first projects, and new franchise ventures.
Reporting to the Head of Studio, this role will help define and execute the visual direction of preschool‑focused properties across characters, worlds, color, and style. This is a hands‑on role that requires both strong creative execution and the ability to direct external artists and partner studios.
Key Responsibilities
Research, develop, and communicate a clear artistic vision for new franchises and series based on franchise strategy, audience insights, and creative goals
Develop concept artwork and pitch materials that convey the story, world, and visual identity of new properties for presentation to major buyers and partners
Oversee the creation and maintenance of style guides, model packs, key art, and production assets across characters, costumes, environments, backgrounds, props, and color, working hands‑on or with freelance talent as needed
Lead design and color reviews, provide clear feedback and drawovers when needed, and ensure cohesive, on‑model, production‑ready execution
Guide storyboard, animatic, and animation as a key visual stakeholder for our YouTube content
Maintain strong awareness of freelance talent and external partners, and identify the right creative collaborators for each project
Collaborate on creative assets for marketing, PR, and consumer products as needed
Qualifications
5+ years of experience in animation, including character design, visual development, production design, and/or art direction
Art direction experience in children’s media, with strong sensibilities for toddler and preschool content
Experience as an art director and/or production designer on an animated series
Strong painting and drawing skills, with a solid understanding of form, design, and color principles
Experience contributing to a show’s broader visual identity, including style guides, color bibles, and related materials
Experience directing external artists and studios, communicating artistic vision, and providing clear, actionable feedback
Experience with graphics and motion graphics (GFX) is a plus
Self‑starter with a collaborative mindset who takes ownership, moves with urgency, and thrives in a small, ambitious team
Strong organizational, communication, and time‑management skills in a fast‑paced environment
Curious and proactive, with a strong drive to learn, iterate quickly, and continuously improve
Portfolio requirements (to be submitted with application)
Please attach or include a link to your portfolio. Your portfolio should include any style guide or on‑model pages you’ve built or maintained, character explorations and final designs, and additional work that demonstrates your contribution to production‑ready design or visual development.
*If your best work is under NDA, include what you can, and describe your role and constraints clearly.
#J-18808-Ljbffr