Story Artist Job at Skydance Animation in Santa Monica

At Skydance Animation, we are seeking experienced Story Artists in a

freelance or full-time capacity

to join our team across upcoming feature film productions. In this role, you will play a critical part in bringing stories to life by translating scripts, ideas, and character-driven moments into compelling visual storytelling. Through dynamic staging, cinematic composition, expressive acting, and strong pacing, you will help shape the emotional and narrative direction of the film from early development through production.

Working closely with Directors, the Head of Story, the story team, and fellow creatives, the Story Artist will develop entertaining and emotionally resonant storyboard sequences that support the overall creative vision of the film. The ideal candidate is a strong visual storyteller with a deep understanding of character performance, filmmaking language, and story structure, as well as the ability to expand loose concepts into fully realized scenes that balance humor, emotion, and action.

This position is based in Los Angeles, California, and requires the selected candidate to be located with in the greater Los Angeles area.

Responsibilities

Create storyboard sequences that effectively execute story, character, emotional, comedic, and cinematic objectives through strong visual storytelling and performance

Meet with Directors, Head of Story, and creative supervisors to discuss storyboard objectives, sequence intent, and overall storytelling goals for the film

Translate scripts, outlines, and creative direction into clear and engaging storyboard panels that support pacing, staging, composition, camera language, and continuity

Collaborate closely with creative leadership and Editorial to refine sequences through multiple rounds of feedback and iteration

Demonstrate proficiency in creative tools such as Photoshop or Storyboard Pro, including timeline management, camera motion, dialogue placement, and sequence organization

Maintain consistency with the visual style, tone, and storytelling quality established for the production

Pitch storyboard sequences clearly and effectively to Directors, creative leadership, and internal teams as needed

Address creative challenges proactively by communicating with supervisors, asking thoughtful questions, and contributing visual storytelling solutions

Ensure all storyboard revisions, notes, and feedback are accurately incorporated within assigned deadlines

Communicate progress, updates, and production needs to creative supervisors and appropriate production staff throughout the process

Follow production workflows and document management requirements, including file organization, naming conventions, and storage procedures

Meet deadlines and production schedules as established by Producers and Production Management while maintaining a high level of artistic quality

Attend and contribute to story meetings, reviews, pitches, screenings, and other relevant production discussions

Assist with additional story-related assignments and special projects as needed in support of the production

Requirements

Minimum of 1 year of professional storyboard experience and/or relevant training on a feature film, television series, or comparable production environment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Strong drawing and visual storytelling skills with the ability to communicate emotion, character performance, acting, staging, and cinematic clarity through storyboard work

Proficiency with industry tools (Photoshop, Storyboard Pro, etc.)

Demonstrated ability to adapt to and work within the established visual style and storytelling language of a production

Strong understanding of composition, staging, camera language, continuity, pacing, and screen direction

Solid draftsmanship and foundational drawing skills, including character acting, anatomy, perspective, and posing

Ability to interpret creative direction, apply feedback constructively, and iterate quickly within a collaborative production environment

Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills with the ability to prioritize assignments and meet deadlines

Comfortable managing multiple assignments and adapting to evolving creative and production needs

Knowledge of additional design, editorial, or production software is a plus

The compensation range for this position in Los Angeles, CA is $2388.40 - 4,200/week. The rate offered may vary based on the candidate’s location, qualifications, experience and relevant expertise, among other factors. The range indicated is for base salary only and does not reflect the total compensation package, including bonus, benefits, etc.

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