Animation Supervisor

An Animation Supervisor will fulfil the role of providing direct and close support to their Animation Director, Animation Leads and Animators.  In addition, they are an individual who will have the ability to oversee multiple animation Leads, and their respective teams of animators.

Their work will comprise both of an artistic and technical role which includes, but is not limited to, helping their Animation Director during pre-production with animation tests and rig development, assisting the Animation Director to ensure the overall consistency of the character animation style, intention and movement as well as providing their Leads the necessary feedback to ensure these consistencies.

They will also serve as a liaison between the Animation department and Rigging, Layout, CFX and other departments in order to communicate and help to implement or resolve larger technical ideas, issues and concerns.

Key Responsibilities / Job Duties

• Extensive experience animating at a high level in Feature animation (7 years +).
• Have served in a Lead Animator role over 3 feature length productions.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• Strong technical knowledge of MAYA and strong fundamental knowledge of other departments.
• Experience with scheduling, bidding and casting shots.

Team Management Responsibilities

Accountable for

• Directly managing any leads on the show to subsequently allow them to manage their workload and responsibilities effectively.
• Delivering creative realisation to the VFX / CG Supervisor and Animation Director and ensuring creative continuity across a Show.
• Interpreting the creative vision of the VFX / CG Supervisor and Animation Director and providing a clear creative brief to each artist.
• Providing creative and technical leadership, support and feedback for the crew.
• Managing approval statuses for Animation submissions.
• Attending the department and the show’s production technology meetings.
• Delivering the output of the department to the required quality standards with a view to continually raising the bar.
• Adhering to consistent department workflows and processes.
• Staying current with Animation department pipelines and workflows.
• Maintaining a good knowledge of anatomy and muscle dynamics.
• Continuous self development.
• Developing and maintaining department documentation.

Contributes to

• Strategies to improve operational efficiency on an ongoing basis.
• Developing tools, technologies and workflows to deliver the highest quality work in an efficient manner.
• Design and development of the standardised processes for work within the department.
• Cross department workflows and processes.

Dailies Responsibilities

Accountable for

• Helping to run Animation department dailies if necessary with the goal being to quality control the output of the department.
• Ensuring feedback is concise and constructive in directing Artists to reach milestones & show targets.
• Approving work that is ready to progress to the next department.
• Attending VFX Supe dailies and ensuring notes are communicated effectively to the crew.
• Delivering work on schedule by efficiently managing productivity and cross department communication.
• Participating in turnover and asset breakdown meetings alongside the show management team.
• Collaborate with the department Prod Supe on crew assignments, ensuring work is balanced and appropriately scheduled.
• Collaborate with the department Prod Supe and Coordinator on defining and presenting targets and milestones.
• Implementing regular forums for communicating updates to the crew, for example, stand up meetings.
• Providing accurate time estimations as a basis for delivery plans and schedules for shows.

Talent Development Responsibilities

Contributes to

• Mentorship of Leads and Animators to the best of their ability.
• Providing accurate and detailed feedback on artists and giving timely feedback to artists to support their growth and development.
• Assisting the team on any aspect of the work that they are struggling with, either creatively or technically.
• Helping to create and help support a strong team culture
• Working with the Anim Director to mentor and support the crew to allow them to reach their short and long term career goals.
• Identifying talent and performance within the team.