Intermediate Technical 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.
• We offer a competitive total rewards package that includes comprehensive extended health, dental, vision, prescription drug, and paramedical coverage, and access to mental health and wellness resources. Employees also enjoy a pet-friendly studio, an onsite gym, and regular social events that bring teams together both virtually and in person. 

Job Overview

As an Intermediate Technical Animator, you play a key role in the team to refine character rigs for optimal functionality. Your troubleshooting skills extend to resolving technical issues related to animation, assets, and rigging, often collaborating with other departments. Additionally, you contribute to the development and improvement of animation tools and pipelines to enhance overall efficiency and quality. Engaging in various aspects of the animation pipeline, you showcase versatility in topology, weight painting, and caching across different departments. With a comprehensive understanding of Maya constraints and deformers, you employ a variety of animation techniques. Your role demands critical thinking skills for independently solving complex animation tasks, and your commitment to staying updated on industry trends ensures a continuous improvement in technical skills, maintaining the highest standards in animation production.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the animation team to implement and refine character rigs, ensuring optimal functionality for animators.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to animation, assets, and rigging, collaborating with other departments as needed.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of animation tools and pipelines to enhance efficiency and quality.
• Engage in various aspects of the animation pipeline, including topology, weight painting, and caching, showcasing versatility and adaptability across different departments.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Maya constraints and deformers, whether native or part of the studio pipeline, showcasing versatility in animation techniques.
• Apply critical thinking skills to solve complex animation tasks independently, taking responsibility for the successful execution of assigned projects.
• Stay updated on industry trends and emerging technologies to continuously improve technical skills.

Qualifications:

• 1–2 years of professional industry experience
• Strong demo reel showcasing intermediate animation and modeling skills
• Intermediate knowledge of Maya nDynamics, including nCloth setups for varied scenarios (e.g. light/heavy cloth, wind, underwater)
• Comfortable working with Icon’s rig systems
• Cross-departmental experience in topology, weight painting, and caching
• Skilled in importing/exporting animation with tools such as Studio Library or PAIE
• Proficient with Maya constraints and deformers (native and pipeline-based)
• Solid understanding of nucleus-based dynamics attributes
• Strong critical thinking skills and ability to take ownership of tasks

This is a Union position and the terms and conditions of employment are covered by a collective agreement.

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In accordance with British Columbia's pay transparency legislation, the wage displayed reflects the minimum rate established under ICON's collective agreement. Additional compensation may be considered based on experience, qualifications, and project needs, where permitted by the collective agreement.

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ICON Creative Studio is an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

1–2 years of professional industry experience. Strong demo reel showcasing intermediate animation and modeling skills. Intermediate knowledge of Maya nDynamics, including nCloth setups for varied scenarios (e.g. light/heavy cloth, wind, underwater). Comfortable working with Icon’s rig systems. Cross-departmental experience in topology, weight painting, and caching. Skilled in importing/exporting animation with tools such as Studio Library or PAIE. Proficient with Maya constraints and deformers (native and pipeline-based). Solid understanding of nucleus-based dynamics attributes. Strong critical thinking skills and ability to take ownership of tasks.