Character Designer

Skydance Animation is seeking an experienced Character Designer to join our team on an upcoming feature film. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in bringing stories to life by shaping the look, personality, and visual identity of our characters. From early concept exploration to final design execution, you will craft compelling, expressive designs that resonate with both the narrative and audience.

Working closely with directors, art leads, and fellow creatives, the Character Designer will contribute to the development of unique character styles, produce high-quality design assets, and help maintain a cohesive visual language throughout the film. The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in drawing, a keen sense of storytelling through design, and the versatility to explore a wide range of shapes, styles, and emotional expression.

Previous experience on a feature animated film is required.

This position is based in Los Angeles, California, and requires the selected candidate to work in an on-site hybrid capacity.

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Responsibilities

Develop original artwork for project concepts and characters, including exploratory designs, refined assets, and surface details

Produce a wide range of visual development work from quick sketches and rough ideation to fully realized, production-ready character designs

Create clear and expressive character turnarounds, pose sheets, and supplementary drawings in 2D and/or CG visual development formats

Conduct visual and thematic research to inform design choices, ensuring authenticity, originality, and alignment with the story and world

Design and assemble compelling presentation materials that effectively communicate creative ideas to internal teams and leadership

Collaborate in brainstorming sessions to generate inventive concepts that enhance storytelling, bringing depth, humor, emotion, and personality to each character

Apply a strong understanding of human and/or animal anatomy to create believable, dynamic, and appealing character designs

Contribute creative problem-solving solutions, respond thoughtfully to feedback, and iterate efficiently on designs throughout the production process

Manage time effectively to meet production schedules and deadlines while maintaining a high level of quality

Maintain organized, production-ready files in accordance with the show’s naming conventions and versioning systems

Communicate proactively with supervisors and production partners regarding progress, questions, and any potential challenges

Revise and update designs as needed based on feedback, ensuring all work meets the creative vision before final approval

Partner closely with the Production Designer, Art Director, Lead Character Designer, and production staff to provide status updates and address any issues that arise

Requirements

8+ years of character design experience on animated feature films

Strong visual storytelling skills, with the ability to design characters that support narrative and performance

Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop

Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to present work and respond effectively to feedback

Solid understanding of human and/or animal anatomy

Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as collaboratively within a team

Adaptable and responsive to evolving creative direction and production needs

Working knowledge of Autodesk Maya, Blender, or ZBrush is a plus

Must be, or be willing to become, a member of The Animation Guild Local 839

\nThe compensation range for this non-exempt position in Los Angeles, CA is $2,900-4,000/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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