Animation Supervisor · Kickstart Entertainment

Anima; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 82,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

Anima in Vancouver is seeking an experienced Animation Supervisor to lead the animation team while contributing directly to production. You will ensure alignment with the Director’s vision, oversee reviews, and mentor artists to uphold high-quality output within schedule.

Role combines hands-on animation with supervisory duties, coordinating with overseas partner studios and the Director/Line Producer to meet deadlines. Hybrid work arrangement in a fast-paced, collaborative studio environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of industry experience in animation, with 2+ years in a supervisory or lead role.
• Extensive experience working on animated series productions (2D, CG, or hybrid pipelines).
• Strong proficiency in Maya, Harmony, Nuke, and/or relevant animation software, depending on pipeline.
• Excellent understanding of animation principles, performance, acting, timing, and style consistency.
• Proven experience reviewing and providing actionable feedback on animation work at scale.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with experience mentoring artists and leading reviews.
• Experience working with overseas partner studios and distributed teams, and attending meeting times that align across multiple time zones.
• Strong understanding of animation pipelines, including layout, animation, FX, and compositing workflows.
• Working knowledge of Flow Production Tracking (fka Shotgrid).
• Proficiency in Google Workspace (Mail, Calendar, Sheets, Docs) and Slack.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to balance creative direction with production realities, including schedule and budget constraints.
• Demonstrates initiative, accountability, and sound judgment in escalation and decision-making.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and a collaborative mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead the animation team and contribute to production to meet creative and schedule targets.
• Provide clear creative direction, feedback, and mentorship to ensure consistency in style and quality.
• Contribute directly to animation production as needed for key/hero shots and complex sequences.
• Balance hands-on work with supervisory duties to meet production standards.
• Collaborate with overseas partner studio to align tools and pipelines.
• Partner with Director and Line Producer to meet deadlines while maintaining quality.
• Review shots from layout to final comp for quality and continuity.
• Align priorities with the Director and Production, monitor progress and report results.
• Participate in weekly calls with Partner Studio teams to discuss issues and solutions.
• Update Animation Department workflows and best practices documentation.
• Capture lessons learned for post-mortem reports.
• Attend production meetings to address problems and team concerns.
• Maintain strong client communication and confidentiality throughout production.
• Flag issues that could impact schedule or quality.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Initiative

Accountability

Multi-tasking

Confidentiality

Tools

Maya

Harmony

Nuke

Flow Production Tracking/Shotgrid

Google Workspace

Slack

Job description

Role Synopsis:

The Animation Supervisor is responsible for leading the animation team while also contributing directly to animation production as needed, ensuring alignment with the Director’s vision and delivery of high-quality work within schedule. This role oversees the reviewing, revising and advising the teams regarding animation execution across all phases of production to meet the creative and schedule needs of the production.

Production Responsibilities:

• Work within the Animation Department in collaboration with other Kickstart team members to help establish and maintain the overall series look and style
• Provide clear creative direction, feedback, and when applicable, mentorship to the animation team to ensure consistent performance quality and style adherence
• Contribute directly to animation production as needed, including key/hero shots, complex sequences, or support work to maintain schedule and quality targets
• Balance hands‑on animation work with supervisory responsibilities, ensuring both personal output and team output meet production standards
• Proactively provide ideas and solutions in relation to production technology and pipeline concerns and working with our overseas partner studio.
• Work closely with Line Producer and Director to ensure that all production deadlines are met while producing work at a quality level in keeping with production requirements
• Interpret and implement the Director and Client’s vision while ensuring the highest levels of artistic quality and technical continuity throughout the series
• Review all shots from layout to final comp in collaboration with the Director, ensuring quality, continuity, and readiness for next phases
• Work in collaboration with the Director and Production team to align on priorities, set clear objectives, conduct regular check‑ins, monitor progress, and report results to Production
• Participate in weekly calls with Partner Studio teams to discuss and offer solutions for creative and technical problems
• Support updating documentation relevant to the Animation Department workflows and best practices
• Analyze successes, challenges, and lessons learned during the production process for inclusion in final post‑mortem ("retrospective") reports
• Participate in any relevant production‑related meetings by offering solutions to problems and listening to the team’s concerns
• Cultivate strong client communication and care
• Flag any animation‑ or technical‑related issues that may impact schedule or quality to Production and Director.
• Ensure all work adheres to pipeline requirements, naming conventions, file management standards and security protocols
• Support troubleshooting of creative and technical issues across animation and adjacent departments

Studio Responsibilities:

• Work in collaboration with Creative Director, and IT Team to implement new tools and workflows which increase productivity and efficiency
• Review materials and collaborate closely with overseas partner studio(s) to ensure a smooth information flow between locations, both files and personal communication
• Leading and managing in a manner aligned with Kickstart’s Core Values
• And such other duties as Kickstart may assign from time to time

• 5+ years of industry experience in animation, with 2+ years in a supervisory or lead role
• Extensive experience working on animated series productions (2D, CG, or hybrid pipelines)
• Strong proficiency in Maya, Harmony, Nuke, and/or relevant animation software, depending on pipeline
• Excellent understanding of animation principles, performance, acting, timing, and style consistency
• Proven experience reviewing and providing actionable feedback on animation work at scale
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with experience mentoring artists and leading reviews
• Experience working with overseas partner studios and distributed teams, and attending meeting times that align across multiple time zones.
• Strong understanding of animation pipelines, including layout, animation, FX, and compositing workflows
• Working knowledge of Flow Production Tracking (fka Shotgrid)
• Proficiency in Google Workspace (Mail, Calendar, Sheets, Docs) and Slack
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to balance creative direction with production realities, including schedule and budget constraints
• Demonstrates initiative, accountability, and sound judgment in escalation and decision‑making
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced production environment
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and a collaborative mindset

Kickstart Entertainment is a growing animation and production studio with locations in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Arkansas, Hong Kong, Suzhou, and Mumbai. We believe in the power of collaboration—it shows in the way we work and in the supportive, creative environment we've built where innovation and great ideas thrive.

At Kickstart, we know that experience comes in many forms. You may not meet every qualification listed, and that’s okay. If your skills and experience are closely aligned with what we’re looking for, we encourage you to apply. We value diverse perspectives and believe they make our team stronger.

Why Kickstart?

Having the right experience and skills is only one part of what we’re looking for. We seek people who align with our Core Values and who are just as passionate about building an inclusive, collaborative, and supportive workplace as they are about creating exceptional content.

Together, we’re building a globally recognized studio known for outstanding storytelling, creative excellence, and a culture where talented people can do their best work.

Kickstart is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and accessible workplace throughout every stage of the employee journey, including recruitment. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to providing equal employment opportunities.

If you require accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know when contacted, and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Create. Collaborate. Kickstart.

Salary Range: $1800 - 2000 per week / Equivalent Annual Salary: $93,600 - $104,000 annual

Dates: Start date TBC in November 2026

Employment Type: Full‑Time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (combination of in‑studio and remote work)

Disclaimer: Kickstart may use AI‑assisted tools during the recruitment process to help organize, screen, and assess applications. These tools support our hiring team but do not make hiring decisions. All employment decisions are made by people.

Your personal information will be handled confidentially and in accordance with applicable privacy laws and will only be used for recruitment and employment‑related purposes.