Animator - Senior (Short-Term Contract)

Vfxwire; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 105,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended healthcare from day 1

Premiums 100% covered by Image Engine

8 paid Health and Wellness days per yr

Job summary

Image Engine, a Vancouver-based VFX studio, is seeking a Senior Animator for a project contract from mid-October to December 18, 2026. The role requires delivering high-quality animation, mentoring junior artists, and collaborating with Leads and Supervisors to meet production deadlines.

Based in British Columbia, you will work on feature-film projects with a tight schedule, contribute to daily dailies, and help maintain continuity and performance across sequences.

Qualifications

• 7+ years' experience in animating character and non-character assets for VFX/feature films.
• Expert level knowledge of Maya; familiarity with motion capture a plus.
• Ability to mentor junior animators and manage time to meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality animation quickly and efficiently.
• Mentor junior artists and assist leads as needed.
• Meet weekly targets and maintain continuity across shots.
• QC work prior to supervisor review to fix issues like bad poses or off-model characters.
• Attend dailies, reviews, and team meetings as required.
• Provide input to improve tools and interfaces for throughput.

Skills

Maya

Character animation

Mentoring

Time management

Tools

Motion Capture

Rigging

Job description

Position: Animator - Senior

Hiring Range: $105,000 to $122,000/year for a 40 hour work week

Project Contract: from mid October to December 18th, 2026

Company Benefits: Extended healthcare from day 1, premiums 100% covered by Image Engine, up to 8 paid Health and Wellness days per year.

*Candidates are required to be based in British Columbia and eligible to work in Canada*

ABOUT IMAGE ENGINE

Image Engine is a world-class VFX studio based in Vancouver, BC, that has built a reputation for excellence in the visual effects industry since 1995. We specialize in crafting stunning visual effects for feature films and television with an award-winning portfolio that includes Skeleton Crew, The Book of Boba Fett, The Mandalorian, Game of Thrones, Lost in Space, Jurassic World, and District 9.

We offer a full range of visual effects services, from concept designs and pre-visualization to CG animation, compositing, and explosive volumetric digital effects. Our crew is passionate about storytelling and pushing the artistic and technical boundaries to deliver the highest quality work on every project. R&D is central to our philosophy of driving creativity through innovation and we're committed to continually evolving our robust production pipelines.

At Image Engine, we value diversity and teamwork, and we're proud to foster a workplace culture that is supportive, respectful, and empowering. We believe that our success is a reflection of our exceptionally talented team, and we're always looking for passionate and dedicated individuals to join us on our mission to create unforgettable visual experiences. Join our team and be part of something extraordinary.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Senior Animator is responsible for delivering high quality animation in a quick and efficient manner. They will be responsible for taking on the majority of the difficult shots and will be able to apply briefing notes with minimal direction from team Leads or Supervisors. They will quality check all of their work and deliver all tasks within the required timeframe. They will act as a mentor to junior artists, helping them complete their work should the level of difficulty require it, and, should the Lead need assistance, help QC the work of said junior artists.

In addition, the Senior Animator will help the Leads and Animation Supervisor to flag issues. They will potentially assist in the Lead role on a short term basis in the event of an absence or if production needs require it. They will participate in team meetings when necessary. They will maintain a positive attitude in times of high stress and create a work environment of motivated artists in the event of multiple iterations.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work primarily with Animation Supervisor/Leads to create convincing performances and motion of character/non-character assets
• Animate dynamic, believable and appealing character/non-character assets from simple to difficult with a minimum of supervision
• Work with production and supervisor team to understand and manage their schedules and shot deadlines
• Work with animation team to maintain continuity and consistent performance within a show
• Communicate successes and challenges faced by the team to the Animation Supervisor
• Manage time and resources to meet weekly targets
• Complete all quality control for animation they have submitted for review for artistic problems (e.g. bad poses, character being off model, crashing, etc.) prior to Supervisor’s review
• Be proficient in the pipeline, and be able to troubleshoot any issues
• Provide input regarding tools and interfaces to improve throughput
• Attend dailies, reviews, and team meetings as required
• Accurately address critique and comments from supervisors, and ensure that revisions are completed in a timely manner
• Mentor junior animators

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• 7+ years' of experience animating character and non-character assets for VFX/feature films
• Demonstrated expert knowledge of traditional animation principles, acting, film production and compositional design
• Ability to animate multiple types of character/non-character assets from simple to complex with a minimum of supervision
• Strong visual storyteller and well-versed in cinematography: camera angles, composition and continuity
• Excellent attention to detail when finalizing, approving or quality controlling work
• Ability to balance quick turnaround while achieving a high degree of aesthetic quality

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Technical skills

• Expert level knowledge of Maya
• A working knowledge of Motion Capture and/or Rigging is a plus

Core skills

• Ability to troubleshoot and deal with competing priorities and projects
• Ability to take direction positively, work well within a diverse group, and thrive under the pressure of tight production deadlines
• Ability to adapt quickly to new technologies and applications
• Excellent time management and communication skills