Art Director, Motion - The Heist

Thinkingbox; Toronto; On-site; CAD 165,494 - 206,868; Full time

Job summary

Thinkingbox in Toronto is searching for an Art Director, Motion to lead innovative motion design projects. In this hybrid role, you'll mentor teams, direct 3D and 2D content, and ensure high quality across all outputs.

The ideal candidate has over 7 years of motion design experience, strong art direction skills, and expertise in tools like Cinema 4D and Adobe Creative Suite. A portfolio showcasing your creativity is essential.

The position offers a competitive salary between $120,000 and $150,000 annually.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in motion design or animation.
• At least 1-2 years in a senior or leadership role.
• Stunning portfolio demonstrating strong art direction in motion.

Responsibilities

• Lead concept development and creative direction for motion projects.
• Create styleframes and storyboards defining tone and aesthetic.
• Oversee execution of 3D and 2D motion graphics.

Skills

Art direction in motion

Visual storytelling

Communication skills

Mentoring

Design principles

Tools

Cinema 4D

Redshift

Adobe Creative Suite

Houdini

XParticles

Marvelous Designer

Substance Painter

Job description

The Opportunity

We're on the hunt for an Art Director, Motion who can lead with vision, inspire teams, and push creative boundaries across a variety of motion design projects. In this hybrid hands‑on and leadership role, you’ll take ideas from concept to execution, including storyboarding, style framing, directing motion designers, and overseeing high‑caliber 3D and 2D content for social, branded, commercial, and experiential campaigns. You’ll collaborate with fellow creatives and cross‑functional teams to shape the visual direction of projects that range from digital micro‑content to full‑length animated pieces. You’ll ensure creative excellence while mentoring junior talent and maintaining efficiency and clarity throughout the production pipeline.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead concept development and the realization of creative direction for motion projects.
• Create styleframes and storyboards that define tone, motion language, and aesthetic.
• Oversee/guide and participate in the execution of 3D/2D motion graphics, ensuring quality and cohesion.
• Collaborate with creative directors, producers, and designers to shape campaign narratives.
• Give thoughtful and actionable feedback that elevates the work.
• Direct small to mid‑size teams of animators and designers across various projects.
• Contribute to pitch decks, treatments, and new business efforts when needed.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, tools, and techniques to continuously elevate our creative output.

What You'll Bring

• A stunning portfolio demonstrating strong art direction in motion across multiple styles and platforms.
• 7+ years of experience in motion design or animation, with at least 1‑2 years in a senior or leadership role.
• Strong background in visual storytelling, typography, color theory, and design principles.
• Expertise in Cinema 4D, Redshift, and Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere).
• Familiarity with Houdini, XParticles, Marvelous Designer, or Substance Painter is a bonus.
• Excellent communication skills – both visual and verbal.
• Ability to manage timelines, provide mentorship, and balance hands‑on work with strategic thinking.
• A deep passion for craft and a desire to push what’s possible in motion.

$120,000 - $150,000 a year

Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as internal equity, candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role. If your compensation expectations fall outside of this range, we still welcome your application.

Equal Opportunity

Here at The Heist, we are committed to building an environment where our employees continuously feel included, valued and heard. Diversity is our creative strength and it’s a combination of our unique experiences and perspectives that make for some of the best problem‑solving. The result? Creativity, growth and innovation. We strongly encourage all applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, or gender identity to apply.