Crowd FX Artist

Sony Imageworks; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading visual effects company in Vancouver seeks a Digital Character Artist to conceptualize and implement crowd animation. Applicants should have a Bachelor's degree or relevant experience in VFX, with expertise in tools like Houdini. Responsibilities include developing character elements and ensuring deadlines are met while collaborating with production teams. Ideal candidates demonstrate strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or relevant experience in VFX.
• 3-4 years in animated or VFX feature films.
• Expertise with crowd simulation tools.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and implement characters for crowd animation.
• Ensure deadlines are met while maintaining efficiency.
• Develop solutions that align with art/technical direction.

Skills

Houdini

Crowd simulation

Animation principles

Problem solving

Generalist knowledge (Houdini, Katana, Maya)

Programming (VEX, Python, shell scripting)

Linux/Unix command line

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science

Diploma from a recognized school of animation

3-4 years of relevant experience

Tools

Houdini

Nuke

Katana

Job description

Description

Sony Pictures Imageworks Canada Inc. 1285 W Pender St Vancouver, BC V6E 4B1
Language in work environment - English

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and implement digital character elements and methodology for computer generated crowd animation. Typically creates agent assets, pipelines, tools and techniques that enable population and manipulation of large numbers of characters in scenes requiring crowd simulation to support and motivate the story.
• Accountable for meeting efficiency and quota targets to ensure show/client deadlines are met.
• Artists must be able to develop solutions and techniques that meet art/technical direction. Participate in dailies, rounds, team reviews of work in progress.
• Interact with production, supervisors and team/peers in order to problem solve and share information related to show/assigned tasks. Must be able to decipher as well as follow through on shot turnovers, dailies, briefings/notes and feedback.
• Shot set up and assisting junior Artists.

What we need to see

• Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, OR
• Diploma or certificate from a recognized school of animation or visual effects, OR
• 3-4 years of relevant experience in animated or VFX feature films.
• Expertise with crowd simulation in Houdini/Massive/Golaem/or similar.
• Able to design interaction characteristics for a variety of agent types.
• Understanding of animation principles and the ability to create realistic group behaviors by controlling the motion of individuals within a crowd.
• Customize procedural techniques to create unique and varied performance for animation clip driven characters, as well as standalone simulation agents.
• Adept at providing solutions to creative and technical problems.
• Comfortable with Houdini and FX basics:
• Particle simulation
• Basic VEX/VOPS
• Understands attributes
• Basic FLIP, PYRO, RBD/destruction
• OTL/HDA basics
• Render optimizations
• Nuke competence
• Katana knowledge a plus

Ways to stand out from the crowd

• Professional experience in both animated and live action projects.
• Generalist knowledge with tools such as Houdini, Katana, Maya.
• Evidence of self motivation: aka personal project work.
• Comfortable with the command line Linux/Unix operating system.
• Programming experience VEX, Python, shell scripting.
• In depth knowledge of the flow of data through departments in visual effects pipelines.

Personal qualities we’re looking for

• Organized, proactive and a self-starter.
• A team player and clear communicator, with a natural aptitude for collaboration.
• Adaptable, with a keenness to learn new skills and techniques.
• Calm under pressure and committed to meeting production deadlines.
• A positive, can-do attitude.