Lead Motion Editor - ILM Vancouver

The Walt Disney Company; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 10,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

The Walt Disney Company in Vancouver seeks a Lead Motion Editor (Lead Motion Capture Animator) to join the ILM Vancouver team at the Coal Harbour studio. The role focuses on retargeting and editing body motion from mocap performances to high-quality standards, with strong knowledge of motion blending.

You will lead the discipline, develop new workflows, mentor junior members, and collaborate with the Global Moedit Supervisor to keep the department running smoothly.

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Visualisation, or Computer Animation or equivalent experience.
• Experience using MotionBuilder, Blender, Nuance and/or Maya with motion-captured performances.
• Proven experience in high-end film VFX with an up-to-date showreel.

Responsibilities

• Transfer motion from a Hierarchy to another (Retargeting) independently and proficiently.
• Improve/adjust actor performances non-destructively for highest quality.
• Adjust interactions between characters/props/environment/terrain.
• Enhance performance with fingers/toe/tail animation and posture/gesture/weight.
• Blend motions for fluid, believable transitions between clips.
• Mentor junior team members; troubleshoot and teach techniques.
• Lead projects and assist with technical requests.
• Handle dailies when supervisor is unavailable.

Skills

Retargeting

Animation principles

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Motion/timing/posture

Maya/Blender/Nuance

Linux/Vicon Shogun Post

Collaboration

Mentoring

Mocap experience

Maya experience

Education

Computer Animation degree

Computer Visualisation degree

Computer Science degree

Tools

MotionBuilder

Blender

Nuance

Maya

Linux

Vicon Shogun Post

Job description

This role is considered Hybrid, which means the employee will work 2-3 days onsite at a Company designated location and occasionally from home.

Position Summary

ILM Vancouver is looking for a Lead Motion Editor (Lead Motion Capture Animator) to join our team based in our Coal Harbour studio.

This candidate will have proven experience in high end film/VFX or video game industry.

The main responsibility will be to retarget and edit body motion of realistic motion-captured based performances in a non-destructive way and deliver animations to a high quality standards. We are also expecting the candidate to show solid knowledge about motion blending.

The Lead Motion Editor will focus predominantly on human, props and bipedal characters, extending to quadrupeds when required.

Acts as the lead and point of contact for the discipline throughout. They will be tasked with developing new methodologies, refactoring existing workflows, troubleshooting issues and more.

The Lead Motion Editor will collaborate with the Global Moedit Supervisor and ensure the department is running smoothly.

We are expecting the candidate to teach and mentor more junior team members.

Primary Responsibilities

• Responsible for transferring motion from a Hierarchy to another (Retargeting) independently and proficiently
• Adhering to the performance of the actors/actresses and improving/adjusting it in a non-destructive way, leading to the highest quality of work
• Adjusting interaction and contacts between characters/props/environment/terrain
• Improving the performance by adding fingers/toe/tail animation and body adjustments that includes enhancing posture, gesture and weight
• Blending of motions. Having a good eye and a good understanding of this workflow to create fluid, believable transitions between distinct animation clips
• Support and mentor more junior members of the team, troubleshooting, teaching techniques and pushing the quality and standard
• Leading the team on projects and helping with technical requests.
• Taking care of dailies when the supervisor is not available

Job Requirements

Education / Experience:

• Computer Science, Computer Visualisation or Computer Animation degree or equivalent experience
• Previous experience using MotionBuilder,Blender, Nuance and/or Maya with motion-captured performances
• Proven experience in high end film VFX and an up to date showreel

Required Skills / Competencies

• Great understanding of retargeting techniques
• Great understanding of the principles of animation
• Great attention to detail and communication skills
• Proactive in problem solving, with a keen eye to catch, analyze and identify technical issues
• Sharp eyes for motion, timing and posture
• Background in using Maya, Blender, Nuance and/or Motion Builder
• Background in using Linux and Vicon Shogun Post is a plus.
• Excellent collaborative skills
• Eagerness to learn and develop
• Capable of mentoring more junior team members

Preferred Skills / Competencies

• Strong experience with Mocap animation
• Maya Experience

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge about Retargeting and Blending techniques

The hiring range for this position in Vancouver is C$100,300 to C$128,300 per year based on a 40-hour work week. The amount of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other variable pay or benefits, may be offered dependent on the level and position offered.