Motion Editor - ILM Vancouver

The Walt Disney Company; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 67,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

The Walt Disney Company is seeking a Motion Editor (Motion Capture Animator) for its ILM Vancouver team at the Coal Harbour studio. You will retarget and edit body motion from motion-captured performances to deliver high-quality animations, focusing on realism and non-destructive workflows.

Candidates should have experience in high-end film/VFX or video games, with solid knowledge of motion blending and a showreel.

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Visualisation or Animation or equivalent experience
• Proven experience with motion-captured performances in high-end film VFX or games
• Strong understanding of retargeting techniques and animation principles
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills
• Keen eye for motion, timing and posture
• Experience with Linux and Vicon Shogun Post is a plus

Responsibilities

• Transfer motion via retargeting between hierarchies accurately and independently
• Refine actor performances through non-destructive edits
• Adjust interactions between characters, props, environment and terrain
• Improve motion with finger/toe/tail animation, posture and weight adjustments
• Create fluid transitions through motion blending and timing

Skills

Retargeting techniques

Animation principles

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Motion timing & posture

Collaboration

Eagerness to learn

Education

Computer Science / Visualisation / Animation degree

Tools

Maya

Blender

MotionBuilder

Nuance

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

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

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

• Solid understanding of retargeting techniques
• Good understanding of the principles of animation
• 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

Preferred Skills / Competencies

• Experience with Mocap animation
• Maya Experience

Technical Skills

• Solid knowledge about Retargeting and Blending techniques

JoinILM

The hiring range for this position in Vancouver is C$67,000 to C$85,700 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.