Senior Animation Artist - Temporary Contract

Rodeo FX Group; Montreal; On-site; CAD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Rodeo FX seeks a Senior Animation Artist for a temporary contract to craft high-end, hyper-realistic performances for creatures, characters, and animated objects in a VFX environment. You will work closely with Animation Lead and Supervisor to ensure adherence to artistic vision, technical specs, and deadlines.

Ideal candidates have 10+ years in a VFX studio, strong Maya skills, and a proven track record in delivering acting performances.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in a VFX studio environment.
• Strong proficiency in Maya and animation of both realistic and stylized assets.
• Solid understanding of body mechanics, facial animation.
• Ability to animate from reference and build compelling acting performances.
• High attention to detail, autonomy, and ability to meet deadlines.
• Positive, collaborative mindset and strong communication skills.
• Experience with production tracking tools like ShotGrid.

Responsibilities

• Deliver polished animation work meeting creative intent and production specs.
• Demonstrate solid grasp of animation timing, weight, arcs, and posing.
• Adapt to varying animation contexts (realistic creatures, mechanical objects, stylized characters).
• Interpret direction and references to build nuanced performances.
• Propose original motion choices to enhance storytelling and shot impact.
• Seek and incorporate feedback to elevate animation quality.
• Ensure animation is clean and export-ready for downstream departments.
• Troubleshoot rigging or scene issues with technical teams.
• Maintain pipeline naming conventions and file structures.
• Provide realistic time estimates and communicate issues promptly.

Skills

Maya

Character Animation

Timing

Acting Performance

Communication

Deadline Management

Rigging Concepts

ShotGrid

Tools

Maya

ShotGrid

Job description

Senior Animation Artist - Temporary Contract

• Contract
• Department: Rodeo FX - 3D

Repeatedly voted one of Montreal’s Top Employers and Employer of the Year for the 2022 Mercuriades Awards, Rodeo FX is a high-end creative company offering services in visual effects, advertising, animation, and experiential.

Nominated for multiple Emmy Awards for its work on the series Stranger Things season 4, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power, the independent, Oscar-winning company boasts close to 800 artists crafting from studios in Montreal, Québec City, Toronto, Los Angeles and Paris.

Rodeo FX is a creative partner to the world’s best storytellers including Netflix, HBO, Disney, Marvel, Amazon Studios, Warner Bros. and Sony, and has collaborated on ads for YouTube, NBC and Apple. Current projects include Dune: Prophecy, Silo Season 2 and Sonic 3. Recently released projects include The Rings of Power Season 2, Venom: The Last Dance, Taika Waitit's Time Bandits, and House of the Dragon Season 2.

The Animation Artist at Rodeo FX is responsible for delivering high-end, hyper-realistic performances for creatures, characters, and animated objects. With a sharp eye for timing, weight, and emotion, the artist brings life and credibility to animated assets, whether realistic or stylized. Working closely with the Animation Lead and Supervisor, the artist contributes creatively and technically to the success of each shot, while adhering to the project’s artistic vision, technical specifications, and deadlines.

Key Responsibilities:

Master your craft

• Deliver polished animation work that meets both creative intent and production specifications.
• Demonstrate a solid grasp of animation principles—timing, weight, arcs, and posing—across different performance styles.
• Adapt quickly to varying animation contexts (realistic creatures, mechanical objects, stylized characters).

Creative Quality

• Interpret creative direction and reference materials to build nuanced and expressive performances.
• Propose original ideas and motion choices that enhance the storytelling and overall impact of the shot.
• Seek and integrate feedback constructively to elevate the quality of animation.

Technical Quality

• Ensure animation is clean, functional, and export-ready for downstream departments.
• Anticipate and troubleshoot rigging or scene-related issues in collaboration with technical teams.
• Maintain naming conventions, file structures, and technical requirements as per pipeline standards.

Communication

• Provide realistic time estimates, communicate promptly in case of issues or potential delays, and collaborate with production to adjust priorities if needed.
• Maintain open communication with production, leads, and adjacent departments to support smooth handoffs and problem-solving.
• Flag roadblocks proactively and propose viable solutions when technical or creative issues arise.
• Participate actively in dailies and reviews, clearly presenting work and responding to notes.

Teach, learn and grow

• Share tools, tips, and approaches with peers to foster collective improvement.
• Engage in learning sessions, studio initiatives, or internal mentorship programs.
• Stay current with evolving trends, software, and animation methodologies to refine your practice.
• Minimum 10years of experience in a VFXstudio environment.
• Strong proficiency in Maya; experience with other animation tools is a plus.
• Solid understanding of body mechanics, facial animation.
• Ability to animate from reference and build compelling acting performances.
• High attention to detail, autonomy, and ability to manage deadlines effectively.
• Positive, collaborative mindset and strong communication skills.
• Asset : Experience with ShotGrid or other production tracking tools.
• Asset : Knowledge of rigging fundamentals or custom tool development.
• Proven experience as a Senior Animation Artist.
• Must be based in province of Quebec.
• Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, or open-work permit is required

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At Rodeo FX, diversity is a core value. We’re committed to creating an inclusive, equitable workplace where different perspectives are embraced. Every team member brings unique insight that strengthens our creativity, challenges our thinking, and helps us deliver better work.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

Rodeo FX may use AI-based tools to support certain steps of the recruitment process, such as interview transcription or preliminary application analysis. These tools may be operated by third-party providers, and data may be processed outside Quebec. These tools never replace human decision-making: all final hiring decisions are made by our recruitment team and hiring managers. To learn more about how we protect your personal information and your rights, please consult our Privacy Policy.