Lead Texture Artist - Feature Animation ILM London

The Walt Disney Company (France); London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative animation studio is seeking a Lead Texture Artist to join their Feature Animation team. Responsibilities include leading artists, managing texture assets, and collaborating with a cross-functional team to deliver high-quality animation content. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in feature animation projects and strong technical skills in Mari, look development, and texture creation. This hybrid position allows for both in-office and remote work, providing a flexible work environment.

Qualifications

• Significant proven experience in Feature Animation Projects at a Lead level.
• Ability to deliver complex shots to the highest quality standards.
• Extensive knowledge of the animation pipeline.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of artists to ensure asset quality.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on look development.
• Manage texture needs for hero assets.

Skills

Mari

Texture Development

Look Development

Tools

Houdini

Substance Designer

Renderman

Katana

Job description

Position Summary

At Industrial Light & Magic, we’re pushing the boundaries of feature animation, combining artistic vision with cutting-edge technology.

We are looking for a Lead Texture Artist to work within our Feature Animation team who reflects the collaborative mindset, excellence and passion for great filmmaking that define ILM.

The Lead Texture Artist is responsible for leading other artists with patience and respect to make sure they are supported and successful. They have the ability to help bid, delegate and create photoreal and stylized textured assets for extreme close up and hero use as well as review texture assets and manage show expectations.

Prior experience in feature animation is essential, as you’ll be instrumental in delivering projects that uphold ILM’s legacy of excellence and innovation.

What You’ll Do:

• Help with handoffs and communicating asset goals and notes between artists, production and supervision.

• Works with Supervisors and HOD to determine the best approach for complex issues.

• Instigates and explores workflow strategies for complex assets.

• Collaboration with a cross-functional team, including Modelers, Lookdev TDs, and other Texture Artists, to be a key artist in the desired look and rendering aspects of assets.

• Support environment and set dressing artists with texture based materials and templates.

What We’re Looking For:

• Significant proven experience in Feature Animation Projects at a Lead level and proven ability to deliver complex shots to the highest level of quality.

• Ability to maintain the team's asset presentation and delivery standards across multiple shows.

• Flexibility working across character, hard surface and large scale assets.

• Comfort in managing hero texture needs beyond the level of detail provided in reference.

• Distilling the creative vision from clients into notes for artists to follow.

• Experience working closely with production on a large scale feature.

Technical Skills:

• Established production experience with Mari.

• A good understanding of a full Feature Animation pipeline.

• Strong skills in developing textures using both procedural workflows and traditional hand-painted methods.

• Comfortable exploring look development in software such as Rendermand and Katana.

• Ability to use node networks such as Houdini and Substance Designer a plus.

• Ability to use shotgrid is a plus.

As part of your application please submit a demo reel, shot breakdown, or equivalent showcasing your work. A current resume is required.

This role is Hybrid, which means the employee will be required to work a minimum of 2 days on-site per week at a Company designated location, and occasionally from home.

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