Motion Editor (All Levels) – ILM London, 2026

Festybay; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive private medical and dental insurance

Complimentary passes to Disney Parks

Access to masterclasses and technical training

Modern work-life balance opportunities

Job summary

A world-class visual effects studio in London seeks Motion Editors (Junior, Mid-Level, and Senior) to join their team. This role involves transferring motion data, enhancing performances, and ensuring physical realism in characters. Candidates must have experience in VFX, proficiency in MotionBuilder, and an understanding of animation principles. The position offers a hybrid work model and a robust benefits package. Join a diverse team committed to storytelling excellence.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in high-end film VFX or AAA video games.
• An up-to-date showreel showcasing realistic motion-captured performances.
• Strong understanding of motion blending and animation principles.
• A deep understanding of the 12 principles of animation and how they apply to realistic motion.
• A proactive approach to technical challenges, with the ability to analyze and resolve issues within a complex pipeline.
• Excellent communication skills and an eagerness to develop within a team-oriented studio environment.

Responsibilities

• Independently transfer motion data between different character hierarchies.
• Refine performance nuances including posture and gesture.
• Adjust interactions between characters and props.
• Add detail to performances by animating fingers and subtle body adjustments.
• Blend distinct animation clips into fluid sequences.
• Mentor junior team members and troubleshoot technical issues.

Skills

Proven experience in high-end film VFX or AAA video games

Proficiency in MotionBuilder

Excellent communication skills

Strong understanding of animation principles

Proactive approach to technical challenges

Problem solving

Collaborative spirit

Tools

MotionBuilder

Maya

Blender

Vicon Shogun

Linux

Job description

Are you ready to translate human performance into cinematic legend? Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the world’s premier visual effects facility and a division of Lucasfilm under The Walt Disney Company, is seeking Motion Editors of all levels to join our London studio. Based in our state-of-the-art Lacon House facility, you will be part of the team that bridges the gap between raw motion-capture data and the photorealistic characters that define modern storytelling.

At ILM, we don’t just process data; we preserve the soul of a performance. We are looking for artists who possess a “sharp eye” for the nuances of human movement and the technical discipline to handle complex datasets in a non-destructive pipeline. Whether you are a Junior looking to break into the industry or a Senior Artist ready to mentor the next generation, ILM London offers a collaborative environment where your work will contribute to the most anticipated film, TV, and immersive projects of 2026 and beyond.

Employment Overview: Motion Editor

Category Details

Company Name Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) / The Walt Disney Company

Job Title Motion Editor (Junior, Mid-Level, and Senior)

Location London, United Kingdom (Lacon House, Holborn)

Business Segment Disney Entertainment / Industrial Light & Magic

Job Type Full-Time / Various Contract Lengths available

Work Mode Hybrid (Minimum 2 days per week on-site)

Start Date Opportunities commencing from Summer 2026

Primary Software MotionBuilder, Maya, Blender, Vicon Shogun

Compensation & Industry Benchmarks

While specific offers are tailored to a candidate’s portfolio, technical proficiency, and years of experience, the following table reflects the estimated 2026 salary benchmarks for Motion Editors in the London VFX market. At ILM, total compensation also includes a robust benefits package.

The primary responsibility of a Motion Editor at ILM is to retarget and edit the body motion of realistic, capture-based performances. This role requires a balance of technical expertise and artistic sensitivity. You will be tasked with transferring motion from one hierarchy to another independently while ensuring that the character’s interactions with props, terrain, and other digital actors remain flawless.

We are looking for candidates who understand that “less is more.” You must be able to enhance a performance—adding finger, toe, or tail animation—without losing the original intent of the actor’s work. A strong understanding of motion blending is essential to create the fluid, believable transitions that high-end feature films demand.

What You’ll Do: Responsibilities as Motion Editor

• Retargeting & Transfer: Independently transfer motion data between different character hierarchies (Retargeting) with technical proficiency.
• Performance Enhancement: Subtly refine performance nuances. This includes improving posture, gesture, and weight to ensure characters feel grounded in their environment.
• Contact & Interaction: Adjust and polish interactions between characters, props, and complex terrains to eliminate clipping and ensure physical realism.
• Secondary Animation: Add detail to performances by animating fingers, toes, and tails, as well as making subtle body adjustments that heighten the realism of a shot.
• Motion Blending: Utilize your eye for timing to blend distinct animation clips into fluid, seamless sequences.
• Senior Leadership (Senior Level): Support and mentor junior team members, troubleshoot technical pipeline issues, and push the overall quality of the department’s output.

What We’re Looking For: Qualifications

• Professional Pedigree: Proven experience in high-end film VFX or the AAA video game industry.
• Portfolio: An up-to-date showreel and shot breakdown showcasing your ability to handle realistic motion-captured performances.
• Software Mastery: Proficiency in MotionBuilder is highly preferred, alongside experience in Maya, Blender, or Nuance.
• Animation Fundamentals: A deep understanding of the 12 principles of animation and how they apply to realistic motion.
• Problem Solving: A proactive approach to technical challenges, with the ability to analyze and resolve issues within a complex pipeline.
• Collaborative Spirit: Excellent communication skills and an eagerness to develop within a team-oriented studio environment.

Bonus Skills (Preferred)

• Experience working within a Linux environment.
• Background in using Vicon Shogun Post.
• Prior experience with proprietary ILM tools or StageCraft (Virtual Production) workflows.

Workplace Culture & Diversity Statistics

At ILM London, we believe that a diverse team creates better stories. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every artist feels empowered. To provide transparency on our 2026 workforce landscape, we track the following metrics within the UK VFX sector:

• Gender Balance: Currently, approximately 34% of our technical and creative roles in the UK are held by women, with a goal to reach 40% parity by 2028.
• Ethnic Representation: Our London studio is proud to reflect a global community. Approximately 21% of our UK staff identify as belonging to an underrepresented racial or ethnic group (BAME), including significant representation from Asian (12%) and Black (4%) communities.
• Global Talent: We host artists from over 40 different countries, creating a rich melting pot of cultural perspectives in our Lacon House studio.

The Disney & ILM Benefit

Joining ILM means joining the Disney family. Our employees enjoy a world-class benefits package, including:

• Wellness: Comprehensive private medical and dental insurance.
• Disney Perks: Complimentary passes to Disney Parks worldwide and discounts on Disney+ and merchandise.
• Growth: Access to “ILM University,” featuring masterclasses from industry legends and technical training.
• Hybrid Flexibility: A modern work-life balance that encourages both collaborative on-site days and focused remote work.

About Industrial Light & Magic

Founded by George Lucas in 1975, ILM is the vanguard of the digital revolution. From the original Star Wars to The Mandalorian and beyond, we have contributed to 25 of the top 50 box-office hits of all time. We continue to break ground in VR, AR, and Immersive Cinema, setting the global standard for what is possible on screen.

About The Walt Disney Company

Disney is a leading diversified international entertainment enterprise. From its humble beginnings as a cartoon studio to its preeminent status today, Disney continues to create world-class stories that reach every corner of the globe.

ILM (UK) Ltd. is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, nationality, sexual orientation, or disability status.