Character Art Manager

Horizontal Talent; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 186,000; Full time

Job summary

Horizontal is seeking a hands-on Character Artist to bring beloved characters to life for consumer products. You will sketch, refine, and guide artists and vendors to keep artwork true to identity and brand standards.

Develop fresh poses, expressions, outfits, and group interactions; translate model sheets into product assets; maintain on-model consistency across apparel, toys, and packaging. The role requires a strong portfolio, solid anatomy and drawing skills, and experience coordinating

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio with character illustration and storytelling.
• Solid anatomy, gesture, movement, and expression.
• Experience in consumer products, animation, licensing, or related field.
• Experience directing artists and vendors from concept to delivery.

Responsibilities

• Develop fresh character poses, expressions, outfits, and group interactions for consumer products.
• Sketch, refine, and revise artwork directly, stepping in on priority projects when hands-on creative support is needed.
• Translate model sheets, turnarounds, animation references, and approved production art into assets tailored for consumer products.
• Maintain visual consistency, ensuring artwork remains on-model, on-character, and aligned with brand standards.
• Create drawovers and redlines to address anatomy, proportions, likeness, silhouettes, expressions, and costume details.
• Build and organize scalable character art libraries for apparel, accessories, toys, packaging, publishing, retail, softlines, and more.
• Identify gaps in existing artwork and recommend new assets based on title, seasonal, and business needs.
• Brief, direct, and review the work of character artists, freelancers, vendors, and agencies from concept through final delivery.
• Collaborate with style guides, product development, franchise, marketing, and creative production partners.
• Prepare final assets for style guides, seasonal packs, retail programs, and global character art libraries.
• Manage multiple creative workstreams while tracking quality, timing, and feedback across deliverables.

Skills

Character illustration

Pose exploration

Expression work

Anatomy knowledge

Outfit development

Visual storytelling

Art direction

Digital drawing tools

Tools

Photoshop

Illustrator

Digital drawing tools

Job description

Bring beloved characters to life through original artwork that extends beyond existing production assets and supports a wide range of consumer products. This hands-on creative role blends strong illustration skills with the ability to guide artists and vendors, ensuring every piece stays true to character identity and brand standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop fresh character poses, expressions, outfits, props, and group interactions for consumer products and related applications.
• Sketch, refine, and revise artwork directly, stepping in on priority projects when hands-on creative support is needed.
• Translate model sheets, turnarounds, animation references, and approved production art into assets tailored for consumer products.
• Maintain visual consistency, ensuring artwork remains on-model, on-character, and aligned with brand standards.
• Create drawovers and redlines to address anatomy, proportions, likeness, silhouettes, expressions, and costume details.
• Build and organize scalable character art libraries for apparel, accessories, toys, packaging, publishing, retail, softlines, and more.
• Identify gaps in existing artwork and recommend new assets based on title, seasonal, and business needs.
• Brief, direct, and review the work of character artists, freelancers, vendors, and agencies from concept through final delivery.
• Collaborate with style guides, product development, franchise, marketing, and creative production partners.
• Prepare final assets for style guides, seasonal packs, retail programs, and global character art libraries.
• Manage multiple creative workstreams while tracking quality, timing, and feedback across deliverables.

Skills

• Strong portfolio showcasing character illustration, pose exploration, expression work, outfit development, and visual storytelling.
• Excellent drawing ability with a solid understanding of anatomy, gesture, movement, proportion, silhouette, and expression.
• Proven ability to draw established characters accurately while adding energy and personality.
• Experience in consumer products, animation, entertainment, licensing, or a related creative field.
• Experience creating drawovers and providing creative direction to internal or external artists.
• Knowledge of how character artwork adapts across product categories and production methods.
• Strong communication, presentation, collaboration, and organization skills.
• Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and other digital drawing tools.
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-moving creative environment.

Preferred Skills

• Experience developing artwork for style guides, retail programs, or global character art libraries.
• Familiarity with working across cross-functional creative teams and external partners.
• Ability to spot creative gaps and proactively recommend solutions.
• Comfort presenting concepts and incorporating feedback while protecting character design integrity.
• Experience supporting projects with a strong emphasis on franchise consistency and commercial application.

Horizontal is committed to building an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and every candidate is considered fairly. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, and we are dedicated to fostering equity and belonging throughout the hiring process.

By applying for this position, you acknowledge and agree that Horizontal Talent may contact you regarding your application using automated technology, including phone calls, SMS/text messages, or email, which may be delivered by our virtual AI recruiter, Alex.

For those that join the team, we offer competitive compensation and benefits including medical, dental, vision, and retirement.

The pay range for this role is $94 - $135 per hour based on qualifications and experience.