Character Art Manager, 3392-1

Cypress HCM; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 179,000; Full time

Job summary

Cypress HCM is seeking a hands-on Character Art Manager to ideate and develop original character artwork for global Consumer Products.

This leader will sketch, revise, and direct artists, vendors, and agencies, ensuring on-model, on-brand assets across a wide range of titles and product lines, including preschool- and kids-centric titles.

You will build scalable art libraries and manage multiple workstreams while safeguarding the character’s design DNA and the commercial needs of the artwork.

Qualifications

• Portfolio demonstrating character illustration and storytelling.
• Strong drawing skills with anatomy and gesture.
• Experience directing internal or external artists.
• Experience in Consumer Products or related field.
• Proficient in Photoshop and Illustrator.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Ideate and develop original character poses, expressions, outfits, props, group compositions, and character interactions.
• Personally sketch and refine artwork, guiding priority projects as needed.
• Translate concepts into assets for Consumer Products.
• Ensure artwork remains on-model, on-character, and on-brand while adding personality and movement.
• Create drawovers and redlines to address anatomy, proportions, expressions, silhouettes, and costuming.
• Build scalable character art libraries for apparel, accessories, toys, and other products.
• Identify gaps in existing assets and propose new artwork based on seasonal needs.
• Brief and direct artists, freelancers, vendors, and agencies from concepts through final execution.
• Review artwork at each stage and provide actionable feedback.
• Partner with Style Guides, Product Development, Franchise, Marketing, and external teams.
• Present concepts and incorporate feedback while protecting design DNA and commercial needs.
• Prepare final assets for style guides and retail programs.
• Manage multiple workstreams and flag timing concerns early.

Skills

Character illustration

Pose development

Anatomy understanding

Art direction

Team leadership

Communication

Storytelling

Time management

Tools

Photoshop

Illustrator

Drawing tablets

Job description

Role Overview

We are seeking a hands-on Character Art Manager to ideate and develop original character artwork for global Consumer Products. This person will expand characters beyond existing production assets through fresh poses, expressions, outfits, activities, and interactions that can be used across a wide range of products.

Character Art Manager, 3392-1

Role Overview

We are seeking a hands-on Character Art Manager to ideate and develop original character artwork for global Consumer Products. This person will expand characters beyond existing production assets through fresh poses, expressions, outfits, activities, and interactions that can be used across a wide range of products.

The Character Art Manager must be a strong artist who can personally sketch, draw, and revise artwork while also directing character artists, vendors, and agencies. They will ensure all artwork remains on-model, on-character, and on-brand while supporting priority projects, including preschool- and kids-centric titles.

Responsibilities

• Ideate and develop original character poses, expressions, outfits, props, group compositions, and character interactions
• Personally sketch and refine artwork, jumping into priority projects when hands-on support is needed
• Translate model sheets, turnarounds, animation references, and approved production artwork into assets created specifically for Consumer Products
• Ensure artwork remains on-model, on-character, and on-brand while introducing fresh personality, movement, and storytelling
• Create drawovers and redlines to address anatomy, likeness, proportions, expressions, silhouettes, and costuming
• Build scalable character art libraries for apparel, accessories, toys, packaging, publishing, retail, softlines, and other product applications
• Identify gaps in existing character assets and recommend additional artwork based on seasonal, title, and business needs
• Brief and direct character artists, freelancers, vendors, and agencies from early concepts through final execution
• Review artwork at each stage and provide clear, actionable creative feedback
• Partner with Style Guides, Product Development, Franchise, Marketing, filmmakers, and external production teams
• Present creative concepts and incorporate feedback while protecting the character’s design DNA and the commercial needs of the artwork
• Prepare and organize final assets for inclusion in style guides, seasonal packs, retail programs, and global character art libraries
• Manage multiple workstreams, flag creative or timing concerns early, and maintain a high standard of quality across deliverables

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio demonstrating character illustration, pose development, expression work, outfit exploration, and visual storytelling
• Excellent drawing skills with a strong understanding of anatomy, gesture, movement, proportion, silhouette, and expression
• Proven ability to draw established characters accurately while bringing fresh personality and energy to the artwork
• Experience in Consumer Products, animation, entertainment, licensing, or a related creative field
• Experience creating drawovers and directing internal or external artists
• Understanding of how character artwork translates across different product categories and production methods
• Strong communication, presentation, collaboration, and organizational skills
• Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and relevant digital drawing tools
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving creative environment

Pay Range

$120–130/hr.