Character Designer - Series

sonypicturesanimation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 81,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

Sony Pictures Animation, based in Los Angeles, is seeking a Character Designer to explore looks, feelings, and personalities with production leadership. You will iterate designs, ensure alignment with downstream teams, and help shape the visual language across animated features and series.

The role emphasizes artistic versatility, strong draftsmanship, and ability to work both independently and within a team, under a union contract.

Qualifications

• Experience on animated feature film, TV series, or game preferred.
• Ability to articulate creative ideas.
• Excellent draftsmanship and character turnarounds.
• Photoshop knowledge required.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with creative leadership to explore character look, feel, and personality.
• Review script for characters needed at episode handout.
• Create multiple iterations of each character, including poses, expressions, and turnarounds.
• Propose design approaches for downstream departments.
• Ensure artwork is backed up, stored, and materials prepared on time.
• Contribute solutions, respond to feedback, and iterate on designs.
• Communicate questions or production concerns to supervisors and production staff.
• Meet production schedules while maintaining high artistic quality.
• Work independently and in a team.

Skills

Draftsmanship

Character posing

Anatomy knowledge

Creative versatility

Communication of ideas

Tools

Photoshop

Job description

The Character Designer is in charge of exploring all options when crafting the look, feel, personality, and appeal of a character. Working with the Production Designer, Art Director, and other creative leads, you will explore multiple looks for each character to bring them to life. This is a union covered position.

Sony Pictures Animation is an animation studio based in Los Angeles, California, creating both feature animation and animated series with artists from around the world. We pride ourselves on empowering filmmakers to lead the creative process and allowing the hand of the artist to be truly felt, with the goal of producing bold and innovative visual storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the creative leadership throughout the pitch, design and production process to visually explore and discover the characters' look, feel, and personality
• Review script for characters needed at the handout of each episode
• Create multiple iterations of each character (including character poses, expressions and turnarounds) in rough pass form and approved final designs
• Propose design approaches that consider downstream departments (modeling and texturing)
• Ensure all artwork is properly backed up, stored appropriately, and all shipping materials are prepared and ready on time
• Contribute creative solutions, respond effectively to feedback, and iterate on designs throughout production
• Proactively communicate questions, issues, or production concerns to supervisors and production staff
• Meet production schedules and deadlines while maintaining a high level of artistic quality and consistency
• Able to work independently and within a team environment

Qualifications

• Previous experience on an animated feature film, tv series, or game preferred.
• Ability to articulate creative ideas.
• Excellent draftsmanship.
• Skilled in character pose, facial expressions and character turnarounds.
• Outstanding research skills and an understanding of costume design.
• Knowledge of anatomy and volumetric drawing.
• We value inventiveness! Each Sony Pictures Animation project has its own distinctive and outstanding visual language so it is helpful to have stylistic versatility.
• Photoshop knowledge required.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $59.16/hour to $70.00/hour.

This role qualifies for benefits pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement. The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of factors.

Sony Pictures Animation is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.