Senior Character Art Manager

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

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.