Pigiste artiste Animateur.trice Senior

About the role

Senior Creature Animator Opportunity at Rodeo FX

Rodeo FX is currently seeking to fill multiple positions with an immediate start available through the beginning of June, with the possibility of extension. The studio requires a senior-level professional specializing in the animation of flying creatures for a prominent project. This is a new duty order issued for a specific creative requirement.

The Pigiste Artiste Animateur role is central to achieving the studio's benchmark for hyper-realistic animation. The individual in this position is responsible for breathing life into creatures, characters, and inanimate objects. The work must meet the studio's exacting standards for quality and realism. Success in this role demands a comprehensive grasp of movement, narrative structure, and acting techniques. The daily work involves creating performances that are both realistic and fantastical.

Collaboration is integral to this position. The selected artist will work directly with the Animation Lead and the Supervising Animator. Together, they will ensure creative project objectives are met while adhering to strict production schedules. The role requires self-sufficiency and the proactive contribution of innovative animation techniques.

Key Responsibilities

Master Your Craft

The primary duty involves the delivery of high-caliber animations. These animations must capture both subtle, natural movements and exaggerated performances tailored to project specifications. The artist must also demonstrate technical flexibility, applying different animation styles such as realistic or cartoon approaches as directed by creative leadership.

Creative Excellence

A core duty is the creation of compelling performances for all assigned subjects. This is based on the project's creative vision and specific requirements. The artist must consistently refine these performances, seeking authentic reactions and pushing the boundaries of creativity to achieve outstanding results.

Technical Proficiency

Ensuring the technical robustness of all animation is mandatory. Work must comply with established guidelines and function seamlessly within various pipeline processes. Close cooperation with technical and rigging teams is essential to overcome challenges and enhance the overall animation workflow.

Communication

Effective communication with other departments is required. This includes providing clear feedback and discussing creative and technical solutions to achieve optimal outcomes. The role also involves keeping production leads informed regarding progress, potential obstacles, and necessary adjustments.

Learning, Teaching, and Evolution

The position requires knowledge sharing with junior animators. Participation in department-wide learning sessions is expected. The role holder should mentor new animators while staying current with the latest animation techniques and technologies to continuously develop personal skills.

Mandatory Qualifications

Applicants must possess a minimum of six years of professional experience within visual effects or animation studios. A demonstrated mastery of Autodesk Maya is non-negotiable; experience with additional animation tools is considered an asset. A professional-level understanding of body mechanics and facial animation is essential.

The ability to build convincing performances using reference material and improvisation is required. Candidates must manage details, deadlines, and dependencies with disciplined independence. Clear communication, resilience under pressure, and effective collaboration are mandatory traits.

Additional Assets

Prior experience with ShotGrid or similar production tracking systems is advantageous. Knowledge of rigging fundamentals or experience in developing custom tools for animation workflows is also beneficial.

Position Details

This is a contract-based opportunity. The compensation range is established between $81,610.69 and $102,103.39 annually. The position is open immediately with several slots available.

Rodeo FX utilizes AI-based tools to support specific recruitment stages, including interview transcription or preliminary application analysis. These tools may be operated by external providers, and data may be processed outside Quebec. These tools never replace human decision-making; all final hiring decisions are made by the company's recruitment team and hiring managers.

Rodeo FX has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best employers in Montreal and received the Mercuriades Award in 2022 for Employer of the Year

Large Company. It is a high-end creative company with over 15 years of experience, providing visual effects, animation, and advertising services.

The company has received multiple Emmy® nominations for its work on the series *Stranger Things* Season 4, *The Witcher* Season 2, and *The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power* Season

1. This independent Oscar®-winning company employs nearly 900 artists working in studios located in Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Paris.

Rodeo FX is a creative partner for top storytellers worldwide, including Netflix, HBO, Disney, Marvel, Amazon Studios, Warner Bros., and Sony. The company has also collaborated on advertisements for YouTube, NBC, and Apple. Current projects include *Blue Beetle*, *Monarch: Legacy of Monsters*, and Zack Snyder's *Rebel Moon*. Among recent releases, *John Wick: Chapter 4*, *Black Adam*, Disney's *The Little Mermaid*, and *Love, Death and Robots Volume 3* are highlighted; the latter project earned the company a VES Award in 2023.