The Animation Director provides strategic leadership and creative direction to the Animation team.

Overseeing the entire animation process, the role is pivotal in maintaining the artistic vision, quality, and coherence of animation across all aspects of our productions.

Ultimately the key focus area for the Animation Director is the elevation of character movement and storytelling within the show.

Areas of Accountability

Strategic Creative Direction

• Define and uphold the artistic vision and style of the animation, ensuring consistency and alignment with the show's creative goals.

• Collaborate with other Animation Directors to ensure animation consistency across the production.

• Collaborate closely with Producers, Directors, and other department heads to establish and maintain animation pipelines and workflows.

• Provide creative feedback and direction to animators to enhance character performances, storytelling, and visual appeal.

• Collaborate with the Art Director and other creative leads to ensure animation supports the overall visual style and narrative of the production.

• Address feedback from Directors, Producers, and Showrunner to incorporate revisions as necessary.

• Ensure animation is properly reviewed prior to client deliveries at critical milestones and project processes are aligned with the standard set by the show creators.

• Communicate effectively with the production team to align on project goals, milestones, and creative objectives.

Leadership

• Lead the animation teams, providing mentorship, guidance, and strategic direction to achieve high-quality animation standards.

• Promote a collaborative and creative work environment with open communication and a positive atmosphere

• Encourage professional growth and skill development to improve the overall design capabilities and knowledge of all staff members.

• Guide and work closely with the Animation Supervisors and help them to troubleshoot any issues within their teams.

• Plan, prioritise and communicate activities and provide thoughtful guidance and feedback to the animation team to ensure consistency and quality in their work.

• Working with leads and supervisors, delegate tasks appropriately, ensuring workload distribution is balanced and efficient.

• In conjunction with Production, review and contribute to asset/bid and or lead sheets.

• Collaborate with Production to plan, distribute and manage workload of crew in relation to the schedule.

• Contribute to the resourcing and talent acquisition process for skills needed on the production.

• Reviewing portfolios and tests, interviewing candidates, and providing detailed feedback.

• Proactively manage team performance by conducting regular check-ins, providing timely feedback both positive and constructive, keeping detailed notes and promptly addressing underperformance issues to ensure improvement.

Animation Production

• Oversee the animation pipeline from pre-production through final delivery, ensuring efficient workflows and adherence to project timelines.

• Review and approve animation sequences to maintain visual consistency and meet production standards.

• Coordinate with other departments to ensure seamless integration of animated elements into final shots.

• Conduct regular reviews and critiques of animation work to uphold high standards of quality, consistency, and technical execution.

• Provide clear and concise direction to animators and collaborate with other departments to resolve animation-related challenges.

Outsourcing (where relevant)

• In conjunction with other Animation Directors, oversee the launch of animation to outsource studios.

• Review animation submitted by outsource studio and provide clear and concise feedback

• Approve outsource animation for delivery to downstream departments.

• Maintain strong communication with the outsource studio to ensure seamless delivery of animation.

Client Management

• Review and specify creative and/or technical revisions and requests impacting the time and budget.

• Effectively facilitate discussion with the client to discuss improving the quality of our work.

Skills/Experience

• 7+ years of experience working in 2D Animation and 5+ years experience in a similar role.

• Collaborative and supportive working style.

• Strong time management and organisational skills, working effectively to deadlines.

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Suite, Toon Boom Harmony

• Proficiency in Shotgrid/Flow is desirable

• Confident presentation and facilitation skills

• Able to lead a client-focused approach to deliver shows to their expected standards.

• Effective leadership and management of large teams.

• Written and verbal communication skills, ensuring that the necessary information is flowing across production and within the department.

• High degree of professionalism, maturity, initiative.