Animation Artist Freelance

Repeatedly voted one of Montreal’s Top Employers and Employer of the Year for the 2022 Mercuriades Awards, Rodeo FX is a high-end creative company offering services in visual effects, advertising, animation, and experiential.

Nominated for multiple Emmy® Awards 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, the independent, Oscar®-winning company boasts close to 900 artists crafting from studios in Montreal, Québec City, Toronto, Los Angeles and Paris.

Rodeo FX is a creative partner to the world’s best storytellers including Netflix, HBO, Disney, Marvel, Amazon Studios, Warner Bros. and Sony, and has collaborated on ads for YouTube, NBC and Apple. Current projects include Blue Beetle, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon. Recently released projects include John Wick: Chapter 4, Black Adam, Disney's The Little Mermaid and Love, Death and Robots Volume 3, for which the company won a 2023 VES award.

Job Description

The Freelance Animation Artist is responsible for delivering high-end, hyper-realistic performances for creatures, characters, and animated objects. With a sharp eye for timing, weight, and emotion, the artist brings life and credibility to animated assets, whether realistic or stylized. Working closely with the Animation Lead and Supervisor, the artist contributes creatively and technically to the success of each shot, while adhering to the project’s artistic vision, technical specifications, and deadlines.

Key Responsibilities:

Master your craft

• Deliver polished animation work that meets both creative intent and production specifications.
• Demonstrate a solid grasp of animation principles—timing, weight, arcs, and posing—across different performance styles.
• Adapt quickly to varying animation contexts (realistic creatures, mechanical objects, stylized characters).

Creative Quality

• Interpret creative direction and reference materials to build nuanced and expressive performances.
• Propose original ideas and motion choices that enhance the storytelling and overall impact of the shot.
• Seek and integrate feedback constructively to elevate the quality of animation.

Technical Quality

• Ensure animation is clean, functional, and export-ready for downstream departments.
• Anticipate and troubleshoot rigging or scene-related issues in collaboration with technical teams.
• Maintain naming conventions, file structures, and technical requirements as per pipeline standards.

Communication

• Provide realistic time estimates, communicate promptly in case of issues or potential delays, and collaborate with production to adjust priorities if needed.
• Maintain open communication with production, leads, and adjacent departments to support smooth handoffs and problem-solving.
• Flag roadblocks proactively and propose viable solutions when technical or creative issues arise.
• Participate actively in dailies and reviews, clearly presenting work and responding to notes.

Teach, learn and grow

• Share tools, tips, and approaches with peers to foster collective improvement.
• Engage in learning sessions, studio initiatives, or internal mentorship programs.
• Stay current with evolving trends, software, and animation methodologies to refine your practice.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of experience in a VFX or animation studio environment.
• Strong proficiency in Maya; experience with other animation tools is a plus.
• Solid understanding of body mechanics, facial animation..
• Ability to animate from reference and build compelling acting performances.
• High attention to detail, autonomy, and ability to manage deadlines effectively.
• Positive, collaborative mindset and strong communication skills.
• Asset : Experience with ShotGrid or other production tracking tools.
• Asset : Knowledge of rigging fundamentals or custom tool development.

Additional Information

• Immediate start date
• Multiple positions
• Temporary contracts of varying lengths

Diversity : At Rodeo FX, diversity is a core value. We’re committed to creating an inclusive, equitable workplace where different perspectives are embraced. Every team member brings unique insight that strengthens our creativity, challenges our thinking, and helps us deliver better work.

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