Supervising Animator (Marketing)

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

Sony Pictures Imageworks Canada is seeking a Supervising Animator (Marketing) to lead a skilled team of artists, ensuring top tier animation while meeting schedule and budget constraints. The ideal candidate will combine creative leadership with production discipline, casting shots, mentoring artists, and guiding the team through client reviews and close collaboration with the Marketing Production group. Qualifications include 8+ years as a professional character animator on high-end CG features, 2+ years in a lead role, expert Maya, and solid experience with shot management tools such as ShotGrid. Strong communication, collaboration, and a proven track record coaching growth are essential. To apply, tailor your resume with concrete leadership outcomes, showcase marketing oriented reels, highlight cross department collaboration, and demonstrate a commitment to inclusive, supportive leadership; Sony Pictures Imageworks Canada values diverse perspectives and encourages applicants from all identities to apply.

Sony Pictures Imageworks is located on the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. We are committed to respecting traditional lands, and working with communities towards reconciliation.

Sony Pictures Imageworks Canada Inc.

658 Homer Street., Suite 405, Vancouver, BC, V6B 2R4

Language in work environment - English

Benefits per company policy: include healthcare, tuition reimbursement, RRSP's, Sick and Vacation leave, standard increases as applicable

Summary:

The Supervising Animator (Marketing) provides leadership and guidance to the artists on the marketing team, helps them meet the high artistic standards of the projects, and ensures that the direction of the creative team is carried out on schedule and on budget.

The Supervising Animator (Marketing) is responsible for the creative leadership and assigning of shots to their artists. They oversee and mentor artists and provide day to day support during production. The role involves working very closely with the marketing production team to ensure the client vision and requirements of the work is met.

The Supervising Animator (Marketing) is accountable for their team meeting deadlines and participating in client reviews to present work in progress. They interact with other department Supervisors and teams to problem solve and share information related to their shots and assigned tasks. They must be able to decipher (as well as follow through on) shot turnovers, dailies, briefings, notes, and feedback. 

As a leader, the Supervising Animator (Marketing) must be invested in supporting the Artists with their career growth by understanding and communicating their development needs and delegating work that leans in to their strengths, whilst balancing their goals for improvement. They are responsible to provide clear and supportive feedback to artists during the course of their assignments, as well as provide detailed written feedback to Artist Management. They are expected to provide coaching, troubleshooting, and accountability for their team and their work during their time with their team.

Main Responsibilities:

Creative

• Adapts swiftly to changing animation styles and practices.
• Supervises animation on characters while guiding and inspiring animators to create their best work. Sets a high quality standard of animation for animators to follow.
• Works in partnership with the CG Supervisor, ensuring the quality of the work is maintained through the pipeline. 
• Casts shots to their animation team, balancing production and creative needs with artist goals and areas of development.

Production

• Partners with Production Management to ensure their team of artists are on track to complete their shots on time and to the highest quality.
• Attends all required meetings. Participates in and (in instances) runs client meetings (Animation Director reviews, Animation Launches and Brain Trusts etc.).
• Provides animation bids for Sequences and Shots. 
• Aids in the recruiting and interviewing of external Animators, and discusses staffing resources needed with leadership. 

Collaboration and Communication

• Models and fosters a collaborative work environment between individuals on the team and across departments.
• Identifies solutions and compromises in partnership with other supervisors.
• Provides regular updates to HOD and AM on the health and direction of the team.
• Keeps their team informed with context for changes and updates.
• Anticipates delays to the schedule and communicates concerns and issues as soon as possible.
• Remains flexible and adaptable when faced with change. 
• Collaborates with adjacent department supervisors.

Leading People 

• Participates in a comprehensive performance feedback process for their team, and delivers regular constructive feedback. 
• Conducts regular 1:1 meetings with artists in the team to help give feedback to help support their development and to provide coaching. Helps set goals and accountability for artists, whilst inspiring and offering praise and recognition. 
• Creates an inclusive and safe work environment by building trust, making rooms feel open and comfortable, and creating space for everyone to have a voice. 
• Supports and inspires artists in their career learning and growth, and motivates the team. Creates initiatives to help manage team morale and how to manage the workload of their team successfully. 
• Mentors new animators, sharing knowledge, suggestions, and helpful tips and tricks.
• Mentors and coaches Lead Animators to best support them and their team to help support their growth. 

Studio Stewardship

• Communicates with the HOD to improve studio health, artist satisfaction and technical processes at the facility level. Gives information on progress and team health on the current assigned tasks. 
• Participates in a comprehensive performance feedback process and makes sure current and accurate information is passed to Artist Management. 
• Actively fosters an inclusive, innovative, and collaborative studio environment so every employee can contribute at the highest levels.
• Engages in the creation and execution of technical standards, pipeline conventions and workflows to support the department, show and studio. 
• Collaborates with the HOD and the Training Department to keep the training curriculum relevant.
• Seeks out opportunities and efficiencies that drive the department forward.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience as a professional character Animator on high-end CG animated features, and 2+ years of proven experience as a Lead Animator guiding and mentoring teams.
• Deep understanding of style development, performance, cinematography, and storytelling principles as they apply to animation.
• Strong grasp of animation pipelines, production workflows, and shot management tools (ShotGrid experience a plus).
• Skilled at balancing creative vision with production goals, maintaining both artistic quality and schedule discipline.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills; able to partner effectively with Production, department supervisors, and studio leadership.
• Proven ability to give clear, constructive feedback and foster artist growth and development.
• Expert knowledge of Maya, and ability to quickly learn and adapt to styles, pipeline, tools and workflows.
• Adaptable and proactive, with a commitment to building a positive, inclusive, and collaborative team culture.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $130,000 to $150,000/yr CAD. Benefits are per company policy: which include healthcare, tuition reimbursement, RRSP's, Sick and Vacation leave, standard increases as applicable. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position.

We value unique perspectives, and want diverse, unique talent to work with us.  We encourage candidates from all identities to apply.

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