Senior 2D Character Animator and Builds Artist (On-Site)

Company Overview

     ICON Creative Studio is Canada’s largest independently owned animation entertainment company, located in the historic Gastown district of Vancouver, BC. Our talented team includes specialists across the entire animation pipeline, working alongside creative and management professionals to deliver outstanding animated content.

Known for our commitment to quality, efficiency, and timely deliveries, ICON has partnered with distributors, broadcasters, and leading streaming platforms worldwide to create and produce noteworthy, impactful projects.

We operate from a holistic philosophy, leveraging the unique skill sets of our team members to maximize production efficiency while maintaining an optimal balance of creativity and quality on-screen.

Why Work at ICON?

• Collaborate on top-tier feature and episodic CG franchises for major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, Amazon, Peacock, and Paramount+.


• Be part of a diverse team of artists from around the globe who have joined us here in British Columbia.


• Work with the latest tools and software, ensuring you're always equipped to do your best work.


• Be part of a studio that upholds a premium standard of quality across all productions, putting every resource into what’s on-screen.


• Enjoy flexibility, autonomy, and a supportive workplace culture.


• Access direct deposit and a generous benefits package.


• Grow with us through continuous learning opportunities, mentorship, and empowering you to achieve your professional goals.

Job Overview

As a Senior 2D Character Animator, you will be a key creative leader, delivering exceptional animation and 2D builds in Toonboom Harmony while contributing to the overall artistic vision of the series. Your extensive experience and mastery of 2D animation will allow you to handle the most complex shots while guiding and mentoring the animation team. With a focus on quality, efficiency, and continuity, you will play a crucial role in maintaining the show's unique style and ensuring the highest standards across all builds and sequences. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver high-quality 2D character animation and builds that meet and exceed production standards.


• Animate complex sequences, including intricate character interactions and dynamic, technically challenging shots and sequences.


• Provide mentorship and guidance to Junior and Intermediate Animators, fostering skill development while supporting the team in meeting deadlines.


• Ensure animation aligns with the show's unique style and artistic vision, maintaining consistency across sequences.


• Proactively address feedback and achieve asset and shot approvals efficiently, minimizing revisions.


• Organize scenes and workflows to maintain a streamlined and productive animation process.


• Ensure all Harmony files,  frames and exports are organized and labelled correctly. 


• Oversee continuity across sequences, ensuring a seamless narrative flow and visual consistency.


• Tackle and resolve complex animation challenges, working collaboratively with 3D team members, including Leads, Directors, Supervisors and Heads of Departments.


• Have advanced knowledge of Toon Boom Harmony and assist the team with technical challenges, troubleshooting software-related issues, and optimizing workflows.


• Communicate effectively with the Head of Department, Supervisors, Directors, and production teams, contributing insights to improve the animation pipeline.


• Identify and address broader workflow and pipeline issues to enhance the overall production quality.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience working in Toon Boom Harmony, demonstrating mastery in both 2D character animation and rigged builds, with a strong portfolio showcasing complex, expressive performances and technical proficiency.


• Deep understanding of animation principles, character performance, timing, spacing, and posing, allowing for the creation of dynamic and emotionally resonant scenes.


• Proven ability to execute high-profile and technically challenging shots independently, maintaining character integrity and stylistic consistency across episodes.


• Advanced knowledge of Harmony’s rigging and node systems, including deformation chains, master controllers, and scripting for build optimization and reuse.


• Strong leadership skills, with experience mentoring junior and intermediate animators and builds artists, providing clear feedback, and helping elevate the overall team quality.


• Excellent eye for continuity and visual storytelling, ensuring seamless transitions across scenes and sequences through careful attention to narrative flow and character consistency.


• Demonstrated efficiency in managing complex scenes and organizing Harmony files with proper labeling, folder structure, and versioning to align with studio pipeline standards.


• Collaborative mindset, with a history of working closely with Directors, Supervisors, and other departments (e.g. 3D, Compositing) to resolve artistic and technical challenges.


• Experience troubleshooting and optimizing animation pipelines, identifying workflow bottlenecks, and contributing to improvements that boost team efficiency and output quality.


• Strong communication skills, able to advocate for animation needs, take and apply notes constructively, and contribute to broader creative and technical discussions across production.

--

The wage range for this role reflects compensation across all of ICON’s projects. The final salary will be determined based on the specific position, the current show assignment, and the applicant’s experience and portfolio. This range accounts for varying levels of experience and responsibilities.

In compliance with British Columbia provincial mandates, we are posting this broad wage range to meet wage transparency requirements.

--

ICON Creative Studio is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.