Senior Animator - Feature

OUR STORY

For more than 35 years, Bardel Entertainment has been growing and evolving, yet at our core, we remain grounded in the creative roots of the craft of animation.  Our pursuit of fresh ideas, techniques, and technologies is driven by the belief that together, through creativity and collaboration, we can accomplish anything!  If you want to be part of an environment that empowers you to experiment, learn, and contribute to exciting projects, come and join us.

Start date: Early August/ September

What You’ll Do 

• Deliver high-end 3D character animation that supports performance, emotion, and story in a feature film context. 

• Own complex shots or sequences from blocking through final polish with a high degree of creative and technical execution. 

• Develop expressive performances across a range of styles—from nuanced, subtle acting to broad, physical comedy—aligned with the director’s vision. 

• Collaborate with the Animation Supervisor, Leads and Director to elevate character performances and ensure continuity across sequences. 

• Propose creative animation solutions and performance ideas that contribute meaningfully to storytelling and character development. 

• Troubleshoot and resolve performance, rigging, or technical issues in collaboration with supporting departments. 

• Mentor junior and mid-level animators, offering guidance, feedback, and support to improve performance quality across the team. 

• Actively participate in dailies, reviews, and team syncs, providing both creative input and solutions to challenges raised by peers or leadership. 

• Maintain a high level of scene organization and adhere to studio pipeline and workflow standards. 

• Manage your workload efficiently across multiple shots or sequences, prioritizing complexity, deadlines, and creative expectations. 

• Take ownership of deliverables and ensure consistent communication with Production and Supervisors around progress and potential blockers. 

• 5+ years of experience in feature film animation or equivalent high-end production environment. 

• Prior experience in a senior or lead animation role on at least one animated feature film is preferred. 

• Advanced proficiency in Maya and a deep understanding of animation principles, timing, weight, spacing, and silhouette. 

• Strong understanding of anatomy, physicality, and posing—applied to both bipeds and quadrupeds. 

• Proven ability to interpret and implement direction, while contributing ideas that push performances further. 

• Excellent communication and leadership skills in both remote and hybrid environments. 

• A collaborative, mentoring approach that supports team growth and upholds studio quality standards. 

A demo reel that includes: 

• Complex, emotionally resonant performances and strong acting choices. 

• Range in tone and style—comedic, subtle, physical, or creature-based animation. 

• A breakdown or written context for your creative decisions and technical approach. 

• High polish and precision in timing, arcs, and facial expression. 

• Feature film-quality work that reflects both storytelling and technical mastery. 

Pay Range: CAD $1800 - $2300 per week   

This salary range reflects our current expectations for these roles as of this posting’s date. Your final salary offer will consider various key factors, including your education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographical location, as well as the needs and requirements of the business. 

Flexible work environment, Extended Health and Wellness from day 1, RRSP matching are just some of the benefits. For more details, check out our website. 

At Bardel, we recognize that flexibility is key to doing great work. Our hybrid work environment is a valued perk designed to support individual accountability and empower our teams to work where they’re most productive. We offer the choice to work remotely, balanced with intentional in-person time for collaboration, creativity, and team building. This role requires in-studio attendance at our Vancouver studio during onboarding and predetermined Rush Weeks. 

If this seems like a good fit, what are you waiting for, get your application in!