Company: Brown Bag Films (Part of 9 Story Media Group)
Location: Toronto Office
Position: Full-time Contract, Senior Leadership Role
Reporting to: Head of Animation
At Brown Bag Films, we are a global leader in creative-led animation, guided by our motto: “We Love Animation™.” We are actively seeking a talented and driven Animation Director to join our Toronto Studio. This senior role is critical to leading the creative and technical delivery of the project’s animated output, ensuring maximum entertainment value and artistic consistency.
🎯 Role Summary: Purpose & Deliverables
Purpose: To proactively lead the Animation Team and take full charge of the creative and technical delivery of all animated output for a designated production. You will ensure character, acting, and animation style maximizes the project’s entertainment value, working in strong collaboration with the Director and Producer.
Key Deliverables:
- Animation Style Guides: Comprehensive and clear Animation Bible, launch documents, and special posing notes.
- Final Animated Output: High-quality character and animation style, delivered in line with creative expectations, scope, and schedule.
- Workflow & Solutions: Efficient animation workflow, pipeline, and innovative solutions to creative needs.
- Sustainable Team: A developed, engaged, and stable Animation Team.
Success Metrics:
- Animated outputs meet requirements within scope and production schedule.
- Optimal animation quality and resource management.
- Maximized efficiency and quality through smart use of industry technologies.
- Positive feedback from the Director, Client, Head of Animation, and Production team.
- Team development and sustainability.
✅ Key Responsibilities
1. Creative Direction & Style Ownership:
- Style Development: Alongside the Client, Director, and Creative Leads, create and/or maintain the cohesive animation style for the show, supporting overall show intent and maximizing entertainment value.
- Guidance: Provide clear and concise upfront direction through Bibles, launch documents, drawovers, gifs/videos, and examples.
- Review & Approval: Lead the review and approval process for all key animation stages, including: Tech Pass/Leica Lock, Designs (for animateability), Cycles, Posing/Blocking Pass, Animation Pass, and Revision Passes.
- Vetting: Manage the Director/Client notes vetting system to ensure creative expectations are met within the production schedule.
2. Team Management & Mentoring:
- Leadership: Manage and mentor the entire Animation Team, including Animation Supervisors, to achieve optimal creative and technical workflow.
- Culture: Create an encouraging and engaging work environment and identify key talent for development.
- Resourcing: Influence the creative and technical resourcing decisions for the designated projects.
3. Production & Pipeline Management:
- Schedule & Technical Flow: Manage the team to ensure the creative and technical processes are on target for production output and scheduled delivery.
- Issue Prevention: Identify potential issues for the creative vision (as they pertain to schedule) and proactively address them with the Animation Team and other departments.
- Collaboration: Collaborate with Art and Rigging departments to ensure creative, technical, and schedule goals are aligned and achievable; manage any shortfalls.
🔍 Essential Knowledge & Experience
| Category | Requirements |
| Knowledge | Extensive knowledge of animation production pipelines and workflows. Strong understanding of character performance and appreciation of how animation software is applied in production. |
| Experience | Proven experience on at least 6-7 long-form Film/TV animation productions. Strong leadership background in managing and mentoring teams, including forecasting project solutions and requirements. Well-founded experience with asset tracking & workflow management software (e.g., ShotGrid). |
| Technical Skills | Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, MS Project, PowerPoint). Experience with data analysis for reporting purposes. |
🎬 Animation Director: Job Description Rewrite 🌟
Company: Brown Bag Films (Part of 9 Story Media Group)
Location: Toronto Office
Position: Full-time Contract, Senior Leadership Role
Reporting to: Head of Animation
At Brown Bag Films, we are a global leader in creative-led animation, guided by our motto: “We Love Animation™.” We are actively seeking a talented and driven Animation Director to join our Toronto Studio. This senior role is critical to leading the creative and technical delivery of the project’s animated output, ensuring maximum entertainment value and artistic consistency.
🎯 Role Summary: Purpose & Deliverables
Purpose: To proactively lead the Animation Team and take full charge of the creative and technical delivery of all animated output for a designated production. You will ensure character, acting, and animation style maximizes the project’s entertainment value, working in strong collaboration with the Director and Producer.
Key Deliverables:
- Animation Style Guides: Comprehensive and clear Animation Bible, launch documents, and special posing notes.
- Final Animated Output: High-quality character and animation style, delivered in line with creative expectations, scope, and schedule.
- Workflow & Solutions: Efficient animation workflow, pipeline, and innovative solutions to creative needs.
- Sustainable Team: A developed, engaged, and stable Animation Team.
Success Metrics:
- Animated outputs meet requirements within scope and production schedule.
- Optimal animation quality and resource management.
- Maximized efficiency and quality through smart use of industry technologies.
- Positive feedback from the Director, Client, Head of Animation, and Production team.
- Team development and sustainability.
✅ Key Responsibilities
1. Creative Direction & Style Ownership:
- Style Development: Alongside the Client, Director, and Creative Leads, create and/or maintain the cohesive animation style for the show, supporting overall show intent and maximizing entertainment value.
- Guidance: Provide clear and concise upfront direction through Bibles, launch documents, drawovers, gifs/videos, and examples.
- Review & Approval: Lead the review and approval process for all key animation stages, including: Tech Pass/Leica Lock, Designs (for animateability), Cycles, Posing/Blocking Pass, Animation Pass, and Revision Passes.
- Vetting: Manage the Director/Client notes vetting system to ensure creative expectations are met within the production schedule.
2. Team Management & Mentoring:
- Leadership: Manage and mentor the entire Animation Team, including Animation Supervisors, to achieve optimal creative and technical workflow.
- Culture: Create an encouraging and engaging work environment and identify key talent for development.
- Resourcing: Influence the creative and technical resourcing decisions for the designated projects.
3. Production & Pipeline Management:
- Schedule & Technical Flow: Manage the team to ensure the creative and technical processes are on target for production output and scheduled delivery.
- Issue Prevention: Identify potential issues for the creative vision (as they pertain to schedule) and proactively address them with the Animation Team and other departments.
- Collaboration: Collaborate with Art and Rigging departments to ensure creative, technical, and schedule goals are aligned and achievable; manage any shortfalls.
🔍 Essential Knowledge & Experience
| Category | Requirements |
| Knowledge | Extensive knowledge of animation production pipelines and workflows. Strong understanding of character performance and appreciation of how animation software is applied in production. |
| Experience | Proven experience on at least 6-7 long-form Film/TV animation productions. Strong leadership background in managing and mentoring teams, including forecasting project solutions and requirements. Well-founded experience with asset tracking & workflow management software (e.g., ShotGrid). |
| Technical Skills | Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, MS Project, PowerPoint). Experience with data analysis for reporting purposes. |
💖 Why Join Brown Bag Films in Toronto?
As a key part of 9 Story Media Group, we offer an amazing place full of talented artists and creators.
- Perks & Benefits: We offer first-rate health + dental benefits, Summer Hours, paid Health and Wellness Days, and a rewarding vacation policy that grows with your tenure.
- Environment: Work in our fun, supportive Toronto office located in the cool and trendy Liberty Village.
Diversity & Inclusion: We are actively committed to ensuring equity in our recruitment process. Candidates from diverse backgrounds (including Indigenous, Racialized, LGBT2SQ+ communities, and individuals with disabilities) are strongly encouraged to apply.