3D FX Artist | Guru Studio, Canada

Guru Studio is seeking an experienced, creatively driven 3D FX Artist to join the production team for the world’s #1 smash-hit animated children’s series, PAW Patrol. As this award-winning, action-packed global phenomenon enters its second decade of production, our studio is embarking on highly ambitious milestones. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to one of the most recognizable and beloved children’s properties in entertainment history.

In this role 3D FX Artist, you will be responsible for designing and implementing dynamic, stylized 3D effects—ranging from environmental elements like rain and dust to complex interactions like water and fire. Operating under a hybrid work model out of our vibrant downtown Toronto studio, you will utilize sideFX Houdini alongside our proprietary in-house pipelines to deliver high-quality visual effects that align with the established aesthetic of the show.

If you are a collaborative problem-solver with a passion for high-end episodic animation, this role provides an exceptional platform to showcase your craft to a massive global audience.

Job Overview : 3D FX Artist

For a quick, comprehensive reference regarding this professional vacancy, please review the core parameters outlined below:

Role Overview & Strategic Impact

At Guru Studio, our 3D FX Artists do not simply run automated simulations; they are digital craftsmen who manipulate physics to support character performance and comedic timing. Because PAW Patrol features highly stylized, snappy, cartoon-style animation, your effects must feel integrated into the show’s specific universe rather than leaning into hyper-realism.

You will work as a critical link between the Asset department and the Lighting/Compositing teams. A primary component of your strategic impact will involve finding creative, optimized solutions for complex scenes. This means thinking structurally and collaborating with asset artists to generate lightweight, efficient visual tricks without default-reliance on heavy, time-consuming simulations. This technical and artistic balance ensures that production moving at a fast-paced television schedule remains optimized, visually stunning, and on time.

Key Responsibilities as 3D FX Artist

As a 3D FX Artist on this production, your day-to-day operations will blend creative artistry, technical pipeline navigation, and clear communication. Your core responsibilities include:

1. FX Creation & Stylization

• Dynamic Asset Generation: Design, simulate, and implement high-quality 3D FX elements, including but not limited to dust clouds, rain, fire, smoke, mud, and complex water interactions.
• Physics Manipulation: Artfully manipulate simulation physics inside Houdini to match the snappy, exaggerated timing and weight of stylized cartoon animation.
• Non-Simulated Solutions: Partner closely with the asset team to generate clever, creative structural workarounds to achieve required visual goals without defaulting to heavy, resource-intensive simulations.

2. Pipeline Execution & Delivery

• Schedule Discipline: Complete all assigned technical and artistic tasks on schedule, ensuring that fast-paced weekly episodic deadlines are met consistently.
• Pipeline Integration: Follow established studio workflows, asset tracking pipelines, and file structures. Utilize advanced USD and Solaris frameworks where applicable to pass assets efficiently down the pipeline.
• Risk Management: Maintain highly proactive communication with your FX Lead, flagging potential technical bottlenecks, render risks, or timeline challenges before they impact the crew.

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise

Candidates must possess a refined combination of television production experience, specialized software mastery, and soft-skill accountability.

Professional Qualifications

• Industry Tenure: Minimum of 4+ years of professional production experience working within animated television series, feature films, or premium VFX environments.
• Houdini Expertise: In-depth, production-proven knowledge of SideFX Houdini is an absolute requirement for this position.
• Creative Portfolio: A strong, professional portfolio/demo reel showcasing clean timing, varied FX scales (fluid, particle, pyro), and a keen eye for composition.

Highly Valued Assets (Nice-to-Haves)

• Proven rendering experience using Redshift and compositing skills inside Foundry Nuke.
• Direct production familiarity with modern scene-description pipelines, specifically USD (Universal Scene Description), Solaris, and custom Redshift Shaders.

Soft Skills & Core Values

• Independent Problem Solving: Ability to take directorial prompts and independently troubleshoot technical assets inside the engine.
• Transparent Communication: A collaborative, team-oriented mindset with the willingness to share workflow insights and receive constructive creative feedback.
• Commitment to Quality: Pride in your craftsmanship, ensuring that final renders always reflect a high standard of visual polish.

Why Join Guru Studio?

Guru Studio is an industry leader in animated storytelling, celebrating over twenty years of bringing recognizable properties to global audiences. We focus heavily on cultivating a supportive workspace built around courage, purpose, inspiration, integrity, transparency, and empowerment.

• Hybrid Flexibility: Enjoy the flexibility to work from home while maintaining access to our beautiful, fully equipped downtown Toronto studio for face-to-face collaboration, team-building, and social connectivity.
• Professional Growth: We actively encourage team members to scale their skill sets with us by providing internal learning opportunities and technical exposure.
• Comprehensive Well-being: Access an extensive health and wellness benefits plan, alongside dedicated extended mental health services and psychological support networks.
• Community & Giving: Participate in local and global philanthropic initiatives organized through our passionate, studio-backed charity committee, Guru Gives.

Accessibility & Diversity Commitment

Guru Studio is committed to providing an inclusive, equitable work environment that celebrates the diverse identities of its global workforce. We welcome applications from people of all races, religions, genders, indigenous backgrounds, and people with disabilities.

Furthermore, we are dedicated to providing a fully accessible candidate experience during our recruitment process. If you require accommodations at any stage due to a disability, you may request it at any time, and Guru will work diligently to accommodate your individual needs up to the point of undue hardship.