Website Giant Pixel Studios
Giant Pixel Studio Job Overview
- Company Name: Giant Pixel Studios
- Job Title: Junior Animation Artist
- Employment Type: Contract (6 Months, potential extension)
- Location: Hybrid (Creative District office + remote flexibility)
- Salary Range: $55,000 – $72,000 (Annualized, pro-rated for contract)
- Start Date: Immediate / Within 30 days
- Reporting Structure: Senior Animation Lead / Creative Director
- Industry: Game Development / Animation
Giant Pixel Studios | Feature Film & Gaming Division
Giant Pixel is a premier creative powerhouse where imagination meets technical precision. As a studio that bridges the gap between high-octane gaming experiences and emotive feature-length animation, we pride ourselves on a culture of artistic bravery and technical excellence. We are currently seeking a motivated, high-potential Junior Animation Artist to join our team for a high-profile, six-month production cycle.
About Giant Pixel
At Giant Pixel, we don’t just “make content.” We craft worlds. Our team is a vibrant ecosystem of developers, fine artists, technical directors, and narrative architects. Our mission is to push the boundaries of visual storytelling, ensuring every frame we produce resonates with global audiences.
Giant Pixel believe that the best work comes from a place of radical transparency and collective creativity. As a Junior Artist here, you aren’t just a pair of hands—you are a voice in our creative discussions. Whether we are developing a sprawling open-world RPG or a 90-minute animated feature, our commitment to “The Giant Pixel Standard” remains the same: excellence without ego.
The Role: Impact and Responsibilities
As a Junior Animation Artist, your primary focus will be breathing life into digital assets. You will be responsible for the “soul” of our characters, ensuring their movements are not just technically sound, but emotionally resonant.
1. Technical Execution & Character Performance
Key Action: Develop high-fidelity character animations for feature films and cinematic sequences.
Context: You will be tasked with translating 2D storyboards into 3D performances. This requires a deep understanding of weight, timing, and physics.
The Goal: Ensure that character performances remain consistent across different scenes, maintaining the “DNA” of the character’s personality as defined by the Director.
2. Collaborative Iteration
Key Action: Active participation in “Dailies” and review sessions.
Context: Animation is an iterative process. You will receive direct feedback from the Lead Animator and Director.
The Goal: To demonstrate agility by implementing changes quickly and efficiently, turning critique into a catalyst for higher-quality output.
3. Software Mastery & Pipeline Integration
Key Action: Use industry-standard tools (Maya, Blender) to create fluid movement.
Context: You will work within our proprietary pipeline, ensuring that files are named, organized, and optimized for the Lighting and FX departments.
The Goal: To maintain a seamless workflow that prevents technical bottlenecks during the final stages of production.
4. Motion Capture (MoCap) Refinement
Key Action: Clean up and enhance motion capture data.
Context: While we value hand-keyed animation, many of our projects utilize MoCap. You will be responsible for “sweetening” this data to ensure it aligns with the stylized aesthetic of our films.
Required Qualifications & Competencies
We are looking for a blend of formal education and raw, portfolio-proven talent.
Academic Background: A Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Fine Arts, Digital Media, or a related field. We will also consider candidates with equivalent professional experience if their portfolio is exceptional.
Technical Proficiency: Advanced knowledge of Autodesk Maya is preferred, though proficiency in Blender or 3ds Max is acceptable provided there is a willingness to adapt to the studio’s primary toolset.
The “Twelve Principles”: You must have a reflexive understanding of squash and stretch, anticipation, staging, and follow-through.
Problem-Solving: The ability to troubleshoot technical rigging issues or “pops” in animation curves without constant supervision.
Communication: Highly developed verbal and written skills. You must be able to articulate why you made a specific creative choice for a character’s movement.
The Recruitment Process
Giant Pixel is committed to finding the right fit, not just the right resume. Our process typically involves:
Portfolio Review: We look for personality and “acting” in your shots, not just technical polish.
Technical Interview: A discussion with our Lead Animator regarding your workflow and software knowledge.
Culture Fit: A brief meeting with the production team to ensure alignment with our values of transparency and collaboration.
Pro Tip for Applicants: Your portfolio should include a “demo reel” (1–2 minutes) showcasing your best work. Include a “breakdown sheet” explaining exactly what you were responsible for in each shot (e.g., “Hand-keyed animation,” “MoCap cleanup,” “Rigging”).
Why Join Us?
Aside from the opportunity to work on world-class IP, Giant Pixel offers a supportive environment where juniors are mentored by industry veterans. This 6-month contract is designed as a “launchpad” role—many of our full-time leads started as short-term contract artists during peak production cycles.
To apply for this job please visit forms.office.com.