The 3D Animator is a vital creative and technical force within the Flying Bark Productions studio ecosystem. If you are actively searching for competitive Sydney jobs that demand world-class character performance and collaborative storytelling, this role offers an incredible platform. The 3D Animator is responsible for bringing life to the characters of the project, with an emphasis on enhancing the story and audience connection with the characters and narrative.
This position requires a profound understanding of character performance, physical mechanics, and visual subtext. Working at Flying Bark Productions, you will seamlessly bridge the gap between initial storyboards and final, polished on-screen magic. You are responsible for executing, maintaining, and elevating the creative and technical requirements for animation as dictated by the Animation Director, while operating effectively within the production pipeline and shot schedules established by the Production Company.
Job Overview : Mid & Senior 3D Animators
| Category | Details |
| Company | Flying Bark Productions |
| Role Titles | Mid & Senior 3D Animators |
| Industry Segment | Premium Sydney Jobs / Creative Tech / Character Animation |
| Location | Alexandria, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Work Arrangement | Hybrid (Flexible work-from-home options) |
| Employment Type | Full-Time, Max-Term Contract |
| Experience Required | Minimum 4+ years of studio production experience |
| Core Software | Autodesk Maya |
| Key Projects | Avatar: The Last Airbender (Film), Ghostbusters (Netflix), Stranger Things (Netflix), Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan |
Welcome to Flying Bark Productions
For over 50 years, Flying Bark Productions has stood as a premier independent producer of family-focused animation entertainment. From our state-of-the-art 2D and 3D production facility, we offer some of the most sought-after Sydney jobs in the global creative tech and entertainment industries. We have spent decades building a legacy of award-winning feature films and internationally celebrated television series. Our studio ecosystem is dynamic, highly passionate, and deeply innovative, constantly dedicated to pushing the absolute boundaries of character performance and cinematic storytelling.
When you are exploring premium Sydney jobs, very few offer the artistic depth, creative scale, and cultural vibrancy found at Flying Bark Productions. Our current active portfolio includes some of the most highly anticipated, artistically ambitious projects in the global entertainment landscape. As a Mid or Senior 3D Animator joining our elite crew, you will have the unique opportunity to leave your creative mark on monumental titles, including:
- Avatar: The Last Airbender (Upcoming Feature Film)
- Ghostbusters (Netflix Animated Series)
- Stranger Things (Netflix Animated Series)
- Tales From Outer Suburbia (The highly anticipated adaptation by Academy Award winner Shaun Tan)
Detailed Responsibilities and Duties
Character Performance & Creative Execution
- Character Artistry: Infuse characters with genuine life, emotion, and distinct personality traits, ensuring that every performance advances the narrative and deepens the audience’s emotional connection.
- Stellar Mechanics: Execute high-end keyframe character animation, demonstrating an flawless grasp of physical weight, balance, muscle tension, center of gravity, and fluid body mechanics.
- Facial & Vocal Nuance: Craft deeply expressive facial performances, micro-expressions, and immaculate lip-syncing that match the vocal tracks and capture the psychological subtext of a scene.
- Stylistic Range: Adapt smoothly to mature, stylized, and anime-inspired aesthetics, interpreting unique visual languages that utilize unconventional pacing, specialized timing, and non-photorealistic artistic rules.
Production Pipeline & Workflow
- Storyboard Interpretation: Analyze and translate 2D storyboards, animatics, and layout files into fully dimensional 3D space, capturing the true emotional intent and framing of the scene.
- Sequence Construction: Create comprehensive animated sequences involving multiple complex characters, environment objects, and cinematic cameras, maintaining continuous composition and narrative flow.
- Iterative Progression: Efficiently rough out initial animation blocking passes for rapid creative review, then progressively refine, break down, and polish the performance to completion.
- Technical Compliance: Work fluidly within specialized character rigs, honoring predetermined pipeline constraints and correctly processing animation data transfer across tools.
Collaboration & Team Communication
- Creative Alignment: Partner closely with fellow animators, Leads, and Directors to unify performance styles and realize the Executive Producers’ overall vision for the show.
- Directorial Feedback Integration: Actively participate in dailies and review sessions, receiving creative direction from Supervisors, Directors, and Lead Animators, and applying that feedback accurately across assigned shots.
- Brief Interpretation: Successfully interpret and break down both verbal and visual creative briefs, transforming abstract directorial descriptions into physical, on-screen choices.
- Knowledge Sharing: Champion a highly collaborative studio environment by communicating clearly, transparently, and being willing to share technical tips, workflows, and artistic insights with the team.
- Deadline Discipline: Consistently monitor shot progression, manage personal schedules, and flag technical hurdles early to ensure all deliverables are met reliably within production timelines.
Experience and Qualifications
We are seeking passionate, driven, and highly skilled artists who live and breathe the art of character performance.
Technical & Artistic Requirements:
- Studio Experience: A minimum requirement of 4+ years of professional, in-studio production experience working on 3D animated feature films and/or premium animated episodic series.
- Exceptional Demo Reel: A current, high-caliber reel demonstrating mastery of advanced facial performance, complex lip-sync, and flawless physical body mechanics.
- Stylized Portfolio Preferences: Portfolios showcasing mature, stylized, and anime-inspired animation choices are highly preferred. We are targeting aesthetics somewhat in the vein of groundbreaking works like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Entergalactic, Arcane, and The Witness (Love, Death + Robots).
- 2D Bonus: Prior experience or a strong foundational background in traditional 2D animation is considered a fantastic bonus, though it is non-essential.
- Software Mastery: Solid, production-proven experience and comprehensive technical understanding of Autodesk Maya within a modern studio pipeline.
- Cinematic Foundations: A deep, undeniable understanding of the foundational principles of animation, a strong sense of visual storytelling, excellent comic timing, and an evocative visual language. Knowledge of human and animal anatomy, alongside a strong foundation in life drawing, is highly regarded.
Mindset & Collaboration Skills:
- Team-Oriented Mentality: A true professional who thrives within a collaborative team environment, accepts creative direction gracefully, and actively values feedback.
- Flexibility & Resilience: The proven ability to work well under production pressure, remain adaptive, and respond positively to sudden changes in scheduling or creative direction.
- Autonomy & Direction: Capable of working with a high degree of independence to solve problems quickly, while remaining fully responsive to direct supervision and studio guidelines.
Why Join the Flying Bark Family?
When evaluating top-tier Sydney jobs, the workspace and workplace culture are just as critical as the work itself. At Flying Bark, we genuinely believe that an animation studio is only as good as its community. Our crew frequently reports that our studio culture is the best they have ever experienced. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive, welcoming, and deeply collaborative environment where everyone is celebrated for who they are.
An Unmatched Studio Environment:
Located in the vibrant, creative tech hub of Alexandria, Sydney, our industry-leading studio space is custom-designed to foster inspiration, creative collaboration, relaxation, and genuine community. When you are on-site, you will have full access to:
- A state-of-the-art in-house digital cinema for screenings, project launches, and high-impact reviews.
- A dedicated Quiet Room and a peaceful, beautifully landscaped Zen Garden for moments of decompression, mindfulness, and creative reflection.
- A fully-stocked games room to unwind and connect with colleagues.
- A vibrant social calendar curated by our dedicated Culture Club, featuring regular cake days, catered movie nights, legendary wrap parties, and themed studio events.
- A dog-friendly workplace! We absolutely love our four-legged friends, and you will frequently see regular, fluffy companions roaming the office floors.
Community, Health, and Wellbeing:
- Paws for a Cause: We believe in using our platform for good. Our internal fundraising arm raises crucial funds for deeply impactful charities, including Beyond Blue, the RSPCA, and the Cancer Council.
- Mental Health Infrastructure: We prioritize your personal peace of mind and holistic health. All employees have access to robust mental health resources, including free, confidential professional counseling via our specialized Employee Assistance Provider, Support Act, alongside multiple on-staff team members fully qualified in Mental Health First Aid.
- Complimentary Daily Breakfast: Start your mornings right without the rush—enjoy a fully provided breakfast served daily at the studio—on us!
- Holistic Wellbeing Benefits: Enjoy discounted private health insurance options through our partnership with Bupa, as well as tailored financial wellbeing initiatives and planning provided by Media Super.
Premium Perks & Flare Benefits (For Eligible Employees):
- Flare Benefits Platform: Gain immediate access to exclusive digital discounts, cashback offers, and premium deals at hundreds of major Australian retailers to help your everyday pay stretch further.
- Health Insurance Savings: Compare and save significantly on private health cover, with potential annual savings of up to $300.
- Novated Leasing (Flare Cars): Save an average of $10,000 per year on vehicle ownership, maintenance, and operating costs through tax-effective novated leasing. (Note: Flare Platform, Health Discounts, and Novated Leasing are available to permanent employees and fixed-term contractors on contracts of 12 months or more).
Equal Opportunity Employer
Flying Bark Productions is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive, equitable, and safe environment for all employees looking for impactful Sydney jobs. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by local laws.
How to Apply
If you want to secure one of the premier creative Sydney jobs available today, possess the required 4+ years of production experience, and have a profound passion for bringing legendary characters to life, we want to hear from you. Please submit your current resume, a cover letter outlining your artistic journey, and a link to your latest reel demonstrating your character animation performance capabilities.
