The Animation Supervisor at Rodeo FX is responsible for the creative direction, technical integrity, and timely delivery of all animation work on a show. Acting as both an artistic leader and a strategic project partner, they oversee the animation team, guide key creative decisions, and ensure that the department delivers consistently high-quality results that align with both the client’s vision and Rodeo FX’s standards. They work closely with artists, production, CG and VFX supervisors, and other departments to design effective workflows, manage priorities, and resolve challenges as they arise. While they drive planning and mentoring efforts, they remain capable of hands-on work and directly contribute to complex shots when needed.
Key Responsibilities:
Creative Quality
- Define the creative direction of the animation work in alignment with the client’s vision and the show’s narrative goals.
- Lead dailies and reviews, ensuring animation performances are expressive, cohesive, and on style.
- Personally contribute to challenging shots or sequences to support the team and elevate quality.
Technical Quality
- Oversee the technical execution of animation work, ensuring deliverables are pipeline-compliant and render-ready.
- Collaborate with Rigging, CFX, Layout, and other departments to identify and solve technical challenges.
- Recommend and validate tools or workflows that improve the department’s technical efficiency.
Leadership & Communication
- Inspire and lead the animation team with clarity, positivity, and consistency.
- Communicate project objectives and expectations clearly to artists and other stakeholders.
- Provide ongoing coaching and constructive feedback to artists, with a focus on growth and excellence.
Project Management
- In partnership with Production, plan workload distribution and assign shots based on artist strengths, level, and pacing.
- Track progress and anticipate blockers, proactively escalating critical issues when needed.
- Participate in artist casting, hiring, and evaluation processes, offering insights on performance and potential.
Workflow Strategies
- Help define and optimize animation workflows across the project to balance creative ambition with delivery constraints.
- Participate in pipeline R&D by testing and documenting tools before implementation.
- Support training and knowledge-sharing initiatives across the department.