2D Character Animation Team Lead

Boulder Media is currently hiring a 2D Character Animation Team Lead for a full-time, specified-purpose role. The position offers hybrid working arrangements, including remote and in-studio work. The successful candidate must be based in Ireland and available to start immediately. Applications will be accepted until March 19th, 2024.

About us

Established in 2000, Boulder Media has become one of Ireland's largest animation studios. Combining our passion, expertise, and experience, we believe in the power of our creativity and our ability to deliver world-class animated entertainment experiences. Boulder has produced many great shows, including Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, The Amazing World of Gumball, El Tigre, Wander Over Yonder, My Little Pony: Pony Life, DC Super Hero Girls, Transformers Cyberverse, Danger Mouse, Cat Burglar, and the Netflix hit feature film – My Little Pony: A New Generation.

About our culture

Boulder Media is not only a very hard-working creative studio, but we also have a jam-packed social calendar. From celebrating the end of each show with wrap parties to our famous Halloween fancy dress and Christmas celebrations to bake-offs, table quizzes, dungeons & dragons, online and offline meet-ups, and sketch-ups. We put on cultural events to celebrate our international staff and make them feel at home, away from home. What makes Boulder Media special is the people that fill the studio and bring life to everything we do. Boulder is a family, a very nurturing and open space for all to come and be themselves and express who they are through creativity. We would love you to be part of our animation adventure

About the role

As a 2D Character Animation Team Lead, you will work closely with the Animation Director and Rigging Supervisor, establishing the various levels of animation and rigging required for the background characters of each episode. You will manage the Background Character Animation team and production of Background Character Animation assets, providing direction and ensuring deadlines are being met from the animatic to the final animation. You will also guide the Background Character Animation team with care and consideration, maintaining the required style and quality of animation on the show.

Skills & Other Requirements

Key Responsibilities

Episode Prep

• Ensure the animatics provided by the production team are correctly reviewed.
• Review the entire episodic pack, ensuring all the information needed to proceed with the episode is available. This will include background, props, reused materials, FX, background character designs, special posing, redress, palettes, Director and Supervisor notes.
• Review animatic with the animation team before the production of episodes.
• Do a breakdown with the rig supervisor before assigning your shot to your team.
• Communicate any problems that might be a concern for the episode with the Animation Director.
• Deadlines must be agreed with the production management for the delivery of each episode.
• Organise the background character view breakdown for rigging based on animatics.
• Ensure the rig used is the most up-to-date rig and based on the most up-to-date designs.
• Add basic rigging when needed and guide your team when they need to add rigging.
• Make sure all BG Character positions/animation cooperate with the placement of characters in the main animation.
• Ensure colour palettes are correct.
• Ensure necessary props or prop ref has been provided.
• Fill in animation background layer requests before the episodes start.
• Keep the Animation Director copied on any emails regarding rig, design, and managerial issues.
• Create background character breakdowns per episode for approval by the Animation Director/client.
• Submit any special pose requests for production approval.

• Break down an episode and assign work to the background character animation team to achieve the best and most efficient outcome for the episode.
• Guide the still artists through their assigned episode and a segment of the animatic.
• Ensure the team is aware of the essential elements, what can be reused, and what are the possible pitfalls to look out for.
• Suggest any pose cuts if necessary.
• Note which scenes require priority or if another department needs to address it first before Background Characters are added.
• Create additional background character animation notes/sketches for your team's direction.

• Be aware of weekly quotas of footage and approved scenes, and assign weekly deadlines in Frack for your team based on this information.
• Update production regularly on the status of background character animation; what’s complete and what is outstanding.
• Check regularly with your team for an estimated time of delivery of their work.
• Review sketches, posing and retakes.
• Create draw-overs and additional notes where needed.
• Keep a close eye daily that your team is managing their workload efficiently.
• When all background character stills have been approved, you will need to review the sequences to make sure continuity and hook-ups are all working.
• You will then animate the background characters that have been prepared by the still artists.
• Ensure to sign off every shot and certify it is of the highest quality before it moves along to the Supervisor for review.
• Ensure when retakes are required to the shot that the notes are clear and accompanied by a clearly named sketch. 
• Utilize any information or material that might have been used in different episodes and could be reused in current or later episodes.

• Provide strong leadership;
• Ensure your team hits the agreed deadlines as outlined in the schedule.
• Regularly monitor each individual to assess performance.
• Document performance clearly and provide feedback to the crew.
• Build and maintain crew morale.
• Set SMART goals/objectives to enable and ensure the crew meets the expected standards of performance.
• Check-in on crew progress towards goals and objectives and give feedback on progress.
• Working with the HR Team, assist with crew development;

What would we look for?

• 1 to 2 years Animation Lead experience.
• Good knowledge of Toon Boom Harmony.
• Have a very good knowledge of the reuse library and employ it wherever possible to achieve the highest level of efficiency for your team.
• Maintaining a positive and professional attitude.
• Great aptitude for drawing, animation, and observation.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Strong and clear communicator.
• Ability to lead and manage a team.
• Must be flexible, willing to learn and self-motivated.
• Be able to work within a production schedule.
• Must have good interpersonal skills.
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written.
• The successful candidate must be based in Ireland and have a right to work full-time in the Republic of Ireland.

• Competitive salary, depending on skills and experience;
• An extra day off for Good Friday each year;
• Time off for Christmas;
• Paid sick leave;
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity package;
• Employee Assistance Programme;
• Vision/Eye Care;
• Temporary Remote Work Abroad;
• Various in-house social events such as Cake & Fruit Day, Screening nights, Games nights, to name a few.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at jobs@bouldermedia.tv to request accommodation.