Lead Animator at The Walt Disney Company
Company: The Walt Disney Company
Location: London, United Kingdom
Job Type: Hybrid
Salary: Not Disclosed
About the Company
The Walt Disney Company, founded in 1975 by George Lucas, is one of the world’s leading visual effects studios.
The company has delivered groundbreaking visual effects for more than 325 feature films and contributed to many of the
highest-grossing films of all time. ILM continues to innovate in visual effects, virtual reality, augmented reality,
and immersive entertainment.
Job Overview
The Walt Disney Company is seeking a highly experienced Lead Animator to join its London team.
In this role, you will support the Animation Supervisor in designing and executing the motion of digital characters,
creatures, vehicles, and props within film or production sequences.
The Lead Animator will guide a team of animators, ensure artistic and technical consistency, and contribute hands-on
animation work to achieve the highest visual quality within the production schedule.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead a team of animators to create high-quality animation for digital creatures, humans, vehicles, and props.
- Execute creative direction provided by the Animation Supervisor.
- Provide daily support, feedback, and guidance to entry, mid-level, and senior animators.
- Participate in production meetings and dailies to review animation progress and provide feedback.
- Mentor and train junior animators to improve team performance and skills.
- Assist in designing and developing animation tools required for production.
- Collaborate with the Director and Animation Supervisor to define character behavior and acting style.
- Work closely with the rigging team to improve character rigs and facial performance systems.
- Create reference materials such as video or motion capture performances to guide animation teams.
- Perform hands-on animation work to establish visual quality and standards for the team.
Required Skills & Qualifications
- Extensive professional experience in VFX animation at a Lead level.
- Strong understanding of traditional animation principles, acting, and character performance.
- Expert knowledge of film production techniques and visual storytelling.
- Proficiency in Autodesk Maya and other animation software tools.
- Understanding of camera terminology, lensing, and cinematography.
- Experience with constraint systems and animation chaining techniques.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and organisational skills.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with supervisors, directors, and technical teams.
- Experience working in Linux-based production environments is preferred.
- Advanced drawing skills for pose planning and animation feedback are considered a strong advantage.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Visual Effects, Computer Graphics, or a related field is preferred.
- Equivalent professional experience and a strong demo reel may also be considered.
Benefits
- Opportunity to work on world-class film and entertainment productions.
- Collaboration with globally recognized VFX artists and technical teams.
- Hybrid work model with on-site collaboration and remote flexibility.
- Career growth within one of the most respected visual effects studios.
- Access to innovative tools, training, and creative development opportunities.
How to Apply
Apply through the official application page below:
Note: Applicants must submit a demo reel, shot breakdown, or equivalent portfolio showcasing animation work along with a current resume.