Animation Contract Remote

Animator

Animator at Crafty Apes

Job Overview

Crafty Apes is seeking Mid to Senior Animators to join its Los Angeles team. This role focuses on creating expressive, high-quality animation for characters and creatures across film and television projects. Candidates should have strong animation fundamentals, technical expertise, and the ability to deliver high-quality work within production timelines.

Key Responsibilities

Create high-quality keyframe animation that meets artistic and technical standards.
Collaborate with Animation Directors, Designers, and Technical Artists.
Ensure animations integrate seamlessly into final production pipelines.
Contribute to the development of animation tools, workflows, and best practices.
Mentor junior animators and provide constructive feedback.
Participate in motion capture direction, cleanup, and implementation.
Iterate quickly based on feedback from dailies, reviews, and playtesting.

Qualifications

Mid-Level Requirements:

3+ years of professional animation experience in film or episodic projects.
Strong portfolio demonstrating animation principles such as timing, weight, and appeal.
Proficiency in industry-standard 3D animation software.
Experience with production tools like ShotGrid.

Senior-Level Requirements:

5+ years of experience with ownership of major animation sequences or features.
Advanced keyframe animation skills and deep understanding of character performance.
Ability to manage tasks independently and meet tight deadlines.
Experience with scripting (Python, MEL), rigging, or technical animation is a plus.
Leadership or mentorship experience within animation teams.