Character Modeler – Netflix Animation Studios

Job Position(s): Character Modeler - Netflix Animation Studios

Netflix is hiring a Character Modeler at Netflix Animation Studios in Sydney, Australia. This role sits within the character department of an animated feature film pipeline, responsible for delivering production-ready 3D character models that feed directly into rigging, layout, and lighting. It suits a modeler who has worked on stylised characters in a VFX or animated feature context and understands what clean topology and accurate UVs actually mean downstream.

About the Role

The Character Modeler position is part of a feature animation production team working on upcoming Netflix Animation Studios projects from the Sydney studio. Day to day, this means taking approved 2D character designs and building them out in 3D with the proportions, silhouette, and shape language intact, then handing off optimised meshes that riggers and lighters can actually work with. It is a hybrid role with a minimum of three days per week on site in Sydney.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate approved 2D character designs into 3D models while preserving the original artistic intent across proportion, silhouette, and shape language.
• Build complex stylised character models to a production standard appropriate for an animated feature film pipeline, covering both static and deforming geometry.
• Produce clean, optimised topology with correct edge flow and polygon density for efficient rendering and downstream department use.
• Generate accurate UVs for every delivered model, meeting the requirements of rigging, layout, and lighting teams.
• Manage your own workload against scheduled deadlines and communicate clearly with department leadership about progress and blockers.
• Use Marvelous Designer where required to support cloth and costume work on character assets.

What You Bring

• A minimum of three years modelling experience within a VFX pipeline or animated feature film production environment.
• Proficiency in Maya and ZBrush as primary modelling tools.
• Experience with Marvelous Designer for cloth and garment simulation work.
• A strong working knowledge of topology for both static assets and deforming character geometry.
• A reel that includes turntables with wireframes of character and creature models, which is required for your application to be considered.

Why This Role

Netflix Animation Studios is building a permanent production team across three global locations, with Sydney as one of its core hubs, which means this is a staff role on a growing animation studio slate rather than a short-term contract. The Character Modeler position offers direct involvement in feature animation production at a studio with the resources and ambition to compete in the theatrical animation space. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, mental health support, retirement programs, family-forming benefits, and paid leave programs.

Apply now for the Character Modeler role at Netflix Animation Studios and submit your character and creature turntables with wireframes as part of your application.