Animation Artist

Rodeo FX is hiring an Animation Artist for their Toronto, Canada studio. This role sits within the animation department and focuses on delivering high-end, hyper-realistic character and creature performances that integrate cleanly into the VFX pipeline for film and television productions. It suits a mid-level to senior animator who has worked across realistic and stylized performance styles and knows how to carry a shot from blocking through final polish.

About the Role

The Animation Artist works under the Animation Lead and Supervisor, contributing to shots across feature film production and episodic television projects that demand photorealistic creature and character work. Day to day, this means interpreting briefs, building performances from reference, and moving work through review cycles while keeping downstream departments unblocked. You are expected to own your shots technically and creatively, from rig troubleshooting to presenting work clearly in dailies.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver polished character and creature animation that meets creative intent and the technical specifications of each production’s VFX pipeline.
• Apply core animation principles including timing, weight, arcs, and posing across realistic, mechanical, and stylized performance contexts.
• Interpret creative direction and reference materials to build nuanced, believable performances that support the storytelling of each shot.
• Identify and troubleshoot rig and scene-level technical issues in coordination with the rigging and pipeline teams before they become production blockers.
• Maintain file naming conventions, scene structure, and export standards so animation reaches downstream departments ready for integration.
• Participate actively in dailies and shot reviews, presenting work clearly and incorporating notes efficiently across revision cycles.

What You Bring

• Demonstrable experience animating creatures, characters, or mechanical assets at a VFX studio or animation studio working on film or episodic television.
• A solid reel showing range across performance styles, with at least some work in photoreal or effects-driven animation contexts.
• Proficiency in Maya, with a working knowledge of how animation integrates with rigging and simulation pipelines.
• The ability to give accurate time estimates, flag delays early, and adjust priorities with production when schedules shift.
• A habit of sharing knowledge with peers and engaging constructively with mentorship and studio learning initiatives.

Why This Role

Rodeo FX has built a reputation for high-end creature and environment work across major feature film production and streaming series, giving animators consistent access to ambitious, technically complex shots. The Toronto studio is an established part of that pipeline, not a satellite office, which means real creative involvement on projects that reach wide audiences. For an Animation Artist looking to deepen their craft on substantial productions, this is a credible next step.

Apply now for the Animation Artist position at Rodeo FX and bring your reel to a team that takes performance seriously.