Animation – Jedi Academy – ILM Vancouver (Open to Canadian Citizens & PR only)

Job Position(s): Animation - Jedi Academy - ILM Vancouver (Open to Canadian Citizens & PR only)

ILM Vancouver is hiring for the Animation Jedi Academy program, a paid training placement within the Animation department at the Vancouver, BC studio. This role places selected artists directly into VFX production workflow, working on character performance, creature animation, and technical rigging support for CG feature film and live-action VFX projects. It suits recent graduates or early-career artists with up to two years of experience who want structured, mentored entry into a major VFX pipeline.

About the Role

The Animation Jedi Academy at ILM Vancouver is a 6-week paid placement beginning July 13, 2026, running full-time at 40 hours per week. Artists are embedded in the Animation department alongside senior artists, contributing to real feature film production work while developing both performance animation and technical animation skills. The hybrid schedule requires onsite presence at the Vancouver studio with some work from home.

Key Responsibilities

• Animate character performance and creature work for CG feature film and VFX projects, including dialogue scenes, digi doubles, and facial animation using modern rigs.
• Provide technical support by responding to cross-department tickets related to animation tools and workflow issues within the VFX pipeline.
• Help develop and test new animation tools, software versions, and proprietary ILM workflows as part of show-specific solutions.
• Manage camera staging and composition, and prepare and record video reference for performance animation.
• Present work in dailies and communicate progress clearly within a production team, meeting the timeframes set during bidding.
• Build working knowledge of ILM’s studio culture, history, and production practices across feature animation and VFX projects.

What You Bring

• A Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, Design, Photography, or a related field, graduated within the last 12 months, or up to two years of VFX or animation studio experience.
• Working knowledge of Maya’s animation and rigging tools, including a foundational understanding of digital character rigging techniques.
• A demo reel showing animation work that demonstrates performance sensibility and technical range.
• Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Resident status, as this program is not open to other work authorization categories.
• No relocation, housing, or transportation assistance is provided for this placement.

Why This Role

ILM is one of the most recognized VFX studios in feature film production, and the Jedi Academy is a direct path into a junior artist role for candidates who complete the program successfully. Working on live productions inside an active VFX pipeline, with senior artist mentorship across animation and technical disciplines, is a rare entry point in the industry. Applications close Sunday, May 24, 2026.

Apply now for the Animation Jedi Academy position at ILM Vancouver and take the first step toward a career in professional VFX and feature animation production.