Lead Animator (Feature Animation) – ILM London

Job Position(s): Lead Animator (Feature Animation) - ILM London

Industrial Light & Magic is hiring a Lead Animator (Feature Animation) based at its London studio. This role sits within the Animation department, where the Lead Animator drives the creation of character, creature, vehicle, and prop animation across feature film production, working directly under the Animation Supervisor to shape the aesthetic and technical direction of sequences. It is a role built for a senior animator who has already proven themselves on major feature animation projects and is ready to own the creative and pipeline responsibilities that come with leading a team.

About the Role

The Lead Animator at ILM London operates at the intersection of creative performance and technical animation pipeline, guiding a team through the full arc of shot production on high-profile feature film work. Day to day, this means attending dailies, setting the animation standard through hands-on shot work, collaborating with rigging on character setups and facial performance rigs, and feeding direction back to animators at all levels. The role carries real weight in helping directors and Animation Supervisors find the performance and behaviour of key characters across a production.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team of animators across entry, mid, and senior levels to deliver character, creature, vehicle, and prop animation that meets the production’s creative brief.
• Execute direction from the Animation Supervisor and translate that vision into actionable guidance for the wider animation team during dailies and reviews.
• Perform hands-on shot work to establish the look, quality bar, and performance approach the team is expected to match throughout the show.
• Work directly with the rigging department to develop character rigs and facial performance setups that serve the animation requirements of the production.
• Provide reference material, including video and occasional motion capture performances, to help the team hit performance targets on complex shots.
• Mentor new animators and help drive the design and implementation of animation tools required to meet the specific goals of a given production.

What You Bring

• Significant proven experience at a Lead Animator level on feature animation projects, with credits that demonstrate delivery of complex shots at a high quality standard.
• Expert knowledge of traditional animation principles, acting for camera including facial and body performance, and compositional design within a VFX pipeline.
• Proficiency in industry-standard animation software used in feature film production environments.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee and give constructive technical and creative feedback within a production team structure.
• Experience working collaboratively with rigging, directing, and supervising departments across the full feature film production cycle.

Why This Role

Industrial Light & Magic has a production track record that spans decades of landmark visual effects and animation work on major studio features, and the London studio is an active part of that output. For a Lead Animator looking to work on technically demanding character animation at the feature film level, this is a role with genuine creative influence over how key characters are brought to life on screen.

Apply now for the Lead Animator (Feature Animation) position at Industrial Light & Magic in London through the FilmLocal job listing above.