2D Junior Animator

Job Description

Boulder Media is on the lookout for a 2D Junior Animator. It is a full-time, specified-purpose role with hybrid working arrangements (i.e., remote and in-studio working). The successful candidate will be available to start in Summer 2025 and is required to be based in Ireland. The closing date for the applications is the 13th of March 2025.

About us

Established in 2000, Boulder Media has become one of Ireland's largest animation studios. Combining our passion, expertise, and experience, we believe in the power of our creativity and our ability to deliver world-class animated entertainment experiences. Boulder has produced many great shows, including Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, The Amazing World of Gumball, El Tigre, Wander Over Yonder, My Little Pony: Pony Life, DC Super Hero Girls, Transformers Cyberverse, Danger Mouse, Cat Burglar, and the Netflix hit feature film – My Little Pony: A New Generation.

About our culture

Boulder Media is not only a very hard-working creative studio, but we also have a jam-packed social calendar. From celebrating the end of each show with wrap parties to our famous Halloween fancy dress and Christmas celebrations to bake-offs, table quizzes, dungeons & dragons, online and offline meet-ups, and sketch-ups. We put on cultural events to celebrate our international staff and make them feel at home, away from home. What makes Boulder Media special is the people that fill the studio and bring life to everything we do. Boulder is a family, a very nurturing and open space for all to come and be themselves and express who they are through creativity. We would love you to be part of our animation adventure!

About the role

The primary role of the Junior Animator is ensuring the Animation Lead's direction is being met from Animatic to final Animation. Animating with care and consideration, maintaining the required style and quality of animation, while hitting deadlines

Skills & Other Requirements

Key Responsibilities

General

• Working within a team
• Attending lead meetings when required (camera “on” if working remotely, as standard)
• Understanding the style and expectations of the show
• Taking direction from your lead
• Submitting animation of the standard required
• Communicating in a clear and timely manner with your lead and team members
• Managing your assignments, scenes, retakes and deadlines
• Taking ownership and responsibility of your work
• Keeping up to date with your drawing skills. Continuously improving with tutorials, life drawing, sketching and general animation research
• Maintaining a positive and professional attitude
• Being punctual and organised
• Keeping a clean and tidy workspace when in studio
• Respecting Boulder equipment
• You may be required from time to time to work late to hit deadlines

Day-To-Day

• Check all episodic materials are available before starting your assignment to ensure completion of daily/weekly tasks;
• Ensure that the daily planners are accurate and saved in the right location as soon after your assignment has been delivered to you by the Production Team;
• Review your assignment, look out for hook-ups, reuse, and stock essentials;
• Analyse the brief provided by your team lead and clarify any questions or concerns you may have prior starting your assignment;
• Refer to the notes and guidance provided by the Production Team to understand the intent of any given scene;
• Communicate any problems that may arise as early as possible with your team lead;
• Create a rough plan of how you are going to approach your scene with show level and style of animation requirements in mind;
• Use the libraries, reuse, special poses, expression sheet, size relation charts and any reference material to help you work through your scenes;
• Use reference (mirror, photo, stock images) for posing to make sure your resulting animation is clear and readable;
• Do roughs to get a baseline idea of how the shot will play out;
• Key out the characters keeping them on model using good silhouettes and line of action;
• Ensure the produced animation is well timed, has variety, contrast, and personality;
• Check your work for scene length, quality control issues, model, or technical mistakes;
• Follow naming conventions, keep work tidy and within the asset managers guidelines both on the server and ftrack;
• Follow all guidelines issued by the Pipeline team with regard to workflow;
• As part of your continuous development, you are expected to keep up to date with the latest initiatives and developments in your area of expertise/role through for such as (but not limited to), training, learning and development initiatives and mentoring;
• Any other duties company management may from time to time deem necessary and reasonably require.

What would we look for?

• Recent college graduate, or graduate within last four years
• Industry professional looking to get back into 2D Animation
• 2D Animator that might need extra training to successfully land a studio job

Other Specifications:

• No prior experience is necessary, however a showreel and portfolio that demonstrate your skills in Animation will be required;
• Basic knowledge of Toon Boom Harmony is preferable but not essential;
• A good understanding of the animation principles;
• Great aptitude for drawing, Animation, and observation;
• Ability to work in a team;
• Good time management skills and an ability to work to deadlines;
• Must be flexible, willing to learn and self-motivated;
• Be able to work within a weekly quota and production schedule;
• Must have good interpersonal skills;
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written.

What do we offer?

• Competitive salary, depending on skills and experience;
• 21 days holidays per annum (pro rata);
• An extra day off for Good Friday each year;
• Time off for Christmas;
• Paid sick leave;
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity package;
• Death-In-Service Benefit;
• Employee Assistance Programme;
• Vision/Eye Care;
• Temporary Remote Work Abroad;
• Various in-house social events such as Cake & Fruit Day, Screening nights, Games nights, to name a few.

Boulder Media is an equal opportunity employer committed to supporting diversity and inclusion within our work environment. All applicants, regardless of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, or membership of the Travelling Community, will be given equal consideration for employment based on their skills, experience, and potential

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at [email protected] to request accommodation.