2D Character Designer
Job Description
Boulder Media is on the lookout for a 2D Character Designer. 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. This role is a hybrid position with fully-remote work considered for the right candidate. The closing date for the applications is the 21st April 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 Character Designer works as part of the Art/Design team and liaises closely with the Supervising Director, Art Director, Animation Director and Rigging Lead. The role of the Character Designer is to visualise and create the look of the individual characters for the show, including character traits and personality.
Skills & Other Requirements
***Key Responsibilities ***
- Design of new conceptual characters from scratch or from script or verbal/written briefs.
- Propose innovative, distinctive styling ideas to help improve the quality of the show.
- Create rough and final designs, applying revisions where necessary.
- Create model packs, including turnaround model sheets, pose sheets, expression sheets, hand charts, head tilts, and mouth and eye charts.
- Provide size comparison and size relation charts for all characters.
- Create colour palettes for all characters as per the Art Director's instruction.
- Build special lighting and texture indications where necessary.
- Follow direction and address notes provided by the Director/Art Director and/or client instruction.
- Provide further adjustments, where necessary, based on rigging considerations or character complexity considerations.
- Adhere to the design, complexity level and style of the show.
- Keep all files and artwork named according to the approved naming conventions and archive them properly on Ftrack and the server.
- Ensure the character design libraries are organised as per the Production Team's instructions.
- Meet all deadlines as assigned/determined by the Director/Art Director.
- 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, such as (but not limited to) training, learning and development initiatives, and mentoring.
- Any other duties company management may deem necessary and reasonably require from time to time.
What would we look for?
- A portfolio of self-initiated and distinctively styled character designs.
- Ability to adapt/enhance branded shows.
- Experience in pre-production character design and look development.
- Knowledge of or willingness to learn applicable design software and hardware.
- Extensive understanding of the animation production process.
- Extensive knowledge of Photoshop.
- Strong knowledge of colour, lighting and posing.
- Demonstrate flexibility in adapting to various styles of the show.
- Exceptional drawing skills.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Task-driven, self-motivated, and proactive.
- Open to direction and ability to visually interpret other people's ideas.
- Good time management skills and an ability to work to deadlines.
- Ability to work within a weekly quota and production schedule.
- Ability to work collaboratively and calmly with multiple tasks in a fast-paced production.
- 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.