Story Artist

Job Description

Before you read any further, ask yourself three questions:

Can I draw?

Do I understand visual comedy?

How many hats can I wear?

If your answers to these questions are “yes”, “yes” and “why am I asking myself about hats” then you might be the person for us.

We’re Element Animation: a small but mighty team of artists and weirdos with a passion for creating hilariously entertaining videos and content. Not only do we create a wide range of content for our huge audience over on YouTube but also for commercial projects, global events, and basically anywhere else that will let us loose with their IP. 

We may be a small team, but we're a huge creative force and pride ourselves on pushing what can be done with a compact amount of talented oddballs. Things here are never boring and being a small team we all end up wearing many hats (hence the earlier question regarding headwear).

But onto you…    

We are on the lookout for a Story Artist who understands our shared delirium and wants to contribute to it.

As a Story Artist, you'll help bring our fever dreams to life: setting the scene, finding the rhythm, and making sure every joke lands. Teaming up with directors, writers, and our wider creative crew, you'll turn our wild ideas into clear, engaging storyboards and animatics that take the adventure from concept to screen. You'll also lend your design eye to the graphics that help our content stand out. If this hasn’t scared you away yet, we would love to hear from you!

This role is Freelance and Fully Remote. Applicants must be based within the UK or Europe.

Key Responsibilities

• Interpret scripts, story outlines, and creative briefs to develop engaging visual sequences.
• Create storyboards that communicate action, emotion, character performance, camera angles, and scene composition.
• Pitch gags and visual ideas that help shape the project. We want your creativity!
• Establish clear visual storytelling, pacing, timing, and continuity between shots.
• Build animatics from your storyboards, timing shots to dialogue, music, and sound so the pacing and gags land.
• Collaborate with directors, writers, designers, and animators to develop and refine ideas.
• Revise storyboards in response to creative feedback and production requirements.
• Maintain consistency in character design, environments, and style across projects.
• Contribute to story development, visual problem-solving, and the overall creative direction of projects.
• Ensure storyboards align with the project's artistic style, tone, and production goals.
• Create digital graphic design assets as needed, such as YouTube thumbnails, title cards, social media graphics, and pitch materials.

What We're Looking For

• A strong portfolio demonstrating storyboard work, visual storytelling, and sequential art, with a focus on clarity and humour.
• A good understanding of comedy, and knowing how to sell a joke visually with expressions, staging, and timing.
• A solid understanding of composition, perspective, staging, camera language, and cinematic techniques.
• A strong sense of depth, perspective, and spatial logic.
• Excellent drawing skills, and the ability to draw fast and loose when needed while still communicating ideas clearly.
• A keen sense of timing, pacing, acting, and character expression.
• Proven experience creating animatics, with a strong feel for editing and how a sequence plays in motion.
• The ability to interpret scripts and translate them into effective visual sequences.
• Solid digital graphic design skills, with a good eye for layout, typography, and colour.
• Confidence to work collaboratively in a live writers' room.
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively, manage deadlines, and respond positively to feedback, while being proactive with ideas of your own.
• Effective communication, collaboration, and time-management skills.

Desirable Skills

• Experience in 2D or 3D animation, television, feature films, commercials, or other screen-based productions.
• Familiarity with storyboard and digital drawing software such as Storyboard Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, or equivalent tools.
• Familiarity with comedic editing, short-form storytelling, or sketch content.
• Basic skills with 3D tools such as Maya, Blender, or Cinema 4D.

Perks of Working with Us

• 100% remote work.
• Flexible hours.
• Creative freedom to contribute your ideas and style.
• A chance to work on fun, character-driven projects with a comedic twist.
• A supportive, creative team that values your input.
• Your work will be seen by millions of people around the world.
• Potential for a long-term role with ongoing projects.

How to Apply

Please apply by emailing apply@elementanimation.com, and include:

• Your storyboard portfolio (especially comedic work!).
• Clips of animatics you have created or contributed to.
• A few examples of your graphic design work.
• A quick note on your availability, rates, and preferred tools.
• A short paragraph about yourself. What do you enjoy outside of work? What kind of projects excite you?

If you have applied to us before, please don't hesitate to apply again for this role. If you have any questions before applying, just ask via the email above.