Skydance fosters a dynamic, inclusive, and constantly evolving environment where new ideas are encouraged and growth is supported. Each division of the company reflects a blend of distinctive creativity and advanced technology. At its core, Skydance is dedicated to bold, engaging, and meaningful storytelling.

While all animation studios seek creative and dedicated talent, Skydance Animation specifically looks for trailblazers who want to push the boundaries of what the world’s most collaborative art form can achieve. The studio aims to give these innovators the freedom and resources to help build something truly unique.

As a Senior Rigger, you will collaborate closely with the Rigging Supervisor and multiple departments—including R&D, Art, Modeling, Layout, and Animation—to design, maintain, and support character and prop deformation rigs used in Crowds, Layout, and Animation.

Responsibilities include:
– Demonstrating strong expertise in facial deformation.
– Sculpting expressive facial shapes.
– Creating and maintaining procedural rig components focused on deformation using custom tools.
– Interpreting briefs to deliver complex, production-ready deformation rigs.
– Partnering with Animators to ensure rigs provide a wide range of motion.
– Supporting rigs throughout the pipeline and applying additional deformation fixes when needed.
– Building body, facial, and mechanical rig systems for use by other departments such as Crowds, Animation, and Layout.
– Troubleshooting and resolving rig issues.
– Gathering artistic feedback and refining rig performance.
– Working within established pipeline and rigging standards.
– Staying up to date with new artistic techniques, technology, and tools that strengthen both the creative and technical environment.
– Meeting deadlines while maintaining production quality standards.
– Prototyping, developing, and implementing new techniques to address unique technical challenges in character production.
– Collaborating with team members and offering guidance that contributes to their artistic and professional development.
– Following direction from Supervisors and Leads.

Requirements include:
– Over 5 years of experience in VFX or animation.
– More than 3 years of experience specifically in animation.
– Strong artistic and technical rigging abilities.
– Proficiency within a character pipeline.
– Extensive experience with Maya in production environments.
– Experience with sculpting tools for body, facial, and shot-finaling work.
– Solid understanding of animation principles.
– Deep knowledge of facial anatomy and muscle function.
– Advanced Python scripting skills, including adherence to coding standards and experience with Qt interfaces and UX.
– Preferably some C/C++ development experience.
– Familiarity with artistic modeling and anatomy tools is a plus.
– High level of English proficiency; Spanish is a bonus.

Skydance is a diversified media company founded by David Ellison in 2010, dedicated to producing high-quality, large-scale entertainment for global audiences. The company creates immersive storytelling across film, television, interactive media, and animation.

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