3D Character Design Lead - TV Featurette

For more than 35 years, Bardel Entertainment has been growing and evolving, yet at our core, we remain grounded in the creative roots of the craft of animation.  Our pursuit of fresh ideas, techniques, and technologies is driven by the belief that together, through creativity and collaboration, we can accomplish anything!  If you want to be part of an environment that empowers you to experiment, learn, and contribute to exciting projects, come and join us.

As the Character Design Lead, you will collaborate closely with the Art Director. You will guide and mentor a team of Character Designers, providing creative feedback to ensure designs achieve the quality standards and remain aligned with the established artistic vision. You will also collaborate closely with the Modeling and Surfacing departments by providing visual references, paintovers, and feedback to support the successful translation of 2D designs into 3D assets. 

Candidates must be based in BC, Canada.

Core Responsibilities 

• Develop and refine character designs in collaboration with the Art Director and Director to support the overall visual direction of the production. 
• Create key character designs, expressions, poses, and model sheets that align with the project’s visual style and storytelling goals. 
• Lead and supervise a team of Character Designers by assigning work, providing feedback, and maintaining consistency across all deliverables. 
• Ensure all character designs maintain a high level of quality and remain aligned with the established art direction. 
• Provide paintovers, references, and visual feedback to support the Modeling and Surfacing teams in translating designs into 3D assets. 
• Maintain a strong focus on creative continuity, silhouette, appeal, anatomy, and functionality throughout production. 
• Participate in all “look of picture” reviews and creative meetings related to character development and visual continuity. 
• Prepare and present artwork deliverables for reviews, approvals, and production milestones. 
• Provide creative solutions that support both the artistic vision and production deadlines. 

Collaboration & Workflow 

• Collaborate closely with the Art Director, Director, Modeling, Surfacing, and Production teams to maintain consistency throughout the CG pipeline. 
• Partner with Production to prioritize work, manage schedules, and ensure timely completion of design deliverables. 
• Support and mentor Character Designers through ongoing feedback, guidance, and collaboration. 
• Work cross-functionally with downstream departments to ensure designs translate successfully into modeling, surfacing, and rigging workflows. 
• Participate in dailies, reviews, and team discussions to maintain alignment across departments and ensure design continuity. 

Time Management & Communication 

• Balance creative quality with production schedules and deadlines. 
• Ensure character design tasks are delivered on time and aligned with production milestones. 
• Maintain clear and proactive communication with leadership, production, and team members regarding progress, challenges, and creative solutions. 
• Provide clear, constructive, and actionable feedback in a collaborative and supportive manner. 
• Adapt to evolving creative direction and shifting production priorities in a fast-paced environment. 

Experience 

• Proven experience working in animation, preferably within a 3D animation pipeline. 
• TV featurette or feature animation experience preferred. 
• Experience leading or mentoring designers within a fast-paced production environment.  
• Experience collaborating with CG departments including Modeling and Surfacing. 
• Experience working within CG production pipelines and collaborating with downstream departments. 

Skills & Communication 

• Strong character drawing skills, including expressions, poses, appeal, silhouette, and model sheet creation.
• Strong understanding of anatomy, particularly animal anatomy.
• Strong painting and rendering abilities with artwork that reflects intended final 3D quality.
• Ability to develop designs that support storytelling, performance, and animation needs.
• Excellent artistic judgment with a strong eye for consistency, detail, and creative continuity.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and mentorship skills.
• Ability to provide actionable creative feedback and guide artists toward successful outcomes.
• Experience using Photoshop and other industry-standard design tools.
• Understanding of 3D workflows and asset translation for modeling and surfacing.
• Blender knowledge a plus.

A portfolio that demonstrates: 

• Strong character design fundamentals, including shape language, appeal, anatomy, and expression. 
• Model sheets, turnarounds, pose sheets, and production-ready design packages. 
• Strong painting and rendering skills representative of final 3D visual quality. 
• Experience designing characters intended for CG production pipelines. 
• Ability to maintain consistency across multiple characters and styles. 
• Strong visual storytelling and understanding of personality through design. 
• Experience collaborating with downstream CG departments through callouts, paintovers, and supporting visual materials. 

Pay Range: CAD $1,800 - $2,200 per week   

This salary range reflects our current expectations for these roles as of this posting’s date. Your final salary offer will consider various key factors, including your education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographical location, as well as the needs and requirements of the business. 

Flexible work environment, Extended Health and Wellness from day 1, RRSP matching are just some of the benefits. For more details, check out our website. 

At Bardel, we recognize that flexibility is key to doing great work. Our hybrid work environment is a valued perk designed to support individual accountability and empower our teams to work where they’re most productive. We offer the choice to work remotely, balanced with intentional in-person time for collaboration, creativity, and team building. This role requires in-studio attendance at our Vancouver studio during onboarding and predetermined Rush Weeks. 

If this seems like a good fit, what are you waiting for, get your application in!