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About the Role

The Head of Characters is the show-based leader for all character assets within Netflix Animation Studios. This role partners with creative and technical leadership to ensure character designs are artistically compelling and technically robust, overseeing the character asset team through development, look development, and shot production.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise character asset creation across the show, providing creative and technical guidance for 3D stylized characters from modeling through to final CFX.
• Define the creative and technical approach for character asset creation, ensuring character appeal and performance capabilities align with the Director's and Art Director's vision.
• Drive character reviews and provide detailed, actionable creative and technical feedback to Modeling, Surfacing, Rigging, and CFX departments.
• Collaborate with Directors, Production Designers, Art Directors, and VFX Supervisors to effectively and faithfully translate 2D character concepts into production-ready 3D space.
• Partner with Technical Supervisors, Production Technology, and pipeline teams to define, optimize, and maintain efficient asset-creation tools and standardized canonical workflows without creating technical debt.
• Ensure all character assets adhere to high technical standards, verifying that models are "rig-ready," rigs are "animation-friendly," and assets integrate seamlessly into downstream departments (Animation, CFX, Crowds, and Lighting).
• Work closely with Production Management on bids, schedules, and resource priorities to deliver high-quality character assets on time and within project constraints.
• Mentor and support Modeling, Rigging, Surfacing, and CFX Supervisors and artists, fostering professional growth, skill development, and a positive team culture.
• Communicate effectively across disciplines, translating complex technical concepts into accessible language for creative partners and vice versa.
• Collaborate with grace, humility, inclusion, and open-mindedness.

Requirements

• At least 10 years of experience in character asset creation within film, TV, or games, including 5–7 years in a leadership or supervisory role on large-scale animated features or VFX films.
• Deep knowledge of Modeling, Rigging, Surfacing, and CFX workflows, with a strong understanding of skeletal, skinning, and deformation systems, and the principles of character animation.
• Proven production-level proficiency in Maya and ZBrush, texturing packages (Substance, Mari, Photoshop), and familiarity with Houdini, Katana, and RenderMan.
• Strong understanding of the full 3D animation pipeline, including USD and real-time workflows.
• Experience with project management and production tracking systems such as Flow Production Tracking (ShotGrid).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and mentoring skills, with the ability to foster collaboration across diverse departments and personalities.
• Highly motivated self-starter with excellent time management, organizational skills, and the ability to make considered judgments under production pressure.

Skills

• Maya
• ZBrush
• Substance
• Mari
• Photoshop
• Houdini
• Katana
• RenderMan
• USD
• Flow Production Tracking (ShotGrid)

Location

• Sydney, Australia

Work Type

• Hybrid (Minimum of 3 days a week in the office)

Experience Level

• 10+ years in character asset creation
• 5-7 years in a leadership or supervisory role

Benefits

• Medical/dental/vision plans
• Mental health support
• Retirement programs
• Family-forming benefits
• Paid leave of absence programs
• Paid time away programs

About the Company

• Netflix Animation Studios is on a mission to entertain the world with bold, immersive animated films that are timeless and impactful.
• We are paving the way for the future of animation by building a community of amazing artists and talent across three vibrant locations globally.

Equal Opportunity

• Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates.
• If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.
• We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams.
• We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully.
• We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.