Full-Time

Art Director

Featurette

Posted on 9/27/2025

Bardel Entertainment

Bardel Entertainment

201-500 employees

Full-cycle animation studio for TV

Compensation Overview

CA$2.2k - CA$2.5k/wk

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Hybrid

This role requires in-studio attendance at our Vancouver studio during onboarding and predetermined Rush Weeks.

Category
Art, Graphics & Animation (2)
,
Required Skills
Adobe Photoshop
Requirements
  • Experience as an Art Director in the 3D animation industry.
  • Strong creative leadership with the ability to analyze and solve creative and production challenges.
  • Excellent communication and problem-solving skills to effectively lead the design team.
  • A strong portfolio that demonstrates an appealing style with a cartoony aesthetic.
  • A strong understanding of cinematic lighting and storytelling.
  • Previous experience designing assets and environments for 3D.
  • Proficiency in Photoshop and other relevant design software.
Responsibilities
  • Lead and mentor a team of designers, fostering creativity and professional growth.
  • Set clear objectives, monitor progress, and manage performance within the art team.
  • Proactively address workflow and design challenges by providing solutions.
  • Assist in the recruitment process by reviewing portfolios and interviewing candidates.
  • Establish and implement the Director’s creative vision, ensuring artistic consistency and appeal.
  • Oversee design, cinematic lighting, and composition to enhance visual impact.
  • Review and approve designs, providing clear feedback and direction to maintain high-quality standards.
  • Identify and resolve artistic and technical challenges in the design pipeline.
  • Ensure seamless integration of 3D assets and environments with the animation process.
  • Work with Production to manage schedules, track progress, and meet deadlines.
  • Identify potential delays and provide proactive recommendations to keep production on schedule.
  • Work closely with other Supervisors, Leads, and Directors to ensure a cohesive artistic vision.
  • Mentor team members by sharing knowledge, techniques, and industry best practices.
Desired Qualifications
  • Knowledge of 3D software is a bonus.

Bardel Entertainment is a Vancouver-based animation studio that provides end-to-end services for television, film, and digital content. It handles the full animation pipeline, from acquisition and development to production and distribution, for clients including Netflix, Disney, and HBO. The studio works with 2D and 3D animation and adds visual effects to create content for kids, families, and general audiences, as seen in shows like Rick and Morty and Teen Titans Go!. Bardel earns revenue by offering production services to content owners and networks, focusing on partnerships to bring animated projects to screens across TV, streaming, and feature formats.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

M&A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Canada

Founded

1987

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Streaming platforms expanding kids/family content budgets drive sustained outsourced animation demand.
  • CEO Rick Mischel's Sony Pictures Animation background attracts high-profile feature film projects.
  • Rainbow's European operations create co-production opportunities with international broadcasters and platforms.

What critics are saying

  • Runway ML and Stability AI enable in-house episode generation 80% faster, displacing outsourced work.
  • Netflix's Next Generation Animation studio captures 40% of previously outsourced kids content.
  • Vancouver talent exodus to competitors erodes 550-person capacity as AI-hybrid workflows reduce demand.

What makes Bardel Entertainment unique

  • Produces premium animated series for Netflix, Disney, HBO with 39-year track record.
  • Dual Vancouver-Kelowna studios enable 550-person capacity for 2D, 3D, hybrid production.
  • Parent company Rainbow provides global distribution and partnership leverage for content monetization.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Flexible Work Hours

Hybrid Work Options

Wellness Program

INACTIVE