Art Director - Ink

This Art Director role at Inkubator leads a team to create animated shorts and specials using GenAI native production pipelines, guiding characters, environments, emotional tone, and the overall aesthetic from concept to delivery in a fast-paced, creator-led setting in Los Angeles, CA (onsite). The position offers a salary range of USD 236,000 to 395,000 per year.

Responsibilities

• Define and communicate the project style guide, covering visual development, color, backgrounds, characters, and props and effects.
• Collaborate with creative leadership throughout the production to shape storytelling and visuals that meet feature-quality standards and align with the Director’s vision and project leads.
• Engage actively in creative discussions and brainstorming sessions.
• Lead and contribute hands-on to asset creation, employing both traditional methods and GenAI-native tools.
• Provide notes and mentorship to creative teams and partners to enable their best work.
• Coordinate with production leadership and technical teams to align on creative direction, timelines, tools, and budget.
• Work closely with production to develop asset breakdown lists for assignments.
• Evaluate portfolios and showreels and participate in interviews to build diverse design and color teams.
• Help design and document new GenAI and traditional hybrid workflows to improve efficiency and creative output.
• Collaborate with the animation studio partner to communicate direction, provide references, and optimize workflows.
• Foster a work culture characterized by grace, humility, inclusion, and open-mindedness.

Requirements

• 3+ years of supervisory and leadership experience on animated features or series.
• A demonstrated passion for storytelling and animation, with a portfolio and/or credits showing excellence in visual development, background painting, color design, or character design.
• Knowledge of 2D and CG animation and a thorough understanding of a CG production pipeline from pre-production to post-production.
• Expert working knowledge of digital drawing tools, with Photoshop required.
• Working familiarity with 3D DCCs (eg, Maya, Unreal, Blender) and/or experience with node-based generative interfaces is a plus; awareness of GenAI native tools is a plus.
• Ability to adapt to new technologies and tools in a fast-moving environment where workflows and creative approaches are evolving in real time.
• High level of independence and initiative, with production support structures and workflows evolving alongside the creative process.
• Proven ability to manage and motivate a team.
• Excellent verbal, written, and online communication skills.

Technologies

• GenAI-native production pipelines
• GenAI-native tools
• Maya
• Unreal
• Blender
• Photoshop
• Node-based generative interfaces

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Mental health support
• Retirement programs
• Family-forming benefits
• Paid leave of absence programs
• Paid time off for vacation and sick days

Position Summary

Netflix's mission is to entertain the world. We partner with creators as they experiment with cutting-edge tools that bridge innovation with imaginative storytelling. Come join Inkubator to shape what is next and explore the creative possibilities.