animation jobs

The production coordinator is responsible for assisting producers, associate producers, and production management in the creation of a project, they also delegate jobs to a team of runners known as production assistants, supporting all departments with their production requirements to keep the production running smoothly.

The work of a production coordinator starts pre-production. When the project is to begin, the production team goes through everything and makes sure everything is there all the references, the script, the animatic, the assets(props, the characters, the location). They help with the shipment of the project and make sure that the project is delivered on time.

Production jobs vary greatly depending on the project, overall budget, and the size of the company that they’re employed by. They also usually work on a freelance basis or contract-based.

production coordinator

How To Become An Animation Production Coordinator?

The first thing to be considered is the level of education you need. In most companies or studios a bachelor’s degree in animation is mandatory but the industry is very competitive so a degree in a media-related subject may be helpful. Many production coordinator jobs require experience in a role such as production assistant or related roles.

There is no structured route to become a production coordinator and the fact that most of them work as a freelancer makes it even more unpredictable. However, a good route to becoming a production coordinator is to start as a runner or trainee before moving into the role of production coordinator.

A production coordinator needs to have the following key skills:

  • Sound administrative and organizational skills
  • Initiative, flexibility, adaptability, common sense, and problem-solving skills
  • Stamina, persistence, enthusiasm, motivation, and a proactive manner
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • The ability to remain calm and level-headed under pressure

Course

Taking a course is not just important it is vital. There are various kinds of courses available: from online courses to summer courses and intensive courses. If you look for courses you need to learn to become an animation production coordinator you will find institutes and universities providing a wide range of courses to help you. Selecting a course will help you focus your interest and learn more about the field.

Conclusion

The road to becoming an animation producer involves many hardships but it is not an impossible task, you know the reason why you want to be an animation production coordinator, so, focus on it during your quest to improve your skills. Just like any other type of profession, you need to sacrifice a lot to be good at it, but it’s all more than worth it at the end. No one can help you until you set yourself a goal to become an animation production coordinator, keep constantly reminding yourself of your goal.

Studio Pipeline TD

A Studio Pipeline TD (Technical Directors) make sure a VFX project runs smoothly by identifying and fixing problems as they arise. This is done by making sure each department has the software tools that they need to complete their part of the project to the best standard possible.

What is the Job of Studio Pipeline TD?


The role of a Studio Pipeline TD will involve working closely with the rest of the pipeline team. It involves the responsibility for developing and maintaining departmental tools used for animation, VFX and other projects. Specific responsibilities will include writing and modifying computer code to solve problems related to art or productivity, acting as a liaison for communicating technical issues to Production, R&D and IT, testing and debugging tools and processes to ensure stability, and educating Artists on how to work with the pipeline and department tools.

A Studio Pipeline TD will work with a range of people, including 3D Animators, Riggers, Modellers, Lighters, and Compositors. They communicate with VFX Artists across the team to understand their needs. If the project that they are working on isn’t running smoothly, then it is the Studio Pipeline TD’s responsibility to identify what kind of tools need to be developed to fix the issues.

Key Skills

  • Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
  • Excellent problem-solver
  • Good communication skills
  • Ability to work in a team as well as independently
  • Experience using software packages such as Python, Maya, Nuke and Shotgun
  • Ability to prioritise production needs and tasks
  • Good understanding of the visual effects process, from shooting through to composition

Salary & Working Hours
The average salary for a Studio Pipeline TD can vary from £60,000 up to around £67,000, but the average is around £63,000.

Working hours for a Studio Pipeline TD will depend on whether you are working in a studio, in which case it is likely to be normal hours, 9am-5pm, with the occasional need to work overtime and evenings when deadlines are approaching. For those who are working on a freelance basis, working hours will depend on when you choose to work, and when you can get projects to work on.

How To Become a Studio Pipeline TD
As the Pipeline TD oversees departments and has a lot of responsibility, the Pipeline TD must have a very good understanding of how VFX production pipelines work and the different roles within them. It may be useful to get a few years’ worth of experience working as a VFX Artist or in a related role, in order to build up your skills. The role of Pipeline TD is a fairly senior role, so you’ll need to work your way up from a junior position.

As with most jobs in the film industry, a portfolio is essential in order to showcase your work and show potential employers what you are capable of. Building up experience, even through volunteering will always put you at an advantage as well.