For more than 35 years, Bardel Entertainment has led the animation industry through unwavering commitment to quality, creativity, and innovation. We are an internationally recognized, Emmy Award®-winning studio – in two prominent Canadian cities, Vancouver and Montreal – and the creative force behind top audience hits such as The Dragon Prince, Rick and Morty, Teen Titans Go!, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. 

What You’ll Do 

Core Responsibilities 

Develop and manage high-end stylized hair, fur, and feather grooms for characters in a fully animated feature.  Strategically place guide-hairs/feathers and sculpt grooms based on artistic direction and reference.  Utilize node-based systems to build procedural, flexible, and efficient grooms.  Apply painting techniques to craft texture maps that enhance the aesthetic and performance of the groom.  Interpret feedback from the Director and implement notes to elevate visual storytelling through hair/fur/feather aesthetics.  Collaborate with the CG Supervisor and cross-department teams (Modeling, Lookdev, Rigging, Simulation) to ensure smooth integration of grooms.  Optimize grooms for simulation and rendering, balancing visual fidelity with performance.  Contribute to grooming-related technical problem solving and workflow efficiency improvements.  Support production with accurate task estimates and help track team deliverables and schedules.  Document grooming processes, tool usage, and best practices for pipeline consistency. 

Collaboration & Workflow 

Attend reviews and dailies with leads and supervisors, proactively addressing notes and issues.  Communicate clearly with production and peers to align expectations and solve cross-departmental challenges.  Mentor and guide junior groom artists; provide technical/artistic support to grow team skills.  Follow pipeline protocols and collaborate on streamlining and improving grooming-related workflows. 

Time Management & Communication 

Meet production deadlines with a clear understanding of project needs and resources.  Report grooming progress regularly; communicate risks and blockers early to mitigate impact.  Adjust grooming approach as project needs shift, maintaining high quality under time constraints.