Story Artist

Position Overview

Skydance Animation is looking for skilled Story Artists available for freelance or permanent roles to contribute to our feature film projects. The role is crucial in visually realizing scripts and narrative moments, bringing vivid storytelling through character-driven scenes with engaging staging, composition, performance, and pacing from initial development to full production.

The Story Artist will interact closely with Directors, the Head of Story, the story department, and other creatives to craft emotionally compelling and entertaining storyboard sequences aligned with the film's vision. Candidates must demonstrate strong visual storytelling abilities, an in-depth understanding of character animation and story structure, and skill in developing scenes that balance humor, emotion, and action effectively.

This position requires presence within the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, California.

Key Responsibilities

• Produce storyboard sequences that communicate story objectives, character emotions, humor, and cinematic elements through expressive visual narratives.
• Engage regularly with Directors, Head of Story, and creative supervisors to clarify objectives, sequencing intentions, and overall story goals.
• Convert scripts, outlines, and creative guidelines into clear and dynamic storyboard panels supporting pacing, staging, camera work, and continuity.
• Collaborate with leadership and Editorial teams to revise and enhance sequences through iterative feedback cycles.
• Utilize industry-standard digital tools such as Photoshop and Storyboard Pro, managing timelines, camera motions, dialogue cues, and sequence organization efficiently.
• Maintain consistency with the established visual style, tone, and storytelling expectations throughout production.
• Effectively present storyboard sequences to Directors and internal teams to communicate vision and intent.
• Proactively address creative challenges by engaging with supervisors, asking insightful questions, and proposing storytelling solutions.
• Ensure timely incorporation of revisions and notes within deadlines.
• Provide progress updates and production requirements to creative leads and production staff.
• Follow production workflows and manage documentation including file structuring, naming, and storage.
• Meet deadlines and schedule milestones while maintaining artistic quality standards.
• Participate actively in story meetings, reviews, pitches, screenings, and other collaborative production discussions.
• Support additional story-related tasks and special projects as assigned in support of production.

Candidate Requirements

• At least one year of professional experience or equivalent training in storyboarding for feature films, television series, or similar productions.
• Exceptional drawing and visual storytelling skills capable of conveying emotion, character acting, staging, and cinematic clarity through storyboards.
• Proficiency with storyboarding software such as Photoshop and Storyboard Pro.
• Ability to adapt to established visual and narrative styles of current productions.
• Strong grasp of composition, scene staging, camera language, pacing, continuity, and screen direction.
• Solid foundational skills in anatomy, perspective, character pose, and draftsmanship.
• Capacity to interpret direction, receive feedback constructively, and iterate swiftly within collaborative environments.
• Effective organization, communication, and time management skills to prioritize workloads and meet deadlines.
• Comfort with juggling multiple assignments and adjusting to shifting creative and production demands.
• Experience or knowledge in additional design, editorial, or production software considered an asset.

compensation

The weekly salary for this position in Los Angeles, CA ranges from $2,388 to $4,200. The actual rate may vary depending on the applicant’s location, qualifications, and relevant expertise. This figure represents base pay and does not include bonuses, benefits, or other compensation components.