---
title: 'Art Director at Skydance'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/art-director-skydance-santa-monica-5txabcbfbhvg'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-07'
---

# Art Director at Skydance

- **Company:** Skydance
- **Location:** Santa Monica, CA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-07-02
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-07
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/skydance/3c0632d5-f6a1-436b-a94c-a41854ebcce3

## Job description

Skydance Animation is seeking an Art Director to help shape the visual identity of an upcoming animated feature film. This role is central to defining and executing the overall look and feel of the film, ensuring a cohesive and compelling visual experience that supports both story and character.

The Art Director will report to the Production Designer and will work in close partnership with the Director and the rest of the creative leadership team to bring the film’s visual vision to life, translating conceptual ideas into a clear and actionable visual direction for the broader art team. Throughout production, they will collaborate across departments, including environments, characters, lighting, and effects, to maintain artistic consistency and elevate the quality of every frame.

This position requires a strong artistic sensibility, a deep understanding of visual storytelling, and the ability to lead and inspire artists in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment. The ideal candidate is both a visionary and a problem-solver and someone who can balance creative ambition with production realities while pushing the film’s aesthetic to new heights.

Prior experience on an animated feature film is required.

## Responsibilities

- Champion and help execute the Director’s creative vision for the film’s visual identity, in close partnership with the Production Designer, ensuring consistency and excellence from development through final delivery

- Define, develop, and clearly communicate the film’s artistic style, with a particular focus on environments, sets, props, and color design, establishing a cohesive visual language across all departments

- Create and contribute high-quality concept art, visual development materials, and key imagery

- Collaborate with the Production Designer to lead and oversee the Los Angeles and Madrid based Art Departments, fostering alignment, consistency, and a unified creative direction across global teams (including occasional travel as needed)

- Provide ongoing artistic direction, feedback, and mentorship to team members, supporting their growth while maintaining high creative standards

- Work closely with studio leadership, production, and technical teams to align on creative goals, production timelines, tools, and budget, balancing artistic ambition with practical execution

- Prepare and deliver compelling presentations that communicate the film’s visual direction to studio executives, stakeholders, and external partners

- Partner with production leadership, Talent Development, and Talent Acquisition to identify, evaluate, and help secure top artistic talent for key roles across departments (both internally and externally)

- Facilitate clear and proactive communication across departments

- Other duties as assigned

## Requirements

- 6 years of experience working on animated feature productions; experience in leading or supervising an Art Department, preferably within CG animated feature films a plus

- Demonstrated ability to develop visual ideas from initial concept through final execution, with a strong sense of ownership and creative problem-solving

- Exceptional understanding of design fundamentals, including composition, color theory, lighting, shape language, and visual storytelling

- Proven leadership and team management skills, with the ability to guide, motivate, and develop artists in a collaborative production environment

- Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize across multiple demands while maintaining a high standard of artistic quality

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative mindset and the ability to clearly articulate creative direction to diverse teams

- Ability to balance creative vision with production realities, aligning the needs of the show, department, and studio

- Solid understanding of animation production pipelines, workflows, and tools, with proficiency in industry standard software such as Adobe Photoshop

- Experience working across multiple locations or with distributed teams is a plus

## About Skydance

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Skydance Media is a diversified independent studio creating high-quality live-action, animated, interactive, and sports content for global audiences.
- **Entity Type**: Private (raised $275M in strategic capital from RedBird Capital Partners, CJ ENM, and others)
- **Headquarters**: Santa Monica, California, USA (with additional offices in Madrid, Spain and San Carlos, CA)
- **Founded**: 2010
- **Founders**: David Ellison

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Film & Television Production, Animation, Interactive Entertainment (Video Games/VR), Sports Media
- **Target customers**: B2B (streaming platforms like Apple TV+, Prime Video, Netflix, Paramount+; theatrical distributors) and B2C (consumers of movies, TV series, games)
- **Mission / Purpose**: To create high-quality content and engaging experiences for a global audience, pushing the forefront of where entertainment is heading.

## Products & Services
- **Live-Action Film & TV**: Produces blockbuster franchises (Top Gun: Maverick, Mission: Impossible, Terminator) and popular TV series (Reacher, Foundation, Grace and Frankie, Jack Ryan). Distributed through partnerships with Paramount, Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+.
- **Skydance Animation**: Full-length animated features (Luck, upcoming Spellbound) and series (WondLa). Studios in Los Angeles and Madrid with over 350 animation colleagues.
- **Skydance Interactive**: VR/immersive game development (The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, Archangel). Also licenses IP for other developers. Hybrid-remote team across California, Texas, Washington.
- **Skydance New Media**: Story-focused interactive experiences using real-time CGI, led by industry icon Amy Hennig. First announced project is a Marvel action-adventure game.
- **Skydance Sports**: Produces premium sports documentaries and series (Good Rivals, Air). Partnered with NFL Films for multi-platform sports programming.
- **Nocturna**: A horror label launched with Andy & Barbara Muschietti for high-quality horror features.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed.
- **Key Metric**: Raised $275M in strategic capital (led by RedBird Capital Partners and CJ ENN, announced in 2021). Over 500 employees across two continents.
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: RedBird Capital Partners, CJ ENM / Studio Dragon, Tencent, Paramount Pictures, Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, NFL Films.
- **Growth Signals**: Became the first independent studio to reach #1 on two streamers in the same weekend (The Family Plan on Apple TV+, Reacher S2 on Prime Video). Rapid expansion into animation, sports, and interactive divisions. Partnerships with Marvel Entertainment for a AAA game.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Independence**: As an independent studio, Skydance retains creative control and can move quickly across multiple platforms.
- **Multi-Platform Reach**: Simultaneously produces for theatrical, streaming, TV, gaming, and VR, maximizing IP value.
- **Top-Tier Partnerships**: Long-term distribution deals with every major streamer and studio, ensuring global audience reach.
- **Artist-Driven Culture**: Attracts visionary filmmakers (Ben Affleck, Amy Hennig, Vicky Jenson) and fosters a collaborative environment.

## Strategic Focus
- **Expand Animation & Interactive**: Building a world-class animation studio and pioneering VR/immersive gaming.
- **Deepen Sports Content**: Leveraging NFL partnership and expanding into premium sports documentaries.
- **Grow APAC Presence**: Through CJ ENM partnership, collaborating on content for Asian audiences.
- **Horror Label (Nocturna)**: Tapping into the high-demand horror genre.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: “A rising tide lifts all boats” – collaborative, artist-driven environment where every team member is valued. Emphasis on creativity and teamwork.
- **Work Model**: Hybrid and on-site roles available. Headquarters in Santa Monica (Film, TV, Interactive, Corporate). Animation offices in Miracle Mile (LA) and Madrid. New Media in San Carlos, CA. Interactive team is hybrid-remote across multiple states.
- **Benefits**: Comprehensive medical, mental wellness resources. Union benefits for animation staff (IATSE). Paid internships offered (Fall, Winter, Summer) with hands-on experience and access to top leadership.
- **Notable Perks**: Opportunity to work on iconic franchises (Marvel, Terminator, Mission: Impossible), cutting-edge VR, and original animation. Access to industry veterans and top-tier distribution partners.

## Sources
1. [skydance.com/about](https://skydance.com/about/)
2. [skydance.com/careers](https://skydance.com/careers/)
3. [jobs.lever.co/skydance](https://jobs.lever.co/skydance)
4. [skydance.com/faq](https://skydance.com/faq/)
5. [skydance.com/teams](https://skydance.com/teams/)

## Other roles at Skydance

- [VP, Head of Strategy & Business Operations](https://feeny.ai/job/vp-head-of-strategy-business-operations-skydance-los-angeles-fsfdzfe4vbq9) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Production Trainee](https://feeny.ai/job/production-trainee-skydance-madrid-b7aavaakjb7s) — Madrid, Spain
- [Executive Assistant, Talent Acquisition & Human Resources](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-assistant-talent-acquisition-human-resources-skydance-santa-monica-jf0gbs5zhj66) — Santa Monica, CA
- [Pipeline Engineer Trainee](https://feeny.ai/job/pipeline-engineer-trainee-skydance-madrid-jvknygn2tg58) — Madrid, Spain
- [Environment Set Dressing Trainee](https://feeny.ai/job/environment-set-dressing-trainee-skydance-madrid-hefj5xbfqtt6) — Madrid, Spain
- [Environment Surfacing Trainee](https://feeny.ai/job/environment-surfacing-trainee-skydance-madrid-ksq63b8xbjjh) — Madrid, Spain
- [Character Surfacing Trainee](https://feeny.ai/job/character-surfacing-trainee-skydance-madrid-ap6mp424cc3n) — Madrid, Spain
- [Junior Environment Surfacing Artist](https://feeny.ai/job/junior-environment-surfacing-artist-skydance-madrid-vqnvjmqmrk75) — Madrid, Spain
- [Office Receptionist](https://feeny.ai/job/office-receptionist-skydance-santa-monica-56f1dn8cc95b) — Santa Monica, CA
- [Lead Producer, Publishing (6-months Contract)](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-producer-publishing-6-months-contract-skydance-california-smrhaa9vf040) — California