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.

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.

Requirements

Experience as a Groom Artist on animated films, high-end TV, or VFX productions.

• Proven track record working within large-scale production pipelines and collaborating cross-functionally.
• Expertise in procedural grooming tools, in Houdini.
• Proficient in painting applications such as Mari and/or Substance Painter.
• Familiar with Shotgun or similar production tracking tools.
• Understanding of grooming simulation and how it affects downstream departments.
• Texture and shader literacy as it relates to hair/fur rendering.
• Strong eye for design, silhouette, and detail.
• Able to interpret reference images and break them down into clear grooming strategies.
• Self-motivated and adaptable with strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to take feedback constructively and iterate quickly in a dynamic environment.
• Organized and attentive to pipeline and naming conventions.

Portfolio Requirements

• Reel or portfolio showcasing high-end stylized and/or realistic hair, fur, and feather grooms.
• Demonstrated expertise in procedural grooming workflows, preferably in Houdini.
• Clear breakdowns of each showcased asset.
• Examples that show a variety of grooming types (e.g., long hair, short fur, feathers, braids, stylized shapes).
• To impress: time-lapse or process breakdowns showing your grooming progression and decision-making.

Benefits

Location: British Columbia, Canada

Pay Range: CAD $1800 - $2000 per week

This salary range provided reflects our current expectations for these roles as of this posting's date. Your final salary offer will consider various key factors, including your education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographical location, as well as the needs and requirements of the business.

Flexible work environment, Extended Health and Wellness from day 1, RRSP matching are just some of the benefits. For more details, check out our website.

At Bardel, we recognize that flexibility is key to doing great work. Our hybrid work environment is a valued perk designed to support individual accountability and empower our teams to work where they're most productive. We offer the choice to work remotely, balanced with intentional in-person time for collaboration, creativity, and team building. This role requires in-studio attendance at our Vancouver studio during onboarding and predetermined Rush Weeks.

If this seems like a good fit, what are you waiting for, get your application in!