Senior Story Artist

 

Company Overview

Kuku Studios is an animation studio focused on creating characters, experiences, and stories that enrich people’s lives. Whether it’s a feature film or an episodic series, we believe telling stories is a big responsibility. Stories should not only delight and entertain, but also challenge us to grow. At Kuku Studios, we’re committed to crafting content that captures truth and meaning in the stories we tell.

Based in Berkeley, California, the Kuku team consists of world-class filmmakers passionate about telling stories that appeal to audiences of all ages. Kuku Studios recently signed an overall deal with Netflix and has both television and feature properties in various stages of production.

Job Summary

We’re currently looking for a Senior Story Artist to join our team here in Berkeley, CA to work on an animated feature film! (Important Note: the company is currently working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, but when life returns to normal we look forward to safely returning to our company’s offices in West Berkeley.) We are looking for artists who are enthusiastic about working in a smaller studio where they’ll have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully and lead by example.

Our Directors are themselves veteran Story Artists who have worked in the Story Departments of several animated feature films at Pixar Animation Studios. As a result, they are committed to creating a collaborative story process that provides for the best artist experience possible, while also expecting the highest standards of work. Our goal is to create space for the team to feel challenged, grow artistically, contribute in meaningful ways, maintain creative ownership over their sequences, and have fun while doing it.

We are looking for artists who not only have the qualifications listed further below, but who are also excited to work independently as part of a small company.

Responsibilities and Duties

Work with Directors to craft sequences from script pages, beat outlines, or even just a brainstorming prompt
Pitch material weekly to Story team, Directors, and other team members
Re-work sequences multiple times in Story and in Editorial
Support with Development material at the studio

Qualifications and Skills

Minimum of 7-10 years of professional experience as a Story Artist
Proficiency with drawing and storyboarding software (e.g. Photoshop, Storyboard Pro, etc.)
The following essential Storyboarding skills and abilities as clearly and expertly shown in a Story Artist Portfolio:
Artistic skill set showing strong draftsmanship, command over layout and staging, and the ability to show action through clear drawings
Storytelling and writing skill set showing strong understanding of character, comedy, and narrative structure
Ability to work collaboratively
Take direction and feedback well and implement it into work consistently
Comfortable working in a fast paced environment with tight turnarounds
Flexible with constantly changing production schedules and needs

Benefits

Kuku Studios, while a small company, offers a Benefits package that includes:
Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance
Life, AD&D, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
PTO Policy
Company Holiday Schedule
401(k) with Employer Matching Contributions
We strive to provide all of the above benefits at levels on par with the larger animation studios!

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