Animal Logic

Careers FAQs

Sydney

  • Q: How do I prepare for a Video Conference with Animal Logic?

    If we have scheduled a video interview or meeting with you, please ensure you prepare yourself for general video conferencing etiquette. Please ensure the device you are using to connect to the meeting is positioned to be unmoving. You will also need to check if your camera and microphone are working correctly to enable a quality meeting experience.

  • Q: How do I apply for a role?

    Please follow the instructions of the job advertisement carefully. Take your time and carefully consider your answers as this is your first introduction to a potential employer.

  • Q: What should I put on my showreel/demoreel/portfolio?

    You’re awesome, but we need to see examples of your work!

    It is always good to keep your showreel short, sharp and sweet; starting and ending with your strongest work. It is far better to leave your audience wanting more, than for them to be bored and fast forwarding. 2 minutes is more than enough; we have seen fantastic reels from professionals with over 20 years experience that are as short as 60 seconds.

    Your best work, and only that. Mediocre work will always drag the better material down. Think about what is relevant to the job you are applying for.

    If you have more than 1 discipline we suggest you have a separate reel to showcase each area.

    Show it to someone whose opinion you trust and who knows what they are talking about, and try to consider their criticism objectively.

    A soundtrack should complement the vision, and not dominate or distract. Some people will turn off the sound when viewing a reel, but you should assume they will listen and you should do your best to sell your work with the soundtrack, and not to show what great taste you have in an obscure musical form!

    Always have an accompanying shot breakdown which outlines your contribution and the software used. Alternatively you can use titles onscreen during your reel to indicate this. Be sure the titles are clear but do not distract from the visuals.

    For security reasons there are certain sites we are unable to access, such as Google drive and Dropbox. The most convenient way for us to view demo reels is through Vimeo and YouTube. Increasingly people have websites where we can access all of their material, this makes it easy for us!

    Variety of styles is key for all of the departments as our projects are not always in the same style.

    Below are some suggestions of what you could include in your reel/portfolio.  Of course if you are applying for an advertised role make sure you are providing materials requested, as specified in the job ad.

    Concept
    – Examples from your sketchbook
    – Characters: biped and quadrupeds
    – Environment: organic and hard surface
    – Props
    – ‘Moments’
    – Mood boards
    – Range of motion examples

    Storyboard/Layout/Previz
    – Timing, composition, movement through shots
    – Whole sequences – see how separate shots work together to make a sequence work
    – Camerawork – variety of industry lenses
    – Final shot – is it consistent with the original?
    – It is common to have 3 windows onscreen – storyboard animatic in one, Layout in another and final shot in the third.

    Modelling
    – Reference material (concept or photo)
    – Characters – biped and quadrupeds
    – Environment – organic and hard surface
    – Props
    – Wire frames
    – Turntables
    – If possible your character/environment model in a finished shot

    Rigging
    – Characters: biped and quadrupeds
    – Mechanical
    – Facial rigs
    – The rig (sped up)
    – The rig animated
    – Python scripts

    Look Development (Surfacing)/Grooming
    – Realistic/photo real
    – Reference material (concept or photo)
    – Turntables
    – Characters
    – Environments: organic and hard surface
    – UVs
    – Realistic grooming
    – Shading

    Tracking
    – Original plate
    – Digital markers/stabilised plate
    – Final shot with integrated CG

    Animation
    – Realistic animation
    – “Cartoony” animation
    – Biped and quadrupeds
    – Acting piece: subtle, includes lip synch
    – Action work
    – Creature performance: includes lip sync
    – Process reel
    – Leave out the music, especially if you have lip sync

    FX
    – Realistic FX
    – Simulation
    – Particles
    – Rigid body dynamics
    – Fluids/water sim
    – In situ so we can see the scale is correct
    – Character FX: cloth and fur
    – Tools

    Lighting
    – Character lighting: furry, human, feathered
    – FX lighting
    – Environment lighting
    – Day and night
    – Exterior and interior
    – All moving images, no stills

    Matte Painting
    – Realistic work
    – Projection work
    – Layers
    – Original plate
    – Finished shot

    Roto/Compositing
    – Original plates
    – Layers
    – Final shot
    – Set extensions/environments
    – CG character/creature shots
    – FX heavy shots

    Generalist
    – Compilation of your best work
    – Separate reels for each discipline

  • Q: What else could I include in my showreel/demoreel/portfolio?

    If you are applying for an artistic role, drawings are quite valuable to a prospective employer. An animator’s drawings might show an understanding of balance, weight and movement. A modeller’s drawings can show an understanding of mass and proportion. Photography is a great study for lighters, and the design, layout and composition of photography, painting and drawing can be helpful when looking at a compositor’s work.

    Even if you aren’t applying for an artistic role, such as Software Development or a Technical Director we always like to see your ‘artistic’ side.

    Variety of styles is the key, unless the Company you are applying to has a particular style.

  • Q: How can I continually develop myself whilst looking for work?

    It’s tough getting that ‘experience’, but there are options. You can develop your own projects, on your own or with friends. We are happy to view work that has been created collaboratively (that’s how we work all the time). You simply need to be clear what you are responsible for on the reel (i.e. a subtitle on your reel that says “rigged and animated three headed monster”).

  • Q: Can I visit your studio?

    Due to the commercial sensitivity of our work we cannot provide tours of our studio.

  • Q: What is a typical salary at your Company?

    It depends upon the role you are hired for and we’ll discuss that with you if you’re offered the role.

  • Q: After my application is submitted, what happens next?

    We have a lot of candidates that apply to us and it does take time to review everyone’s material. So unfortunately, we may not get an opportunity to personally get back to you.

    If we feel that your application is a good match for the position or if we require further information, a member of our recruiting team will be in touch with you.

  • Q: How long will my application be kept on file before I should reapply?

    You should update/apply to any role(s) that you are interested in and have the demonstrated skills and experience for. It’s a dynamic business and you could have new material soon after you have applied for a role, so please do update your application with your new material when you are able to.