Animation - Jedi Academy - ILM Vancouver (Open to Canadian Citizens & PR only)

Job ID 10150622 Location Vancouver, Canada Business Industrial Light & Magic Date posted May 12, 2026

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Job Summary:

This role is considered Hybrid, which means the employee will work 2-3 days onsite at a Company designated location and occasionally from home.

Position Summary

Are you looking to get in the door of the exciting world of VFX? ILM’s Jedi Academy may be just the thing for you!

The Jedi Academy provides the opportunity for recently graduated students or industry artists with up to two years experience to train under our Jedi Masters.

In this paid experience, as the successful applicant in a Technical Animator role, you will be carefully placed into the Animation department and will hone your skills in both the art and science of movement. While contributing to a wide variety of work from character and creature animation for live-action VFX and feature animation projects, you will also take on a technical mindset learning to troubleshoot complex tasks and learn to contribute to the optimization of animation tools to enhance studio workflows. You will gain experience through training and mentorship, in a fast-paced and highly collaborative production environment.

To top it off, graduates who successfully complete the program may be offered a Junior Technical Animator Artist position within the studio.

ILM strives to be an inclusive environment, and we embrace promising individuals from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. We are searching for Jedi’s who reflect the innovative spirit, creative talent, collaborative mindset and passion for great filmmaking that defines ILM.

Applications will close on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

What You Need to Know

The Jedi Academy role is a paid 6-week placement beginning July 13, 2026
This role is considered Hybrid, which means you will work onsite at our Vancouver studio and occasionally from home
You will be required to work full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm
We do not provide assistance for relocation, housing, transportation, or work authorization for the Jedi Academy
You must be a Canadian Citizen or hold Canadian Permanent Resident status
You will have graduated from a relevant course within the last 12 months or have up to two years of VFX experience
As Yoda would say “Highly encouraged, cover letters are. The story behind your resume, tell us you must”

What You’ll Do

Jedi Academy artists will work closely with senior artists and may be tasked with both animated performance and technical support, including:

Character performance and creature animation for CG feature film and VFX projects, including work with vocal takes,dialogue scenes, camera work, vehicles, digi doubles and facial animation using modern rigs
Learn how to provide technical support and follow up on tickets from other departments related to Animation
Learn the skills to collaborate on show specific solutions by helping to develop and test new animation tools, software versions and proprietary ILM workflows
Manage cameras, staging and composition while preparing and recording video reference for performance
Complete work within the timeframe bid, while mastering professional habits; including best practices for presenting work in dailies and communicating effectively within a team
Gain knowledge and appreciation of ILM’s culture and history

What We’re Looking For

Bachelor's Degree or Diploma in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, Design or Photography or related OR experience working in a VFX or Animation Studio. Equivalent self-taught proficiency and a standout portfolio will also be considered
A basic understanding of animation methods and approaches, as well as technical skills such as digital character rigging techniques
A good technical understanding of Maya’s animation and rigging tools and software
Great collaborators, curious learners with a blend of creative and storytelling skills
Reel demonstrating evidence of your work in animation, and a general understanding of CG. You may have further education in VFX, digital media or animation, but it is not a prerequisite
Strong personal work that represents artist skills and interest in VFX
Strong teamwork, excellent communication and interdisciplinary thinking
Interest in and ability to quickly pick up new software and proprietary tools
Ability to prioritize tasks and effectively communicate those tasks to other collaborators within the studio
Some Coding/Scripting knowledge (Python) and a curiosity for using technology to solve problems and improve workflows
Nice to have:
o Motion Capture data experience
o Knowledge of Linux, Houdini, and/or Unreal

As part of your application please submit a demo reel, shot breakdown, or equivalent showcasing your work. A current resume is required.

JoinILM

The pay rate for this role in Vancouver is C$25.75 per hour. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

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About Industrial Light & Magic:

Founded in 1975 by George Lucas, ILM is the leading effects facility in the world, serving the motion picture, commercial production, and attraction industries. ILM has created visual effects for over 325 feature films and has played a key role in seven of the top 10 worldwide box-office hits of all time and has contributed to 25 of the top 50. ILM has set the standard for visual effects, creating some of the most stunning images in the history of film. At the forefront of the digital revolution, the company continues to break new ground in visual effects, VR, AR, and Immersive Cinema.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with ILM (Vancouver) Inc., which is part of a business we call Industrial Light & Magic.

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