At a Glance
- Tasks: Create stunning lighting and compositing scenes in Unreal and Nuke for captivating narratives.
- Company: Award-winning studio known for its inclusive culture and creative storytelling.
- Benefits: Comprehensive benefits, profit sharing, and fun social events throughout the year.
- Other info: Opportunities for mentorship and career growth in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Join a talented team and shape the visual storytelling of exciting animation projects.
- Qualifications: Experience with Unreal Engine and strong understanding of lighting and compositing principles.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 60000 £ per year.
About the Role
Our Senior Lighting and Compositing Artists ("L&C") are visual storytellers who set mood and atmosphere in our narratives, highlight character, prop and environment details, and master light, colour and creative problem‑solving. The day‑to‑day focus is creating lighting for episodes, finessing colours in compositing, and balancing high quality with tight deadlines. The role is scheduled to start late June 2026 and may close early if the application volume is high.
Day to Day
- Creating lighting scenes in Unreal with assets from the animation and effects departments and then compositing these rendered shots in Nuke to produce the final image.
- Tweaking provided light rigs, render set‑ups and compositing templates to achieve the required look of each shot.
- Monitoring renders to ensure they stay within the allocated time budget.
- Collaborating with a team of lighting and compositing artists, and communicating regularly with the Team Lead and the Lighting & Compositing Supervisor.
- Managing time efficiently to hit deadlines for assigned shots.
- Problem‑solving to fix errors, glitches and address notes efficiently.
- Covering for the Team Lead when they are unavailable.
- Taking on the more challenging and technical shots.
- Supporting and mentoring junior team members while developing management skills.
About You
Must Have
- Experience with Unreal Engine and a technical understanding of how lighting works in 3D rendering, including different types of lights, render set‑ups, physically based rendering, ray tracing and global illumination.
- Knowledge of lighting principles and how light supports a creative brief, especially in stylised animation.
- Understanding of bias‑rendering techniques to optimise sampling and avoid noise and artefacts.
- Understanding of colour theory, aesthetics and composition.
- Technical knowledge of utility passes (Z, Position and Normals) and their use in Nuke compositing.
- Understanding of cinematic principles such as DOF, Motion Blur, Lensing, etc.
- Problem‑solving skills to devise the best approach to meet the brief, troubleshoot issues and ask clarifying questions.
- Attention to detail for scrutinising final shots for errors or inconsistencies.
- Good communication and teamwork; sharing knowledge and skills with others.
- Positive response to feedback.
- Ability to work independently, being diligent, taking initiative and reliable.
- Organised and efficient time‑management.
- Previous experience as an L&C Artist in an animation production.
- Understanding of a 3D production pipeline.
Bonus Points
- Experience using Flow/Shotgrid.
- Knowledge of shading.
- Further understanding of a 3D production pipeline.
- Understanding of Path Tracing in Unreal.
Benefits
- Winner of Broadcast Best Places to Work in TV 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2025 & 2026.
- Inclusive, self‑funded shorts programme.
- Many fun in‑person and remote social events throughout the year.
- Bi‑monthly employee feedback and engagement programme.
- Comprehensive benefits package, including discounts and offers.
- Online wellbeing programme.
- Profit share for employees who have been with us for 2 + years.
Senior Lighting and Compositing Artist (with Unreal) employer: Blue Zoo Animation Studio
Join a dynamic and award-winning team as a Senior Lighting and Compositing Artist, where creativity meets collaboration in a vibrant work culture. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our inclusive shorts programme and regular feedback initiatives, ensuring you thrive both personally and professionally. With a comprehensive benefits package and a focus on wellbeing, we offer a unique environment that celebrates innovation and teamwork, making us an exceptional employer in the animation industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Lighting and Compositing Artist (with Unreal)
✨Show Off Your Skills with a Killer Portfolio
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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Lighting and Compositing Artist (with Unreal)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Portfolio:Your portfolio is your visual CV! Make sure to include a link to your best design projects that showcase your creativity and versatility. Tailor it to include works that relate to the kind of design work Blue Zoo Animation Studio does, so they can see you in action.
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Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at Blue Zoo Animation Studio. Let us know how you approach your design projects and any specific campaigns or themes that resonate with you, showing we’re not just a good fit but a perfect match!
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How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Zoo Animation Studio
✨Get Your Portfolio Ready
Your portfolio is your secret weapon in graphic design interviews! Make sure it's showing off your best work, with a variety of styles and projects that highlight different skills — from branding to digital illustration. Be prepared to talk through each piece, focusing on your creative process and the tools you used.
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Familiarity with software like Adobe Creative Suite is a must! Brush up on your skills with Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, as interviewers might dive into specific technical questions or ask for your workflow. If you’ve worked with any innovative tools or techniques, don't hesitate to showcase that expertise!
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Some companies may throw a design challenge your way during the interview! This might involve sketching out ideas or solving a branding issue on the spot. Practising these quick thinking exercises beforehand can help us show off our creativity and adaptability.
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For a full-time position, showing genuine enthusiasm for design is key! Talk about your inspirations, the projects you're excited about, and why you're drawn to Blue Zoo Animation Studio. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.
