At a Glance
- Tasks: Create stunning lighting scenes and composite shots using Maya and Nuke.
- Company: Join Blue Zoo, a leading UK animation studio with a world-class reputation.
- Benefits: Flexible working options, comprehensive benefits, and a fun, inclusive culture.
- Other info: Exciting growth opportunities in a supportive, diverse environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a talented team creating bold, characterful animations that make an impact.
- Qualifications: Experience with Maya and Nuke, strong understanding of lighting principles and compositing.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
About The Role
Our L&C artists are masters of mood, light and detail.
Their day-to-day focuses on tailored render layers, artful colour grading and production deadlines, whilst meeting that all important brief from our Directors and Clients.
They are also great collaborators, working as a team to share and develop their technical and artistic skills to deliver high quality content for our audiences.
About The Role
Our L&C artists are masters of mood, light and detail.
Their day-to-day focuses on tailored render layers, artful colour grading and production deadlines, whilst meeting that all important brief from our Directors and Clients.
They are also great collaborators, working as a team to share and develop their technical and artistic skills to deliver high quality content for our audiences.
This opportunity requires talent to be based in the UK and will require the right to work in the UK.
We are very happy to discuss flexible, hybrid and remote working options for all our vacancies.
Please note that this vacancy can close early if we receive a high number of applications.
- Day To Day
- Creating lighting scenes in Maya with assets from the animation and effects departments and then compositing these rendered shots in Nuke to create the final shot
- Tweaking provided light rigs, render set-ups and compositing templates to achieve the required look of your shot
- Tweaking render settings to optimise the efficiency of your renders
- Monitoring your renders to ensure they are within a given render time budget
- Working as part of a team of lighting and compositing artists, and regularly communicating with your Team Lead and the Post Production Supervisor
- Managing your time efficiently to meet the deadlines of your assigned shots
- Problem solving to fix errors and glitches and addressing notes efficiently
About You
Must Have
- Ability to demonstrate experience of both Maya & Nuke software
- Knowledge of lighting principles and how light is used to meet a creative brief, especially in stylised animation
- Technical understanding of how lighting works in 3D rendering - different types of lights, render set-ups, physically based rendering, ray tracing and global illumination - using Maya and a render engine comparable to Redshift
- Technical understanding of biased rendering to optimise sampling, making your renders efficient and avoiding noise and artefacts
- An understanding of colour theory, aesthetics and composition
- Technical understanding of utility passes (Z, Position and Normals) and how they are used in compositing using Nuke
- Understanding of camera depth of field
- Problem solving skills to find the best approach to meeting the brief as well as troubleshooting issues and asking questions if unsure
- Having an eye for detail for scrutinising final shots for any errors or inconsistencies
- Good communication and being a team player, sharing your knowledge and skills with other team members
- Able to respond positively to feedback
- Working independently. Being diligent, taking initiative and being reliable
- Being organised and managing your time efficiently
- Bonus Points
- Knowledge of Python scripting
- Knowledge of After Effects
- Experience using FTrack
- Knowledge of shading
- Understanding of a 3D production pipeline
About Us
Blue Zoo is a leading animation studio in the UK, with a world-class reputation as the go-to place for creating bold, fun and characterful animation.
Established in London in 2000, the studio has grown to become the largest dedicated CG animation studio in the UK, picking up a shelf full of BAFTAs, an Annie and an Emmy along the way!
We couldn’t be prouder that Blue Zoo is the first major animation studio in the world to receive B Corp certification.
We’ve been independently certified by B Lab, a non-profit organisation who award the B Corp certification.
The certification verifies companies who are working to improve the lives of employees as well as industries as a whole.
The certification process involves over 170 rigorous metrics to improve the lives of our staff, customers, suppliers, and the local community, ensuring we are not just saying we are ethical with empty gestures, but independently evidencing it.
We are going through an exciting period of growth and are building a studio that is full of amazingly talented, happy artists, making work they are proud of, which in turn makes a small contribution to a happier world.
Blue Zoo believes that a healthy balance in our lives - whatever our situation - is key to supporting the wellbeing of our staff.
We offer flexible working to support this.
We look for people who have expertise, enthusiasm and are motivated to make things better.
You’ll work alongside a talented and diverse group of people who respect each other's differences and seek to understand and embrace fresh perspectives.
- What We’ve Got For You
- 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 loads of discounts and offers.
- Online wellbeing programme.
- Profit share (for employees who have been with us for 2+ years).
Blue Zoo is committed to creating and nurturing an inclusive studio that promotes and values diversity and invites everyone to ‘bring their whole selves’ to work.
We believe that companies that truly embrace and value diversity, and create an environment where everyone from any background can do their best work, are better companies.
To be engaged our people have to feel included and valued.
We work hard to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is embedded in the way we work, not just an initiative.
We strive to engender a studio community that feels a deep sense of pride and commitment that transcends any role, department or level and works together to produce excellent and engaging work.
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UK Only | Junior 3D Lighting and Compositing Artist employer: Blue Zoo Animation Studio
Blue Zoo Animation Studio is an exceptional employer that fosters a creative and collaborative work environment, perfect for aspiring artists looking to make their mark in the animation industry. With flexible hybrid and remote working options, employees enjoy a healthy work-life balance while having access to continuous growth opportunities through mentorship and hands-on experience with industry professionals. Join us to be part of a vibrant team where your artistic talents can flourish and contribute to captivating animated stories.
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We think this is how you could land UK Only | Junior 3D Lighting and Compositing Artist
✨Show Off Your Skills with a Killer Portfolio
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We think you need these skills to ace UK Only | Junior 3D Lighting and Compositing Artist
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.
✨Know Your Design Tools Inside Out
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.
