Assistant Director

At Stellar we aim to build a studio where people actually want to work.We face the inevitable ups and downs of production as a truly supportive and connected team prioritizing open communication over anyone working in isolation. We value honesty creativity and looking out for one another.

The Opportunity:

We are looking for an experienced Assistant Director to join our creative leadership team on aa premium streaming series for Marvel Animation.

In this role you are the Directors trusted right hand. You will help translate the overarching creative vision into actionable direction for the floor ensuring the storytelling pacing and cinematic quality hit our prestige standards. This is an opportunity to take creative ownership of specific episodes or sequences bridge the gap between creative ambition and production realities and mentor a crew of incredibly talented artists.

In this role success looks like:

Creative Direction & Execution:

• Partner closely with the Director to fully understand internalize and execute the creative vision of the series.
• Translate high-level directorial notes into clear actionable feedback for the Asset Rigging Art Crowd FX Lighting & Compositing Layout teams and Animators.
• Ensure continuity of storytelling pacing cinematic camera work and character acting across the episodes you oversee.

Episodic Leadership & Reviews:

• Take ownership of assigned episodes or key sequences guiding them from the animatic phase through to final render.
• Run daily creative reviews (dailies) in the Director stead when needed providing constructive inspiring and decisive feedback to the crew.
• Review and approve shot-level work to ensure it aligns with the shows style guide and narrative goals.

Production Partnership:

• Give creative and technical feedback on assets with an understanding of how and where they will be utilized in the overall context of the production.
• Proactively identify creative bottlenecks or overly complex sequences early in the boarding/layout phase and propose solutions without blowing up the budget.

Team Mentorship:

• Provide clarity foster accountability and actively support the artistic growth of the animation and Art teams.
• Foster a collaborative ego-free environment where artists feel comfortable pitching ideas and taking creative risks.

The Requirements

Must-Haves:

• Experience: 5 years of creative leadership experience in episodic animation or feature film (previous experience as an Episodic Director Assistant Director Storyboard Supervisor or Animation Lead).
• Cinematic Mastery: Deep understanding of visual storytelling camera composition editing pacing and character acting.
• Communication: Exceptional ability to communicate creative ideas clearly and concisely. You know how to give notes that empower artists rather than micromanage them.
• Production Savvy: A strong understanding of the CG animation pipeline from script to screen and the ability to make fast smart compromises when the schedule demands it.
• Technical: Deep understanding of the animation production pipeline.
• Production experience with ShotGrid (Shotgun) for reviewing and tracking shot progress.
• Eligibility: Legally eligible to work in British Columbia Canada

Nice-to-Haves:

• Experience working within a hybrid 2D/CG aesthetic.
• Hands-on experience with Maya

Why Join Stellar

• Flexible Environment: We offer a flexible hybrid schedule that will vary with project and team requirements.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Extended health benefits.
• Growth: Professional development support to help you stay ahead of tech and creative trends.
• Culture: A collaborative ego-free environment where technical expertise fuels creative magic.

At Stellar Creative Lab we believe diversity and inclusion are key to creativity and collaboration. Were committed to building a supportive open and diverse community where everyone can thrive. Were always looking for ways to improve accessibility so feel free to share any feedback or suggestions with us.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply though priority will be given to BC Residents Canadians and Canadian Permanent Residents.