Creative Lead​/Episode Director LA​/NYC

Role: Creative Lead / Episode Director
Project: 25 minute animated episode (hybrid GenAI + traditional pipeline)
Contract: Fixed term, approx. mid January to end of May 2026
Location: Remote hybrid with collaboration across LA and London
Salary: Competitive, based on experience (fixed project fee)

Wonder Studios is seeking a Creative Lead to guide the artistic vision and execution of a 25 minute episode produced through a hybrid Generative AI and traditional animation pipeline. This role requires a strong eye for performance, character integrity, and visual storytelling, alongside the ability to work pragmatically within a fast-moving, tech-assisted workflow. You will be responsible for upholding the stylistic continuity of the episode, translating a locked animatic into polished, broadcast-ready animation.

This is a continuation of an existing IP so style, tone and visual identity has been set and will need to be kept consistent.

• Own the creative interpretation of the animatic and ensure every shot aligns with the established tone, style, and character fidelity
• Provide daily direction and feedback to Segment Leads, GenAI artists, and traditional 2D animators
• Maintain visual continuity across segment pods, ensuring consistency of line, colour, performance, staging, and comedic timing
• Identify opportunities where AI-generated outputs need refinement, correction, or replacement with traditional techniques

• Collaborate closely with the Production Lead and Technical Lead as one of the three core pillars shaping workflow, team structure, and production methodology
• Help define creative standards, reference packs, and quality benchmarks for the entire team
• Work with the Technical Lead to guide model training, prompt libraries, and style alignment informed by Season 1 and reference materials
• Participate in early R&D and look‑dev phases to validate the visual approach before full‑scale production

• Lead internal creative reviews and evaluate all shots before they move into editorial
• Provide clear, actionable feedback and help artists problem‑solve AI‑driven inconsistencies
• Oversee revisions and ensure final picture reflects the intended creative vision
• Review assembled edits with the Editor to maintain narrative flow and performance continuity

• Represent the creative vision in production check‑ins and review sessions
• Communicate clearly with Production regarding priorities, risks, and resource needs
• Support documentation efforts around creative decisions, shot methodologies, and visual standards

• 5+ years in animation direction, art direction, supervising animation, or equivalent creative leadership roles
• Deep understanding of 2D animation principles, character performance, staging, and visual continuity
• Strong ability to direct artists, deliver precise feedback, and maintain a cohesive visual approach across large volumes of shots
• Experience working in fast‑paced episodic production environments
• Comfort collaborating with technical teams; curiosity about emerging AI‑assisted workflows

• Experience with AI‑assisted tools, pipelines, or generative visual workflows
• Familiarity with Toon Boom Harmony, After Effects, Photoshop, or compositing tools
• Experience overseeing multi‑pod or distributed teams

You combine strong artistic taste with hands‑on production pragmatism. You’re comfortable directing both human artists and AI‑generated outputs, and you can quickly assess whether a shot needs creative adjustment, technical support, or manual polish. You thrive in collaborative environments and bring confidence, decisiveness, and clarity to the team.