3D FX Artist | Guru Studio Guru Studio

Guru Studio is seeking an experienced, creatively driven 3D FX Artist to join the production team for the world’s #1 smash-hit animated children’s series,
PAW Patrol
. As this award-winning, action-packed global phenomenon enters its second decade of production, our studio is embarking on highly ambitious milestones. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to one of the most recognizable and beloved children’s properties in entertainment history.

In this role 3D FX Artist
, you will be responsible for designing and implementing dynamic, stylized 3D effects—ranging from environmental elements like rain and dust to complex interactions like water and fire. Operating under a hybrid work model out of our vibrant downtown Toronto studio, you will utilize sideFX Houdini alongside our proprietary in-house pipelines to deliver high-quality visual effects that align with the established aesthetic of the show.

If you are a collaborative problem-solver with a passion for high-end episodic animation, this role provides an exceptional platform to showcase your craft to a massive global audience.

For a quick, comprehensive reference regarding this professional vacancy, please review the core parameters outlined below:

• Hiring Company: Guru Studio
• Job Title: 3D FX Artist
• Associated IP: PAW Patrol (Season Production / New Cycles)
• Job Type /
  
  Contract:
  
  Fixed-Term Contract (Approximately 35 Weeks)
• Vacancy Status: Active, current opening tied directly to a live animation project
• Work Model: Hybrid (Remote flexibility with a downtown Toronto studio available)
• Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Minimum Experience: 4+ Years in animated television and/or feature film
• Primary Software: SideFX Houdini (In-depth knowledge is mandatory)
• Secondary Software: Redshift (Rendering) and Foundry Nuke (Compositing)
• Advanced Pipeline Assets: USD, Solaris, and Redshift Shaders (Major Assets)

At Guru Studio, our 3D FX Artists do not simply run automated simulations; they are digital craftsmen who manipulate physics to support character performance and comedic timing. Because PAW Patrol features highly stylized, snappy, cartoon-style animation, your effects must feel integrated into the show’s specific universe rather than leaning into hyper-realism.

You will work as a critical link between the Asset department and the Lighting/Compositing teams. A primary component of your strategic impact will involve finding creative, optimized solutions for complex scenes. This means thinking structurally and collaborating with asset artists to generate lightweight, efficient visual tricks without default-reliance on heavy, time-consuming simulations. This technical and artistic balance ensures that production moving at a fast-paced television schedule remains optimized, visually stunning, and on time.

As a 3D FX Artist on this production, your day-to-day operations will blend creative artistry, technical pipeline navigation, and clear communication. Your core responsibilities include:

• Dynamic Asset Generation: Design, simulate, and implement high-quality 3D FX elements, including but not limited to dust clouds, rain, fire, smoke, mud, and complex water interactions.
• Physics Manipulation: Artfully manipulate simulation physics inside Houdini to match the snappy, exaggerated timing and weight of stylized cartoon animation.
• Non-Simulated Solutions: Partner closely with the asset team to generate clever, creative structural workarounds to achieve required visual goals without defaulting to heavy, resource-intensive simulations.

• Schedule Discipline: Complete all assigned technical and artistic tasks on schedule, ensuring that fast-paced weekly episodic deadlines are met consistently.
• Pipeline Integration: Follow established studio workflows, asset tracking pipelines, and file structures. Utilize advanced USD and Solaris frameworks where applicable to pass assets efficiently down the pipeline.
• Risk Management: Maintain highly proactive communication with your FX Lead, flagging potential technical…