Character Artist (ZBrush/Maya) – CG Animated Feature Film – NL/SA/BE

7 juli 2026

Language: Dutch and/or English

Location: Netherlands, Belgium or South-Africa – (Remote within Europe considered)

Level: Junior, Medior or Senior

Software: Zbrush, Maya, Substance Painter
Preferred period: Fall 2026 until Spring 2027

Application Form: https://forms.gle/DvLxjBytF6PZZiYn8

Contact: studiotalent@submarine.nl

About Submarine:

Submarine’s animation slate features a multitude of award-winning films and series, which are as varied in style as in their target demographic. Submarine Animation prides itself in its ability not to be confined to just one look or technique – putting the needs of each individual project front-and-center. As such, we work with 2D as well as 3D animation, digital as well as traditional crafts, and live-action/animation hybrids.

About the Production
We are currently producing a high-end, fully CG animated family feature film with a distinctive stylised cinematic look. Created by a passionate, international team of artists and technicians, the project is a South African co-production with Diprente and directed by Wip Vernooij.

The film, Spike, follows a proud and powerful rhinoceros who loses his horn and is forced to journey across the South African savanna alongside his estranged teenage son, Enzo. As they search for their way home, Spike must confront a new reality, learning that true strength lies not in power, but in vulnerability, connection, and growth.

About the Role
We’re looking for an experienced Character Artist to join our team on an exciting family-friendly CG animated feature set across the diverse landscapes of Africa, featuring a cast of colourful talking animals.

You’ll work closely with our Art, Character Design, Rigging, Groom, Surfacing, and Look Development teams to bring our animal cast to life. From high-resolution sculpts to production-ready assets, you’ll create expressive, appealing characters that are fun to animate, technically robust, and help shape the unique look and feel of the film while meeting the needs of production.

Responsibilities

Create high-quality production-ready character models from concept art.
Sculpt expressive stylized animal characters in ZBrush with strong attention to anatomy, form, and appeal.
Build clean, efficient topology suitable for rigging, animation, and deformation.
UV unwrap character assets and prepare them for surfacing.
Create high-quality PBR textures and materials using Substance Painter.
Work within an Arnold-based look development pipeline to ensure assets render consistently across production.
Collaborate closely with Character Design, Rigging, and Groom to ensure seamless asset integration.
Participate in reviews and respond constructively to artistic and technical feedback.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience as a Character Artist on animated feature films, VFX productions, games, or equivalent high-end CG projects.
Excellent sculpting skills in ZBrush.
Strong modelling skills in Maya.
Experience creating stylized characters with clean production topology.
Experience authoring PBR textures and materials using Substance Painter.
Good understanding of UV workflows, topology, anatomy, and deformation requirements.
Strong artistic eye for shape language, silhouette, proportion, and character appeal.
Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Nice to Have

Experience working with Arnold and physically based rendering workflows.
Experience creating stylized animal characters.
Familiarity with grooming and fur workflows for production.
Experience with blendshapes, facial modelling, or expression sculpts.
Knowledge of USD-based production pipelines.
Experience working on animated feature films.

What we offer

A key role on a feature-length CG animated film.
A collaborative international team of artists and technicians.
A creative environment with plenty of room for collaboration.
Flexible working arrangements.
Competitive compensation based on experience.

If you are passionate about creating memorable characters and enjoy bringing expressive stylized animals to life, we would love to hear from you.

Please fill out our form and apply with your CV, portfolio, reel, and a brief introduction outlining your relevant experience.