[Hiring] Lead Animation Director / Series Director for Anime Production Studio @Kraymer Art

Role Description

We are looking for an elite Lead Animation Director / Series Director to spearhead the creation of an entirely new, original anime IP. This is a rare opportunity to help build a high-tier, fully remote animation studio from the ground up. We need a visionary creative leader who can take full ownership of the animation pipeline, set the visual standard for the series, and ensure the final product can compete with top-tier industry benchmarks.

This role is for someone highly skilled, deeply reliable, and capable of leading a distributed team with clarity, speed, and creative excellence.

You will lead the full animation direction for an original anime production, overseeing everything from pre-production through final composition and post-production. You will work closely with producers, writers, animators, background artists, compositors, and other creative team members to transform scripts into visually compelling, emotionally engaging, high-impact animated storytelling.

We are building for the long term, so we are looking for someone who can help establish the creative foundation, production standards, workflows, and team culture for an original IP from the very beginning.

Tasks

• Direct the full animation pipeline from pre-production, including storyboarding and animatics, through final composition and post-production.
• Set and maintain the visual quality bar for the entire series.
• Ensure strong character acting, fluid movement, cinematic staging, and consistent art direction across episodes.
• Build, manage, and critique a remote team of key animators, inbetweeners, background artists, compositors, and other production artists.
• Collaborate closely with producers and writers to translate scripts into compelling visual storytelling.
• Establish efficient workflows for a globally distributed, fully remote animation team.
• Review animation work regularly and provide clear, actionable feedback to maintain quality and production speed.
• Create standards, references, style guides, and processes that help the team scale without sacrificing quality.
• Own the creative and technical execution of the animation pipeline from start to finish.

Requirements

• Proven experience as an Animation Director, Episode Director, Series Director, Lead Key Animator, or similar senior role on high-quality 2D animation or anime-style projects.
• Elite portfolio or showreel demonstrating exceptional animation direction, storyboarding, visual storytelling, and technical animation ability.
• Deep understanding of professional 2D animation pipelines from storyboard to final comp.
• Strong knowledge of industry-standard tools such as Clip Studio Paint, TVPaint, Toon Boom Harmony, After Effects, and related production software.
• Strong understanding of anime, manga, webcomics, and webtoons.
• Ability to lead, critique, and organize a fully remote creative team.
• Highly reliable, hard-working, and dedicated to keeping production moving.
• Available at least 5 days per week to maintain momentum and hit production deadlines.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to give clear, direct, useful feedback.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, performance-focused environment.

Nice to Have

• Experience building or scaling an animation team from scratch.
• Experience creating production workflows for remote or globally distributed teams.
• Familiarity with project management tools for creative production.
• Experience with original IP development.
• Strong understanding of AI-assisted creative tools and their practical use in production.
• Experience adapting or working with webtoon, manga, or comic-style storytelling formats.

Benefits

• Genuine Flexibility: We are results-oriented. As long as work is completed at a fast pace and production KPIs are met, you manage your own schedule.
• Long-term Role: We are looking for someone full-time who can oversee the IP for the long haul.
• Fully Remote: No commute, no unnecessary office hours, and no graveyard shifts. Our entire team works remotely.
• Build From Scratch: You will help shape the foundation of a new remote animation studio and original anime IP.
• Fun Industry: You will have the rare chance to build an original anime world, visual identity, and production pipeline from the ground up.
• High Creative Ownership: This is a leadership role for someone who wants real influence over the final look, feel, and quality of the series.

If this sounds like a strong fit, click Apply. We look forward to hearing from you.