Senior Animator

About the role

You are an experienced animator and motion designer, relentlessly bringing ideas to life through movement, storytelling, and craft. You're a strong conceptual thinker with exceptional motion instincts—comfortable shaping narratives, editing compelling sizzles, and creating sophisticated motion systems that elevate the work. You collaborate closely with designers, strategists, and creative leaders to deliver thoughtful, impactful work while remaining deeply hands-on in the craft.

Responsibilities

• Generate and develop standout creative ideas in collaboration with senior creative leadership.
• Create exceptional motion design across brand identities, digital experiences, campaigns, presentations, and product storytelling.
• Craft compelling sizzles, editorial films, motion graphics, and animation systems that bring ideas to life through movement, pacing, rhythm, and storytelling.
• Translate strategy into thoughtful motion—balancing big creative ideas with technical precision and exceptional craft.
• Collaborate closely with Design, Strategy, and Client Services from concept through execution.
• Help shape presentations and confidently communicate your work to both internal teams and clients.
• Support junior creatives, contribute to creative discussions, and help elevate the quality of work across the team.
• Take ownership of your work, actively seek feedback, and continually refine your craft.
• Manage your time effectively and consistently deliver high-quality work within project timelines.
• Bring a digital and AI-aware mindset, using emerging tools to support creative exploration without compromising craft.

Requirements

You're an exceptional animator, motion designer, and editor with a strong eye for storytelling, pacing, rhythm, composition, and detail. You have 6-8 years of experience. You understand branding at a deep level and know how to translate brand systems into thoughtful, expressive motion. You have experience creating motion systems for brands across digital experiences, campaigns, and presentations. You love crafting polished sizzles, presentation films, editorial content, and motion graphics that inspire audiences and communicate ideas with clarity. You think conceptually and know how to transform strategy into compelling visual stories through motion.

Qualifications

You have a portfolio showcasing your ability to create compelling motion designs and animations. You possess excellent communication skills and can effectively present your work to both internal teams and clients. You are proficient in industry-standard software such as Adobe After Effects, Motion, and Maya. You have a bachelor's degree in animation, graphic design, film, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Skills

Proficiency in motion design software (Adobe After Effects, Motion, Maya).

Benefits

We ensure Koto is an equal environment for all its employees. We support you in taking family leave and offer significant paid maternity and paternity. We actively encourage you to take 25 days of vacation annually, in addition to US bank holidays (on average seven), and a studio closure over the December Holidays. We reward five years of service with $5,000 and five days vacation. We reward ten years of service with $10,000 and four weeks' vacation. We offer access to YCN and fund relevant training opportunities to any employee looking to develop themselves and their career. We deploy a monthly ‘employee wellness’ benefits package via Juno of $100 per month. We will give you the opportunity to work from any of the four Koto studios globally, for a set time period, with appropriate planning and application.

Pay

Competitive salary based on experience.

Schedule

Full-time position with flexible working arrangements including an optional WFH day on Friday and an additional two weeks remote a year.