Pixel Zoo Studios Hiring Lighting Artist

At Pixel Zoo , we don’t just animate; we create digital ecosystems where stories thrive. Based in the vibrant North Lakes area of Brisbane, our studio is a hive of creativity, passion, and technical innovation. We are home to a collective of artists, storytellers, and dreamers who are united by a common goal: to push the boundaries of what is possible in animated entertainment.

Lighting is the “magic” of our pipeline. It is the final layer of artistry that transforms a collection of 3D models and textures into a believable, emotionally resonant world. If you possess a keen eye for cinematic mood, a passion for the nuances of light and shadow, and the technical prowess to deliver world-class renders, you might be the artist we are looking for to help us bring our next project to life.

We are currently on the lookout for a Lighting Artist to join the team!

If you believe you are a good fit for us and we are a good fit for you let us know!In this role, you will be responsible for creating the perfect lighting setups that bring our animated worlds to life. Working closely with the art director, compositors, and other artists, you will use your technical expertise and artistic flair to craft visually stunning and immersive lighting environments that enhance the overall storytelling and mood of our projects. Your creative lighting solutions will breathe life into characters, scenes, and objects, elevating the visual quality and emotional impact of our animated content.

Job Overview : Lighting Artist

Details

Pixel Zoo

Lighting Artist

North Lakes, Brisbane (Northern Suburb)

Animation & VFX

Professional industry experience required

Autodesk Maya

Lighting schemes, rendering efficiency, & cinematic storytelling

The Role: Breathing Life Through Light

As a Lighting Artist at Pixel Zoo, you are the final architect of our visual narrative. You are responsible for creating the perfect lighting setups that set the stage, define the mood, and guide the audience’s eye. Your work is the bridge between the technical groundwork of our animators and the final polished product that hits the screen.

Your Responsibilities:

• Narrative Illumination: You will develop and implement sophisticated lighting schemes for a wide variety of scenes and shots. Your primary goal is to ensure that every frame serves the artistic vision and the narrative requirements of the project. Whether it’s a bright, cheerful morning in a stylized world or a dark, atmospheric sequence in a high-stakes drama, your lighting will define the audience’s emotional response.

• Collaborative Vision: You will work in lockstep with our Art Directors, Compositors, and VFX leads. Understanding the visual style of a project isn’t enough; you must be an active participant in maintaining that consistency across thousands of frames.

• Efficiency Meets Excellence: The beauty of your work must be balanced by technical discipline. You will be responsible for optimizing lighting setups to ensure rendering efficiency. We value the “art of the possible”—balancing high-fidelity visual results with the practicalities of render times and project constraints.

• The Nuance of Realism: You will master the use of advanced lighting effects, including global illumination, ray-traced shadows, reflections, and subsurface scattering to create depth, dimension, and realism.

• Artistic Exploration: We encourage our artists to experiment. Whether it’s developing new lighting techniques or pushing the limits of our rendering engine, you will have the creative freedom to achieve unique, visually captivating results.

• Pipeline Integrity: You will operate within a professional studio environment, ensuring that your work adheres to our established studio policies, naming conventions, and technical guidelines, facilitating a seamless downstream workflow for the compositing team.

Expected Tasks:

1. Develop and implement lighting schemes for various scenes and shots, ensuring they align with the artistic vision and narrative of the project.
2. Work closely with the art director, visual effects artists, and other departments to understand the visual style and requirements of each shot.
3. Optimize lighting setups for rendering efficiency while maintaining high-quality results. Balance visual fidelity with render times to achieve the best possible outcome within project constraints.
4. Utilize lighting effects, such as shadows, reflections, and global illumination, to enhance realism and visual appeal
5. Experiment with creative lighting techniques to achieve unique and visually captivating results.
6. Ensuring all work follows studio policies and guidelines

Essential skills:

1. Proven experience as a Lighting Artist in the animation, VFX, or film industry, with a focus on animated content.
2. Proficiency in lighting software, such as Autodesk Maya, and a strong understanding of lighting principles and techniques.
3. Solid understanding of rendering processes and the technical aspects of lighting in animation.
4. Strong attention to detail and a dedication to delivering high-quality lighting that enhances the storytelling and visual appeal of the project.
5. Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.

This position is based at our Studio in North Lakes (Brisbane Northern Suburb) where public transport is readily available. Come and join us at the Zoo! We offer a warm and welcoming work environment with fun company and team events that help build strong connections.

If you believe you are a good fit for us and we are a
good fit for you let us know!
Include your CV and any other relevant info such as a showreel or portfolio.
If you have any questions about the position or Pixel
Zoo, please let us know.
We hope to hear from you soon!