Red Lantern - Blender Animator

Who are you, and what do you do?
My name is Austin Wilson, and I’m the co-founder of 10 Ton Productions, a film development and production company. We help bring powerful stories to life by combining traditional filmmaking with cutting-edge AI tools. After creating Homestead, a live-action short film, we’re now expanding into AI animation to develop stylized, emotionally-driven stories with greater speed and flexibility. Our focus is on exploring how generative tools can unlock new possibilities in storytelling.

What’s the project, and what do you need from a freelancer?
We’re developing an animated short film called Red Lantern, which blends stylized, storybook-inspired visuals with cutting-edge AI animation techniques. The plan is to use AI tools for much of the animation and camera movement, but we’re looking for a Blender artist who can support the process by helping us generate styled keyframes and layout shots. These frames will serve as critical inputs to our AI-driven pipeline. While animation experience is a plus, the main focus is helping us create expressive, cinematic compositions and painterly frame designs that reflect the emotional tone and world of the story.

When do you need your project delivered?
Our goal is to have a finished short within the next 30 days. We’re moving quickly and would love to collaborate with someone who can jump in soon and work iteratively with us as we go from layout to AI-enhanced animation.

Can you provide examples of your preferred style?
We’re aiming for a visual style that combines the atmospheric simplicity and emotional clarity of the video game Journey (2012) with the painterly, stylized look of animated films like Klaus and Paperman. We love the feeling of hand-crafted textures, soft lighting, and expressive character design—something that feels both modern and timeless, with a hint of magic and wonder. Our ideal collaborator has an eye for composition and mood, and can help us craft visually striking keyframes that translate well into AI-assisted animation.

In what capacity are you hiring?
On behalf of my company

Where are you in the hiring process?
I’m ready to make a paid hire

Is this an independent one off job, or part of a larger project?
Single job with follow up work

For what period of time will the freelancer be needed?
More than a week

What freelancer experience level is needed? (per hour)
Mid-level (Industry Average): $35-75, Senior: $75-100, Expert: $100+