Animator (Multimedia Designer)

Animator (Multimedia Designer)
Production: I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire by Samantha Hurley
Producer: Refracted Theatre Company
Location: Chicago, IL (in-person collaboration; animation work can be remote)
Stipend: $1,550

Materials Budget: $300

Refracted Theatre Company is seeking an Animator / Multimedia Designer to create original animated content for a highly stylized production of I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire. This role will focus on designing animation specifically for a functional onstage TV unit that plays a central role in the storytelling and visual language of the piece.

About the Work
This production leans into early-2000s nostalgia, absurdist humor, and the surreal breakdown between fantasy and reality. Animation will be used to heighten these themes—particularly around parasocial relationships and media obsession—through a blend of:

Cartoon-style animation
Glitch/distortion effects
Mixed-media manipulation (animation + found footage)
The TV unit itself is a key storytelling device, functioning both as a literal screen and a surreal portal.

Key Animation Sequences

1. Prologue Fanfiction Animation (Opening of Play – Pg. 4)
Style: Early 2000s cartoon aesthetic (think exaggerated, colorful, slightly chaotic)
References: Cyberchase, The Fairly OddParents, The Proud Family
Tone: Silly, heightened, stylized, and slightly absurd
Content: Animated version of Shelby’s fanfiction as it is narrated live
Special Effect: The sequence should glitch and break down at the end as reality interrupts

2. TV Playback & Nightmare Transition (Pg. 44–45)
Function: Content that plays on the TV before transitioning into a nightmare sequence
Approach:
Incorporate or mimic recognizable early-2000s film imagery (e.g., parody-style references)
Transition into a distorted, surreal nightmare sequence
Animation Needs:
Manipulation of footage (or animated approximations)
Glitching, looping, distortion, and tonal shift
Optional/Ideal: Absurd animated inserts (e.g., surreal mashups in line with the play’s humor)

3. Memory / TV Breakdown Sequence (Pg. 59–61)
Function: A fragmented memory sequence tied to Shelby’s childhood viewing experience
Style: Collage-like, layered visuals
Static interference, channel switching, image fragmentation

Goal:
Build toward a moment of visual coherence before the climactic physical action (actor emerging from TV)

Collaboration:
This moment will require coordination with lighting, sound, and scenic elements

What We’re Looking For
Experience in 2D animation, motion graphics, or hybrid media
Ability to replicate or evoke early-2000s cartoon aesthetics

Comfort working with:
Glitch effects
Lo-fi / nostalgic visual textures
Surreal or absurd visual storytelling
Interest in collaborative, interdisciplinary design processes
Ability to deliver content on a production timeline aligned with rehearsal and tech
Collaboration & Process

This role will collaborate closely with:

Director
Scenic, Lighting, and Sound Designers
Production Manager

The animation will be integrated into a broader multimedia system involving projection, lighting, and practical scenic elements, particularly the TV unit.

Materials & Reference Folder
Please review additional materials and references here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1p2DwbFMXmkaoY9_5UDs3QOAwegID_RwK?usp=drive_link

To Apply
Please submit:

Portfolio or reel (with relevant animation work)
Brief note on your interest in the project and approach to this style of work
Send your materials to admin@refractedco.com with the subject like: TOBEY_ANIMATOR SUBMISSION