Creative Executive, Animation

TrueShort

6d•$90,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

TrueShort is one of the fastest-growing streaming apps in the United States. An AI studio and streaming platform where we experiment, develop, and release original series and films constantly. No development purgatory. Built for mobile-first viewing, TrueShort delivers premium, bingeable storytelling across an expanding slate of genres, reimagining how modern audiences discover and experience great stories. Our team is experimenting at the frontier of AI-powered entertainment production across animation, live action, and emerging storytelling formats. Backed by Jeffrey Katzenberg (Founder of DreamWorks), René Rechtman (Moonbug), Scott Belsky, Ravi Nandan (A24), Khosla Ventures, and others. We’re looking for a Creative Executive focused on animation to help develop, shape, and oversee a growing slate of original kids and family series. This role will own projects from their earliest stages of development through production and release. This would include, developing original ideas, evaluating outside pitches and IP, working with writers to build series and show bibles, establishing visual direction with our design team, and providing creative oversight throughout production. Our animation slate is focused on kids and family audiences ranging approximately from ages 3–15, spanning preschool, younger kids, and older kids programming. The right person should be comfortable independently owning a slate of projects while communicating closely with the broader creative and production teams. This is not a traditional development environment where projects spend years moving through layers of approvals. We develop quickly, produce quickly, learn from what audiences respond to, and constantly move new ideas forward.

Requirements

Experience in animation development, creative development, current programming, producing, writing, or a similar creative role
Strong understanding of kids and family storytelling across audiences approximately ages 3–15
Exceptional story instincts and the ability to quickly identify what is and is not working within a concept, script, or cut
Experience developing projects from initial concept through series bible, scripts, and production
Experience evaluating pitches, scripts, books, intellectual property, or other creative material
Strong understanding of character development, story structure, comedy, pacing, tone, worldbuilding, and episodic storytelling
Experience giving clear, thoughtful, and actionable notes to writers, filmmakers, and other creative collaborators
Strong visual taste and the ability to collaborate with designers and artists to establish the visual identity of a series
Comfortable reviewing and providing creative feedback on editing, music, sound, and other elements of post-production
Strong knowledge of the current animation, television, film, and streaming landscape
Curiosity around emerging AI creative tools and an interest in how new technology can change the way stories are developed and produced
Ability to oversee multiple projects simultaneously at different stages of development and production
Comfortable making decisions, taking ownership, and independently driving projects forward
Highly communicative and collaborative, with the judgment to know when to make a decision independently and when to bring in the broader team
Comfortable working in a fast-moving studio environment where creative and production processes are constantly evolving
Passion for discovering emerging writers, artists, filmmakers, creators, and overlooked intellectual property

Responsibilities

Develop original animated series from initial concept through outline, show bible, episode development, and an initial 10-episode series
Originate and pitch new concepts that align with TrueShort’s creative mission, audience, and programming strategy
Confidently pitch new series, creative directions, and development opportunities directly to the Chief Creative Officer
Evaluate incoming pitches, scripts, concepts, and intellectual property and provide a clear creative recommendation on whether TrueShort should develop, acquire, or pass on the project
Identify undervalued, overlooked, or underutilized intellectual property that could be adapted into compelling animated series
Identify writers, creators, artists, filmmakers, designers, and other creative talent who could contribute to individual projects or the broader creative team
Work closely with writers to develop series concepts, characters, worlds, episode engines, season arcs, and comprehensive show bibles
Provide clear and actionable notes throughout script development, including on story structure, character, dialogue, comedy, pacing, tone, and emotional arcs
Work with the visual design team to explore, identify, and ultimately approve the visual language and style for each series
Review cuts throughout production and provide notes and revisions on story, pacing, performances, visuals, editing, and overall execution
Review and approve music, score, sound design, and other audio elements to ensure they support the intended tone and storytelling of each series
Fully own assigned series creatively from development through release, independently driving decision-making and ensuring the creative vision is maintained throughout production
Work closely with the Production Manager to stay current on production schedules, episode deadlines, delivery dates, and any production issues affecting assigned series
Provide updates during the weekly Creative staff meeting on development status, upcoming decisions, production progress, creative concerns, and major milestones across assigned projects
Maintain a clear understanding of the intended demographic for each project and ensure storytelling is engaging and appropriate for its target audience
Identify opportunities to develop characters, worlds, and concepts with long-term franchise potential
Stay current on the television, film, animation, streaming, and digital media landscape, including emerging genres, creators, formats, and audience trends
Stay closely informed on rapidly evolving AI media technologies, creative tools, and production capabilities, and consider how new developments can expand what is creatively possible
Collaborate with the broader creative team on slate strategy, programming priorities, new genres, and future areas of expansion
Help establish creative standards, development processes, and best practices as the studio and animation slate continue to scale