musicians and animators

Seeking Musician, Composer & Sound Designer for Original Animated Short Film
Project: Monarch Fellowship Animated Short Film
Length: Approximately 10–11 minutes
Type: Freelance / Contract
Location: Remote
Compensation: Negotiable based on experience and scope
About the Project
Monarch Fellowship is creating an imaginative animated short film about the decline of monarch butterflies and the importance of restoring their natural habitats.

The film combines humor, emotional storytelling, unusual characters, music, and environmental messaging.

We're seeking a talented musician and sound designer to lead the entire audio production, including original musical compositions, character voices, sound effects, and final audio mixing.
Original Music Is Essential — minimal to no AI-Generated Music
We want to work with a real musician who composes original music.

We are not interested in AI-generated music, AI voiceovers, or automated soundtracks.

We value human creativity, musical talent, and the emotional depth that comes from original composition and performance.

The film includes musical moments that may range from humorous and playful to emotional and cinematic. We want someone who can bring musical imagination and personality to the storytelling.
Responsibilities
Original Music Composition

• Compose and produce an original musical score.
• Develop musical themes for characters and important scenes.
• Create music that supports humor, emotion, and dramatic storytelling.
• Collaborate on musical sequences, including a rap-style segment and melodic instrumental passages.
• Record or produce original musical performances.

Voice Production

• Help cast and direct voice actors for the film's characters.
• Coordinate voice recording sessions.
• Record, edit, and process dialogue.
• Ensure character voices are expressive, believable, and entertaining.
• Provide clean dialogue tracks for animation synchronization.

Sound Design

• Create original sound effects and environmental soundscapes.
• Develop distinctive sounds for characters and animated actions.
• Incorporate natural sounds such as butterflies, wind, birds, and outdoor environments.
• Add comedic and dramatic audio effects where appropriate.

Final Audio Production

• Edit and synchronize all dialogue, music, and sound effects.
• Mix and master the complete soundtrack.
• Deliver professional-quality audio suitable for online distribution, film festivals, and public screenings.

Ideal Candidate

• Experienced musician and original composer.
• Strong portfolio of music written for film, animation, or visual storytelling.
• Experience in sound design and audio post-production.
• Ability to coordinate voice actors and recording sessions.
• Creative, collaborative, and comfortable working on an independent production.
• Strong sense of comedic timing and emotional storytelling.

Experience with animated films, musical comedy, or character-driven storytelling is especially valuable.
Important Creative Requirement
All music must be originally composed by human musicians. We do not want AI-generated compositions, synthetic AI voices, or AI-created musical performances.

We welcome the use of professional recording equipment, digital audio workstations, virtual instruments, and traditional production techniques.
To Apply
Please provide:
1. Examples of original musical compositions.
2. Links to films or animations you've scored.
3. Examples of sound design and dialogue production.
4. Information about your experience working with voice actors.
5. Your estimated fee for complete audio production of a 10–11 minute animated film.
6. Your availability and production timeline.
We're looking for someone who wants to be a creative partner in a film that is entertaining, memorable, and environmentally meaningful.

Learn more: ----------