Is VFX & Animation Production Management Right for Me? 6 Signs You Might Be a Natural Coordinator
- Mayhem Production Management
- Jul 9
- 2 min read
Not everyone wants to animate. Not everyone wants to be the artist, designer, or director.
But every project needs someone behind the scenes holding it all together. These are the people that make sure the work is moving, the deadlines are clear, and the team has what they need to succeed.
That’s where VFX & animation Production Assistants and Coordinators come in.
If you’ve ever wondered whether production management might be the right path for you, here are 6 signs you might be right for the job.
1. You’re “the organized one” in every group project.
You’re the one who sets up the shared folder, makes the checklist, and starts the “hey, just checking in 😊” messages when things go quiet.
You don’t mean to be the project manager... it just kind of happens.
✅ You’re a natural coordinator.
2. You love watching chaos become structure.
Whether it's color-coding a spreadsheet or untangling a messy to-do list, you get satisfaction from turning scattered ideas into a plan.
✅ In a studio, that looks like helping artists stay on schedule and making sure nothing gets missed in the pipeline.
3. You’re great at translating between people.
Someone’s being vague, another person’s frustrated, and a third needs answers. You’re the one who steps in and says, “What I think they mean is...”
✅ VFX & Animation Production Coordinators are the bridge between creative teams and producers. Clear, calm communication is your superpower.
4. You’re a natural at “just checking in.”
You don’t like chasing people. But you do like knowing where things stand. You check in politely, respectfully, and persistently. And people respond to that.
✅ This is a huge part of production: following up, keeping momentum, and making sure things move forward without micromanaging.
5. You’re calm when others panic.
When things go sideways (and they will), you don’t spiral. You get to work. You start with “What’s the issue?” and go from there.
✅ Coordinators are often the calm in the storm.
6. You’re happiest making things happen behind the scenes.
You don’t need the spotlight - you just want to make sure the work gets done, and done well. You take pride in being the person who keeps everything (and everyone) moving forward.
✅ In production, you’re the steady hand that holds the chaos together.
A lot of people don’t realize coordination is a career path until they realize it’s exactly what they’re good at.
The Mayhem VFX & Animation Production Coordinator Course is built to help you step confidently into that role. We teach you how studios work, how to use real tracking and management tools, and how to lead behind the scenes - even if you’ve never worked in production before.
7 weeks, live and online
Learn Flow Production Tracking (ShotGrid), scheduling, task tracking and more
Taught by an industry expert with over 20 years experience, with guest speakers from top studios working on films right now!
📅 Next course starts October - intake is open now
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