I learned a lot working at Helix, and quickly advanced my position. The current studio system allows you to be payed by the amount of footage you produce, so your paychecks are directly reflective of the work you put into it -- so the more you work, the more money you make!

The management are very friendly people who care about their employees, and always like to have a good laugh.

I can't speak for everyone else, but working at Helix was friggin awesome! Having Chris as an Animation Director was absolutely the best and Carrie and Sean were equally great! I learnt SO much while I was out there and the office staff treated us(animators) from out of province like we were their next door neighbor! I can't remember the last time someone made me felt so welcome. Maybe Helix...

I wonder why I can't give less then one star. (Upper) Management's skills would get -4.5 stars from me.

I learned a lot working at Helix, and quickly advanced my position. The current studio system allows you to be payed by the amount of footage you produce, so your paychecks are directly reflective of the work you put into it -- so the more you work, the more money you make!

The management are very friendly people who care about their employees, and always like to have a good laugh. They've...

I would recommend Helix to every animator. All the horror stories I have heard about other animation studios past and present do not show their ugly heads here. More studios should be like this.

Helix is a COOL Place to work at.

Richard is a good Employer... Just don't piss him off though!

He'll take care of you otherwise!

i rated this way because its the truth, the co-oworkers were a great group of people, but management, i never met more ignorant, self centered careless bunch in my life. you cant demand respect and expect not to give it in return. worked hard for that company and got nothing in return.

first honest place I've worked for.

Maybe things have changed at Helix since I worked there, but if Richard and Janet are still running things I doubt it. Who knows maybe they have learned from their mistakes which, were many. I must say and agree with Rater 22, the talent that worked and some still work at Helix is off the scale and I too feel sorry for the ones who are still there. I do have many good memories of working at...

Yes, the computers need upgrades. Yes, the animation director acts more like a friend than a boss. And yes, Sydney isn't Shangri-La. But the other comments I can't really agree with. The comments about management I don't understand because Janet and Richard were really quite behind the scenes and didn't interfere with the day to day production much. They did their jobs and we did ours. When...

Helix rocks!

Cool people! Fun studio! Easy work! Loads of $$$!! If you don't believe me, get a job there and see for yourself! You won't regret it!

(It says my comment isn't long enough so I guess I'll just say,

H E L I X, Y O U RO C K ! ! ! !

Cool people! Fun studio! Easy work! Loads of $$$!! If you don't believe me, get a job there and see for yourself! You won't...

My experience with Helix was nothing byt positive. They were helpful and taught me everything I needed to know to do the job, and I didn't feel the need to go back to school because I learned more from the people at Helix than in school. There was so much work to go around, which some people think is a bad thing, but I think it's a lot better than the alternative. I'd rather have all the work...

Why is it that these types of sites always degrade into namecalling and mudslinging. This should be used as an exercise in expressing your opnions clearly in a polite and respectful way. And it's even more important if you're making a negative comment, because if you are just vulgar and crude then no one will take you seriously because you end up sounding uneducated and angry.

I encourage...

hi. i'm helix. and i think people have been hasty in reviewing me. so here's the skinny.

sydney, well... we don't get to choose where we're born. but the town moves at a nice relaxed pace, and that means, little to no traffic, noise, and air pollution. plus where else in canada can you see real live tarpits! yeah, awesome. if you swim deep enough can you find a dinosaur? come and find...

Rater 24 here again. Just posting again to clear up any confusion, no, being treated like crap isn't ok with me. No, I don't mean Helix treats people like garbage.

With regards to my previous post, working in animation can be stressful, calling animators grunts was a bit harsh I admit, I was merely implying that animators work very hard. Not everyone is going to be happy or satisfied in the...

I've been in this field now for 14 years, I understand every positive point and every negative point that all the posters have named so far. We animators as a group, tend to be very passionate, and this trait shines through in all the comments.

I love this company because they have always treated me with respect, and appreciation. I trust the management implicitly. They sometimes get knocked...

The pay-per-second is an excellent method for salary in my opinion because it keeps the production running on time, with animators being able to pick up scenes from each other. It takes the strain away from animators who struggle through quotas and enables an individual animator to make a lot of money if they are willing to put in the time. The computer equipment was slow and out of date Helix...

When it all comes down to it, it's a business like any other, it just so happens we're in the business of making cartoons. My experience at Helix was good, was it stressful, were people over worked and under paid, were people treated like grunts, was there appreciation? Yes, yes, yes and yes...guess what, thats the animation world, you don't like the pay, employer, or project, then don't do the...

The bad: Low-end computers that don't process the amount of work we are expected to complete. The studio's terrible location and dire need to crew a CBC show led to the hiring of some under-qualified animators, some of who's lack of work ethic and dedication to the show led to an unfair workload on others. Sydney itself is not a bad town. The people are friendly and courteous despite the...

Helix Digital was the most mis-managed company I've ever worked for. The level of spite from management towards their supervisors and the rest of the workers is so bad, it borders illegal. I know from experience.

Helix Digital has probably seen the best talent in this area come and go, and they are still looking for people, that confirms any doubts you may have about how workers are treated. ...

Seriously, Sydney is just not that bad. It's no Halifax. But there are so many things to do and see in the vicinity that it makes it worth it. If you just rent a car with some friends you'll get to see some of the most beautiful scenery in Canada! Cabot Trail, Mira River, Bras d'Or Lakes, Louisbourg. I understand if people don't want to move there permanently, but if you're young and not...

One thing i have learned from working at a bunch of studios is that every empoyee has a differnetn perspective depending on the precise time they were there and their personalities. Meaning, peopel will prefer differnet studios depening on which is the best fit for them personally. No studio will be perfect. I know people who think Copernicus is a slave driver where you're lucky to make $300 a...

aw sweet! anonymity rules! helix was great while i was there. the town is kinda dull, but that means you have lots of time to work. plus since there wasn't a full crew employed there was tons of extra work to pick up for extra pay! rent was low too so it was a great way to make a lot of money. i'd recommend it as a great place to get experience and make a little money fast.

you mean unlike the Positive comments about helix from the people straight out of school? maybe They're the ones who need to get an idea about the rest of the industry.

Rater 16, since leaving helix and working for other studios it only has only justified my complaints. Any problems someone has had with a work place comes from their own experiences and perspective. Its not an insult to YOU. Stop acting like it is.

I think most of the complaints about Helix come from people that have no idea about the rest of the industry. I hope they enjoy working for all the other crappy studios out there and when they realize how good they had it, I hope that single tear that runs down their face is nice and sour.

I have worked at a few places and Helix has been one of the best if not the best place to work for when it comes down to the respect you are given and compensation for hard work.

A lot of other companies make you do the same amount of work as helix but you only get paid a flat rate. So people that do a lot more work then others are rewarded at Helix for their time as opposed to getting paid...

The management at Helix Digital was unprofessional and incredibly unappreciative of the workers they had when I worked there. The place was sterile and stifling, with no opportunity for advancement unless you sucked up, whether you were talented or not. I would never recommend it to anyone based on my experience, and I can only assume that they have managed to lure some good but naive people to...

I agree with 'Rater 12'..Its not a dream job, but everyone has to start somewhere. I recall a time when getting into TV animation was hard as balls, now a' days, it seems like any joe blow who thinks they can draw and knows how to turn on a computer gets a hired.

My point, take what you can get.

helix seems to have high turnaround with employees and arguably infrequent contracts. the town is more or less rundown with development happening on the outside skirts. you'll need a car to enjoy the beautiful scenery cape breton has to offer, otherwise you're stuck walking among aging inhabitants. this makes it hard to want to live in sydney.

it is however a great starting point for...

easy manageable quota made for stress free work

Terrible location, bad atmosphere. Alright for a very short term if you are in desperate need of experience. Limited growth/advancement, but the location is so bad you would never want to stay long anyways.

The last animation director was unprofessional and lacked communication skills, otherwise it was OK. The town is very undesirable and there's nothing to do in town but work.

one of the best as long as they keep hiring me

Helix is a great studio to work for. They take the quality of work serriously and people are willing to help you out when your in a jam. the managing staff are top notch people who take in comments and treat them serriously, and also keep the project priority. The technology could use a small upgrade get rid of all the pentium 3, and celeron computers.

My only real wish is that the company had...

I just started work for Helix in October 2007 and I absolutely love it, and wouldn't want to work anywhere else.

I've worked with Helix on several projects over several years. Things just keep improving. I'll agree with previous posts and say that you definitely get the feeling that you're appreciated for your hard work. When deadlines get tight and you put in the extra effort to keep things moving, it's nice to know that it doesn't go unnoticed.

Location location location. This is my main issue with this company. It's remote setting makes it a large obstacle due to the fact it is short term contract work and is Sydney's only real option for work in the field. This makes it's hard when you own homes, and have a family. Great starting point for new graduates, but not a career choice. Management is very friendly and easy to work with.

I worked at Helix for my first animation position out of school. Overall I would say the experience was decent. The director was unprofessional and had horrible team communication skills, and it was sometimes a hassle. At first the per second pay structure seemed rewarding, but then we kept getting asked to do lots of other things asides from animation, which we werent getting paid for. I would...

Helix is a great workplace environment. Friendly co-workers and a great pay system. Even if you have very little animation sense, someone is always ready to help with any questions you may have.

I have worked at a number of studios in the maritimes, but by far my most enjoyable experience as been at Helix Digital in Sydney. To get the cons out of the way, I will say that I have found the workload to be a bit much at times and have had to put in my fair share of weekends to meet quotas. But, having said that, I see people around me who do the same work during 9-5 day so maybe it's...