Lead Animation Director

Placements24; Newlands; Hybrid; AUD 97,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & bonus

Career advancement

Health & wellness benefits

Collaborative studio culture

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Animation Director in Queenstown to guide the animation team and shape the visual style across character and environmental animations.

You will lead a team of animators, ensuring performances support narrative and gameplay while pushing creative boundaries and maintaining storytelling quality. Strong leadership and deep knowledge of animation principles are essential.

Qualifications

• Extensive 3D character animation experience with senior/lead/director roles.
• Strong portfolio showing artistic direction and animation quality.
• Deep understanding of animation principles, rigging, and performance capture.
• Experience working in game development or film production pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire the animation team throughout the production pipeline.
• Define and maintain the animation style guide and quality benchmarks for projects.
• Oversee key animations, including character performance, facial animation, and motion capture cleanup.
• Collaborate with game designers, art directors, and narrative teams to ensure animations meet project requirements.
• Review and provide constructive feedback on all animation assets.
• Manage animation schedules and resource allocation to meet project deadlines.

Skills

Lead animation

Character animation

Animation principles

Team leadership

Communication

Maya

Blender

Pipeline management

Performance capture

Tools

Maya

Blender

Job description

About the Role

Our client is searching for an inspiring and technically proficient Lead Animation Director to guide their animation team in Queenstown . This role is paramount in defining and executing the visual style and quality of all character and environmental animations. You will lead a team of animators, ensuring that every movement and performance is captivating and serves the narrative and gameplay. The ideal candidate possesses a strong artistic eye, deep knowledge of animation principles, and excellent leadership skills, capable of fostering a collaborative environment that pushes creative boundaries and achieves the highest standards of animated storytelling.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire the animation team throughout the production pipeline.
• Define and maintain the animation style guide and quality benchmarks for projects.
• Oversee the creation of key animations, including character performance, facial animation, and motion capture cleanup.
• Collaborate with game designers, art directors, and narrative teams to ensure animations meet project requirements.
• Review and provide constructive feedback on all animation assets.
• Manage animation schedules and resource allocation to meet project deadlines.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in 3D character animation, with a significant portion in a lead or directorial role.
• Strong portfolio showcasing exceptional animation quality and artistic direction.
• Deep understanding of animation principles, rigging, and performance capture.
• Proficiency with industry-standard animation software (e.g., Maya, Blender).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working within game development or film production pipelines.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and bonus structure.
• Opportunity to lead creative direction on impactful projects.
• Collaborative and supportive studio culture.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• Professional development and opportunities for career advancement.