Animateur.trice de cinématiques / Cinematic Animator - (Remote contract)

GameOn; Montreal; Remote; CAD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading animation studio is seeking a highly creative Cinematic Animator to join their remote team. The role involves collaborating closely with the Animation Lead, delivering high-quality animations, and working with cutting-edge tools. Ideal candidates will have a strong understanding of animation principles, experience with cinematic styles, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 3–7+ years of experience in character and creature animation.
• Proficient in key-frame and motion capture.
• Experience with FACS-based rigs for facial animation required.

Responsibilities

• Create character/creature motions through animation techniques.
• Collaborate with the animation lead for creative direction.
• Deliver high-quality animations efficiently and expertly.

Skills

Key-frame animation

Motion capture animation

Facial animation

Body mechanics

Cinematic camera work

Tools

Maya

MotionBuilder

Unreal Engine

Job description

Company Description

Établie à Montréal, Game On a initialement émergé comme une maison de production audio pour soutenir les développeurs de jeux. Elle est maintenant devenue l'un des principaux studios de mocap au monde. Collaborant étroitement avec de nombreux développeurs AAA, nous avons élargi notre répertoire pour inclure des services d'animation et de cinématiques. Aujourd'hui, nous sommes une force continue d'innovation, d'expérimentation et de collaboration créative dans l'industrie du jeu. Notre mission est de soutenir les productions, du script au dernier pixel.

Founded in 2002, Game On started as an audio postproduction house that forayed into facial capture before spawning one of the largest motion-capture studios in the world. We are now a full-service animation production studio - a turnkey studio that translates scripts into vibrant final products.

Job Description

We are seeking a highly creative and motivated Cinematic Animator. In this position, you will work closely with the Animation Lead to deliver high-quality animations. You should be comfortable collaborating with Engineers, Technical Animation and Rigging Directors in the development of our animation tools, pipelines, and systems.

We value candidates who are not only technically skilled but also proactive in identifying and resolving issues before they impact deadlines. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of cinematic camera work, particularly with a handheld visual style, and demonstrate the ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced production environment.

Responsibilities:

1. Create character/creature motions through a blend of key-frame animation and motion capture.
2. Collaborate with the Lead Cinematic Animator to implement the overall creative direction of our product.
3. Deliver high-quality body and facial animation assets with speed, precision, and attention to detail.
4. Contribute to animation tests, previs, layout, and final shot animation.
5. Assist with motion capture shoots and help define technical and creative requirements.
6. Actively communicate progress and potential issues, flagging risks ahead of deadlines.

Qualifications

1. 3–7+ years of experience creating high-quality character and creature animation.
2. Strong proficiency in both key-frame and motion capture animation.
3. Proven experience animating realistic humans, with an emphasis on expressive and accurate facial animation.
4. Prior experience working with FACS-based rigs for facial animation is a must.
5. A strong grasp of body mechanics, timing, weight, and shot composition to deliver believable character performances.
6. A solid understanding of cinematic camera work, especially handheld styles used in storytelling and visual exploration.
7. Experience using Maya (preferred); MotionBuilder is a plus.
8. Familiarity with Unreal Engine, Sequencer, and its interface, with a willingness to problem-solve creatively within the engine environment.
9. Ability to work quickly and adaptively, maintaining high quality under tight timelines.
10. Proactive communication skills with a team-focused mindset.
11. Technical understanding of animation tools, pipelines, and systems is a plus.
12. Self-motivated, organized, and able to contribute creatively and technically.
13. Demoreels that demonstrate experience in the above areas are highly preferred.

This is a remote position open to candidates based in Canada who are available to work Pacific Time hours.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology

Industries

• Public Relations and Communications Services