Senior Animator - Game Development

Placements24; Kimberley; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Flexible hours

Collaborative team

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Animator for a fully remote role contributing to cutting-edge game projects. You will create high-quality 2D/3D character and environmental animations, ensure fluid motion, and collaborate with designers and artists to integrate animations into the game engine.

Ideal candidates have 6+ years of game animation experience, a strong portfolio, and proficiency in Maya/3ds Max/Blender with Unreal or Unity. Remote collaboration and strong communication are essential.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of professional experience in game animation.
• Portfolio showcasing diverse game animation examples.
• Proficiency in industry-standard animation software (Maya/3ds Max/Blender).
• Experience integrating animations into game engines (Unreal/Unity) and rigging knowledge.
• Strong eye for character performance and remote collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality 2D/3D character, creature, and environmental animations for games.
• Animate key poses, breakdowns, and in-betweens for fluid motion.
• Collaborate with designers and artists to implement animations in the game engine.
• Optimize animations for performance and maintain smooth frame rates.
• Develop animation cycles for locomotion, combat, and facial expressions.
• Contribute to the animation pipeline and develop tools/scripts as needed.
• Maintain visual consistency across assets in collaboration with the art director and lead animator.
• Provide constructive feedback during reviews and stay updated on industry trends.

Skills

Game animation

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Unreal Engine

Unity

Rigging

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Animation

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a highly acclaimed independent game studio operating remotely, is searching for a Senior Animator to contribute to their groundbreaking game projects. This fully remote position offers the chance to bring characters and worlds to life with exceptional skill and creativity. You will be responsible for creating high-quality character animations, environmental animations, and visual effects that enhance gameplay and player immersion. Working within a collaborative, distributed team environment, you will leverage your expertise in animation principles, software tools, and game engine integration to deliver polished and impactful results. This is an ideal opportunity for a talented animator looking to make a significant impact on exciting new titles, working from anywhere within Kimberley's reach or beyond.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-quality 2D and/or 3D character animations, creature animations, and environmental animations for video games.
• Animate key poses, breakdowns, and in-betweens to achieve fluid, believable, and stylized motion.
• Work closely with game designers, artists, and technical teams to implement animations within the game engine.
• Ensure animations are optimized for performance, adhering to technical constraints and maintaining smooth frame rates.
• Develop and refine animation cycles for locomotion, combat, facial expressions, and other gameplay actions.
• Contribute to the animation pipeline, suggesting improvements and developing tools or scripts as needed.
• Collaborate with the art director and lead animator to maintain visual consistency and quality across all game assets.
• Provide constructive feedback to other animators and participate in review sessions.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest animation techniques, software, and industry trends.

Requirements

• A minimum of 6 years of professional experience in game animation, with a strong portfolio showcasing diverse animation examples for games.
• Proficiency in industry-standard animation software such as Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, or similar 3D packages.
• Solid understanding of animation principles, including timing, spacing, weight, and appeal.
• Experience integrating animations into game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Knowledge of rigging systems and how they impact animation workflows.
• Excellent artistic eye, attention to detail, and a strong sense of character performance.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively within a remote team structure.
• Ability to manage time effectively and meet deadlines for project milestones.
• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, Computer Graphics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

This fully remote position offers immense flexibility, allowing you to work from your preferred location, ideally within Kimberley or its surrounding areas for potential networking. Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to work on innovative and exciting game projects. Join a talented and passionate team dedicated to creating high-quality interactive entertainment.