Animation Director

TN United Kingdom; Oxford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a talented Animation Director to join their Oxford headquarters. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead a dynamic team in creating innovative animations for exciting upcoming projects. You will collaborate closely with various departments to ensure high-quality outputs while mentoring and developing your team. With a commitment to professional growth and a supportive work environment, this position is perfect for someone looking to make a significant impact in the gaming industry. Enjoy a creative atmosphere with excellent benefits and opportunities for career advancement.

Benefits

22 days holidays plus Christmas closure

Private Medical Insurance

Dental and Vision care

Life Assurance

Income Protection

Enhanced Pension Scheme

Mental Health Support

Interest-Free Loans

Social events

Discounts and freebies

Qualifications

• Expertise in various animation software and tools.
• Strong understanding of video game development processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Animation department and manage team performance.
• Create high-quality in-game animations aligned with project requirements.
• Mentor and foster creativity within the animation team.

Skills

Motion Capture

MotionBuilder

Maya

3DS Max

Character Studio

Animation in Unreal Engine

Rigging and Skinning

People Management

Job description

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For 30 years, we’ve been creating incredible video games at our multiple studios. Rebellion is more than just games; we have our own film studio, create board games, publish books, and through 2000AD, publish comics and graphic novels such as Judge Dredd.

We are seeking an Animation Director to join our growing development team and make a significant impact on multiple upcoming projects.

This role offers an exciting opportunity for a Lead Animator eager to advance their career. You will be responsible for creating innovative movements and behaviors for unannounced projects. Join our expanding art department, where your motivation and expertise will be vital in fostering team growth and leaving a mark on our games.

This position is based at our riverside headquarters in Oxford, offering a creative and relaxed environment where teamwork is valued. We provide a relocation package, including moving assistance, temporary accommodation, and full support for a smooth transition.

While we value face-to-face collaboration and prefer working from our Oxford headquarters, we are open to discussing hybrid working arrangements based on individual needs.

Responsibilities

1. Manage the department’s performance and professional development through performance reviews, providing constructive feedback.
2. Lead the Animation department using best practices in people management.
3. Collaborate with the Head of Art, Designers, Programmers, and Producers to balance creative vision with production realities.
4. Create high-quality in-game animations aligned with the style and project requirements.
5. Verify animation quality in the game and implement improvements to meet technical and artistic standards.
6. Mentor and role-model for the animation team, maintaining morale and fostering creativity.

Requirements

1. Expertise in Motion Capture, MotionBuilder, Maya, 3DS Max, and Character Studio.
2. Ability to animate realistic human motion easily.
3. Expertise in rigging and skinning.
4. Ability to produce high-quality animations in various game engines, including Unreal.
5. Deep understanding of the video game development process and production pipelines.
6. Extensive knowledge of best practices in people management.
7. Commitment to professional development and mentoring skills development in others.

We offer an extensive benefits package, including:

• 22 days holidays plus Christmas closure and bank holidays, increasing with service up to 31 days.
• Private Medical Insurance, healthcare cash plan, dental, and Vision.
• Life Assurance, Income Protection, and Critical Illness Cover.
• Enhanced Family Leave.
• Interest-Free, Tax-Free loans.
• Enhanced Pension Scheme.
• Mental Health and Wellbeing Support via EAP.
• Additional perks like discounts, freebies, and social events.

Life at Our Oxford HQ

Our riverside headquarters in Oxford is close to the city center, known for its history, education, beautiful architecture, and green spaces. Oxford offers excellent transport links, including a nearby train station with routes to London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Reading. We also provide free parking at the studio.

Our open-plan office encourages teamwork and innovation, with regular interactions with management and other departments. Facilities include free hot drinks, a tuck shop, and nearby pubs, cafes, and restaurants, making every workday enjoyable.

At Rebellion, we pride ourselves on our open, friendly, and creative culture. We love what we do and have fun doing it! As a big indie developer, we enjoy creative freedom over our titles, working on a wide variety of projects across major platforms.

Learn more about us here

Our size, stability, and diverse in-house expertise across industries make Rebellion unique. We foster an inclusive environment where you are encouraged to express your creativity and talent. We support your well-being and offer a friendly, relaxed working atmosphere with opportunities for growth and development.

We actively seek a diverse team and value growth and inclusion. We encourage innovation and welcome applications from all demographics, including different cultures, genders, ethnicities, and neurodiversity, believing a diverse team produces better products.

If you’re interested in working at Rebellion but this role isn’t a perfect fit, we’re recruiting for various positions and welcome speculative applications via our website. Visit our Careers page to see all current vacancies: Rebellion: Careers