Animator, Facial & Body

Epic Games; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Epic Games is seeking an experienced Animator for its MetaHuman team in Manchester. The role involves creating high-quality facial and body animations for leading game developers, utilizing cutting-edge technologies. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in 3D animation, particularly in AAA titles, and a passion for facial animation and digital humans.

Benefits

Professional long-term career development

Work-from-home model during the pandemic

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in 3D animation.
• Proven experience delivering at least one AAA game title preferred.
• Strong understanding of animation principles related to face and body mechanics.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality facial animations using motion capture data.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance animation quality.
• Guide creative direction and visual style of service animations.

Skills

3D Animation

Facial Animation

Problem Solving

Time Management

Leadership

Tools

Maya

Unreal Engine

Job description

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?

At the core of Epic’s success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it’s building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we’re always innovating.

Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We’re constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.

ART

What We Do

Push your artistic talent to the limit on a team of world-class environment, character, and concept artists who strive to innovate and inspire.

What You'll Do

We are looking for an Animator with experience in facial and body animation to join the MetaHuman team at Epic Games. You will be part of the MetaHuman Content Creation team, providing world-class facial and body animation to some of the leading game developers in the industry, while also contributing to the ongoing evolution of MetaHuman Animator and MetaHuman Creator. If you are passionate about pushing the boundaries of facial animation using industry-leading technologies, we’d love to hear from you.

In this role, you will

• You’ll support the MetaHuman team, with opportunities to contribute to broader Epic initiatives—including special projects, cinematics, and gameplay—focused on both facial and body animation
• Your primary focus will be creating high-quality facial animations by utilizing and manipulating motion capture data from facial performance solves
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams—including Production, Tech Animation, Engineering, and Development—to push technology forward and enhance the overall animation quality
• Guide creative direction and visual style of service animations, provide feedback to team members, and work with producers to plan project schedules
• Apply hand-key animation knowledge to push performances beyond the scope of the actor
• Create fluid, smooth, and realistic 3D character animations, collaborating with the animation lead to implement any necessary fixes to meet high-quality standards
• Animate using both Maya and Unreal Engine, depending on project needs

What we're looking for

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in 3D animation showcased in a showreel
• Proven experience delivering at least one AAA game title is strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of animation principles in relation to face and body mechanics
• Passion for facial animation, digital humans, and gaming
• Proficiency with Maya and other 3D software packages
• Good instincts for realistic and stylized motions
• Experience reviewing animation and providing feedback to peers
• Excellent time management and problem-solving skills, with a keen eye for detail
• Strong leadership and communication abilities, enabling effective collaboration with Artists, Designers, and Programmers
• Knowledge of Unreal Engine, MetaHuman Creator, and MetaHuman Animator is a valuable bonus

This role is open to multiple locations in Europe.

BEING A PART OF 3LATERAL TEAM

Our mission is to evolve through exploring abstract landscapes of art and science, exciting new technologies, and nurturing continuous multi-disciplinary communication and company values among our team members. Our talented and devoted individuals are all gathered around the same vision of creating and constantly improving technology that allows the creation of high-fidelity replicas of human appearance and motion, with a focus on real-time applications across all digital mediums.

To ensure a supportive and collaborative environment, we:

• Enable professional long-term career development through continuous education and specialization
• Work with exciting new technologies and ambitious, industry-changing projects
• Attend leading seminars and conferences in the industry
• Sustain personal goals through family-oriented work regulations
• Empower autonomy of thinking and acting
• Provide a pleasant working atmosphere in our cozy offices with friendly and well-minded individuals
• Offer a work-from-home model during the pandemic

We are seeking new team members who can inspire us and are willing to give us a chance to inspire them, contributing their ideas, skills, and knowledge. In collaboration with our parent company Epic Games, we are continually developing the state of the art in Unreal Engine as a leading team for creating next-generation virtual humans and creatures.

Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept unsolicited resumes or approaches from unauthorized third parties (including recruitment agencies) without a negotiated and valid agreement. We will not pay fees to unauthorized third parties. Further details can be found here.