Blender Character Animator - Experienced

Blue Zoo Production; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid/Remote options

Job summary

Blue Zoo Production seeks a skilled Blender Character Animator to create layout and animation for TV commercials and brand content. You will establish camera setups, discuss concepts with the Creative Lead/Director, and push the creative boundaries while meeting deadlines.

You will work in a flexible, hybrid or remote arrangement, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team and mentoring junior team members to raise overall capabilities. Strong storytelling through acting and timing is essential.

Qualifications

• Strong Blender experience and knowledge.
• Excellent body mechanics and posing for expressive characters.
• Experience in CG animation production for TV/film/advertising.
• Solid cinematography awareness to support storytelling with camera work.
• Ability to receive and act on feedback and direction.
• Excellent time management and prioritisation skills.
• Willingness to share knowledge with the team and mentor others.
• Proven team player and collaboration across departments.
• Strong creative problem solving under production pressures.

Responsibilities

• Create layout and animation for commercial projects, establishing camera setups.
• Collaborate with Creative Lead/Director and other teams to realize briefs.
• Maintain communication to meet deadlines and production goals.
• Implement feedback with a positive, solution-focused mindset.
• Mentor less experienced team members and share best practices.
• Strive for high-quality output while adapting to tight schedules.

Skills

Blender experience

Body mechanics

Character animation

Cinematography

Feedback responsiveness

Time management

Team collaboration

Creative problem solving

Mentoring juniors

Tools

Blender

Shotrid

FTrack

Job description

Our short-form department creates strong character animation across TV commercials, short-form content for brands, and continues to adopt new technology platforms such as VR & AR, for Blue Zoo.

Our Blender Character Animators are fantastic storytellers. Their day-to-day focuses on expert comedic timing, charming acting choices, and production deadlines, whilst meeting that all important brief from our Directors and Clients.

Your day-to-day will focus on creating layout and animation for our commercial projects, establishing camera set-ups, discussing ideas with your Creative Lead/Director and contributing creatively while pushing the boundaries of our animation.

We are very happy to discuss flexible, hybrid and remote working options for all our vacancies. Please note that this vacancy can close early if we receive a high number of applications.

Day to Day:

• Work independently or collaboratively with other animators, maintaining regular communication with your Creative Lead, Director, and the broader Short Form and Commercials team.
• Manage your time effectively to meet short deadlines, proactively flagging any potential delays with your producer as early as possible.
• Ensure your animation clearly conveys the story, ideas, and acting choices—from initial camera blocking through to final polish.
• Take direction constructively and implement feedback from your Creative Lead or Director with a positive, solution-focused mindset.
• Collaborate across departments to address production challenges, clearly communicating with teammates both within and outside of the animation discipline to move projects forward.
• Support the team during periods of high demand or when covering for absent colleagues.
• Mentor and guide less experienced team members, helping to grow overall team capability.
• Strive for the highest quality output within given timeframes, while staying flexible and responsive to required fixes.

Must Have:

• A strong understanding and experience of Blender.
• Advanced understanding of body mechanics, posing and getting the best performance out of a character.
• Experience in CG animation production for television, film, games or visual effects.
• Strong understanding of cinematography and how to use a camera to aid storytelling.
• Ability to receive and act on feedback and respond to direction.
• Excellent time management and prioritising skills.
• Ability and drive to share your knowledge and skills with other team members.
• Demonstrable experience of being a team player and a great collaborator.
• Excellent creative problem-solving skills.

Bonus Points:

• Additional knowledge of the CG animation pipeline.
• Previous experience with Shotrid or FTrack.