Blender Character Animator - Experienced

Vfxwire; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Profit share

Wellbeing programme

Social events

Job summary

Blue Zoo seeks a talented Blender Character Animator to craft layout and animation for TV commercials and short-form content. You will establish camera setups, collaborate with Directors, and push creative boundaries while delivering on client briefs.

Ideal candidates have strong body mechanics, cinematography understanding, and a proven track record in CG animation for TV/film. Flexible, hybrid or remote working options are available.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in CG animation for TV/film/advertising.
• Strong understanding of body mechanics, posing, and performance.
• Experience with camera blocking and storytelling through cinematography.
• Able to receive feedback and implement changes efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Create layout and animation for commercial projects.
• Set up camera rigs and staging for scenes.
• Collaborate with Creative Lead/Director and other teams.
• Meet tight deadlines while maintaining quality.

Skills

Blender proficiency

Character animation

Cinematography understanding

Feedback & iteration

Time management

Collaborative team player

Creative problem solving

Tools

Blender

Shotrid

FTrack

Job description

About The Role

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.

About Us

Blue Zoo is a leading animation studio in the UK, with a world-class reputation as the go-to place for creating bold, fun and characterful animation. Established in London in 2000, the studio has grown to become the largest dedicated CG animation studio in the UK, picking up a shelf full of BAFTAs, an Annie and an Emmy along the way!

We couldn’t be prouder that Blue Zoo is the first major animation studio in the world to receive B Corp certification. We’ve been independently certified by B Lab, a non‑profit organisation who award the B Corp certification. The certification verifies companies who are working to improve the lives of employees as well as industries as a whole. The certification process involves over 170 rigorous metrics to improve the lives of our staff, customers, suppliers, and the local community, ensuring we are not just saying we are ethical with empty gestures, but independently evidencing it.

We are going through an exciting period of growth and are building a studio that is full of amazingly talented, happy artists, making work they are proud of, which in turn makes a small contribution to a happier world. Blue Zoo believes that a healthy balance in our lives - whatever our situation - is key to supporting the wellbeing of our staff. We offer flexible working to support this.

We look for people who have expertise, enthusiasm and are motivated to make things better. You’ll work alongside a talented and diverse group of people who respect each other's differences and seek to understand and embrace fresh perspectives.

What we’ve got for you:

• Winner of Broadcast Best Places to Work in TV 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2025 & 2026.
• Inclusive self‑funded shorts programme.
• Many fun in person and remote social events throughout the year.
• Bi‑monthly employee feedback and engagement programme.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including loads of discounts and offers.
• Online wellbeing programme.
• Profit share (for employees who have been with us for 2+ years).

Blue Zoo is committed to creating and nurturing an inclusive studio that promotes and values diversity and invites everyone to ‘bring their whole selves’ to work. We believe that companies that truly embrace and value diversity, and create an environment where everyone from any background can do their best work, are better companies.

To be engaged our people have to feel included and valued. We work hard to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is embedded in the way we work, not just an initiative. We strive to engender a studio community that feels a deep sense of pride and commitment that transcends any role, department or level and works together to produce excellent and engaging work.