Lead Gameplay Animator

Playground Games; Royal Leamington Spa; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Lead Gameplay Animator, where your creativity will help shape the future of the beloved Fable franchise. In this pivotal role, you'll lead a talented animation team, ensuring exceptional gameplay animations that enhance player experiences. Collaborate closely with the Art Director to maintain high-quality standards and drive continuous improvement in animation techniques. This is a unique opportunity to work in an inclusive environment that values diversity and fosters creativity, making a significant impact on the action RPG genre. If you're passionate about animation and game development, this is the perfect chance to showcase your skills and grow your career.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of animation principles and industry-standard software.
• Proven experience in gameplay animation and strong leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Establish animation benchmarks and ensure visual quality.
• Lead and mentor the animation team, balancing quality and deadlines.
• Collaborate with outsource partners to create high-quality animation assets.

Skills

Animation Principles

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Gameplay Animation

Leadership

Communication

Game Engines

Motion Capture

AAA Game Development

Job description

Playground Games is looking for a Lead Gameplay Animator to join our talented Fable team in Leamington Spa.

ABOUT US:

As a first-party Xbox Game Studio, we are passionate about making genre-defining games that are accessible, beautiful, and, most of all, fun. We are excited to be rebooting the much-loved Fable franchise and are expanding our diverse team to create a new classic in the action RPG genre.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

As Lead Gameplay Animator, you will manage and inspire our animation team while working closely with the Art Director to establish and maintain the highest quality animation standards throughout production. You'll be responsible for delivering exceptional gameplay animations that enhance the player experience while ensuring technical requirements and project deadlines are met.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

1. Establish and maintain animation benchmarks in collaboration with the Art Director to ensure consistent visual quality
2. Lead and mentor the animation team, providing guidance, setting objectives, and conducting performance evaluations
3. Plan and prioritize team-wide animation tasks, balancing quality with technical requirements and deadlines
4. Support team growth through recruitment, skill development, and process improvement initiatives
5. Foster strong relationships across departments and proactively resolve team-wide challenges
6. Drive continuous improvement in animation tools and techniques
7. Collaborate with outsource partners to create high quality animation assets

WHAT YOU'LL BRING:

1. Deep understanding of animation principles and expertise in industry-standard software (Maya, 3ds Max, Blender)
2. Proven experience in gameplay animation, including character movement, combat, and environmental interactions
3. Strong leadership skills with a track record of managing and mentoring animation teams
4. Excellent communication abilities and experience presenting to stakeholders
5. Solid technical understanding of game engines and animation constraints
6. Experience with motion capture integration and implementation
7. Background in AAA game development or similar large-scale projects
8. Ability to adapt to changing project needs while maintaining high-quality standards

INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY:

Playground Games is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity and inclusion fuels creativity. We are dedicated to creating a safe, comfortable and welcoming working environment. We strive to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices of our team members. It drives our innovation and connects us closer to our players. We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion across age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

If you require any reasonable accommodation to apply for this position, please contact us on [e-mail]