Regional Only | Lead 3D Character Animator

Blue Zoo Production; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading animation studio in the UK is seeking a Lead 3D Character Animator who excels in storytelling and team leadership. The successful candidate will manage a team of animators, ensuring high-quality animated performances while meeting production deadlines. Key requirements include expertise in character animation, excellent communication skills, and an advanced understanding of Maya or similar software. This role offers flexibility in working arrangements, potentially including remote options.

Qualifications

• Advanced understanding of body mechanics and character performance.
• Excellent time management and prioritising skills.
• Ability to mentor and motivate a team.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of animators and manage production deadlines.
• Communicate with production and troubleshoot issues.
• Mentor less experienced team members.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication

Time management

Creative problem solving

Body mechanics understanding

Expertise in Maya or similar software

Job description

Overview

Our Lead 3D Character Animators are fantastic storytellers and excellent motivators. Their day-to-day focuses on managing their team, delivering characterful animated performances, expert comedic timing, charming acting choices, and maintaining production deadlines, whilst meeting that all important brief from our Directors and Clients.

How we animate is an essential part of what makes us Blue Zoo, so we’re looking for Animation Team Leads who can work productively, take direction and feedback, and join us in pushing the boundaries of what TV animation is capable of.

Note: 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. The successful candidates will need to be based regionally in the UK outside of the M25 as per client requirements, ideally within commutable distance to our Brighton Zoo studio, though this is not essential. The successful candidate will need to be based in the UK and will require the right to work in the UK.

Day to Day

• Leading a team of animators, and regularly communicating with the Head of Animation.
• Managing your time efficiently to meet the deadlines of your assigned shots.
• Arranging daily catch ups with your team to make sure they are on track and aware of their deadlines.
• Flagging to the Head of Animation and Production in advance if there are any potential issues with deadlines or workload.
• Making sure your work is communicating the story, ideas and acting choices clearly from blocking through to the final animation.
• Responding positively to, and acting on, notes and feedback from your Directors.
• Mentoring and coaching less experienced members of the team.
• Acting as a good role model for your team. Achieving the highest quality work in the time given, as well as responding well to fixes.
• Talking up and down the pipeline to other Supervisors and Leads, troubleshooting any issues, as well as keeping Production and the Head of Animation aware where appropriate.
• Mentoring the team and helping with their development, including participating in your team’s review sessions.
• Updating the Head of Animation on the team’s progress, communicating any concerns regarding the teams’ performance and wellbeing.

Must Have

• Advanced understanding of body mechanics, posing and getting the best performance possible out of a character
• An advanced understanding of Maya or similar software
• Ability to receive and act on feedback and respond to direction
• Excellent time management and prioritising skills
• Great communication and a motivational team leader, naturally sharing your knowledge and skills with other team members
• Demonstrable experience of being a team player and great collaborator
• Excellent creative problem solving skills
• Problem solving skills to find the best approach to meeting the brief as well as troubleshooting issues and asking questions if unsure
• Confidence in working independently
• Being diligent, taking initiative and being reliable
• Being organised and managing yours and your team's time efficiently
• Ability to help and support your team, contributing to the development and growth of your team members, e.g. supporting already defined goals and giving clear direction in line with Animation Director's requests

Bonus Points

• Previous experience as a Lead Animator on an animation production
• Python or Mel script knowledge
• Good at drawing/additional creative skills (acting/dance)
• Shotgun or FTrack
• Understanding of a 3D production pipeline