Senior Cinematic Animator

Playground Games Limited; Royal Leamington Spa; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking game studio as a Senior Cinematic Animator, where your passion for storytelling and animation will shine. Collaborate with a talented team to create breathtaking cutscenes and enhance narrative experiences in genre-defining games. This is your chance to work in a dynamic environment that values creativity and innovation, all while contributing to a beloved franchise. With a hybrid work model and relocation assistance available, this role offers the perfect blend of professional growth and personal fulfillment. If you are ready to take your animation career to the next level, this opportunity is for you!

Qualifications

• 5+ years in animation with a strong portfolio from AAA titles.
• Expertise in facial and body animation, plus motion capture clean-up.

Responsibilities

• Capture and polish facial and full-body mocap data for cutscenes.
• Implement cinematics into the proprietary engine for seamless gameplay.

Skills

Animation

Storytelling

Motion Capture

Facial Animation

Body Performance

Camera Animation

Tools

Industry-standard Animation Software

Proprietary Engine

Job description

Playground Games is looking for a Senior Cinematic Animator to join our talented Fable team here 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're expanding our diverse team to create outstanding experiences in the gaming industry.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

As a Senior Cinematic Animator, you'll work closely with our cinematics team to produce top-tier cutscenes and bespoke animation content. You will drive creative vision from previsualization through final polish, enhance narrative through cinematic storytelling, and ensure your animations are seamlessly integrated within our proprietary engine.

We’re looking for an expert animator who is passionate about storytelling, excels at conveying emotion through performance, and has a deep understanding of both facial and body performance. The ideal candidate has extensive experience with motion capture and hand-keyed animation, as well as familiarity with implementing cinematics in-engine.

This is a permanent position at our state-of-the-art facilities in Royal Leamington Spa, operating under a hybrid work model. Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

1. Capture, solve, retarget, and polish both facial and full-body mocap data for cutscenes, ensuring high-quality, believable performances.
2. Iterate rapidly on cinematic layout to enhance visual storytelling, refine pacing, and support narrative impact.
3. Work closely with the Lead, Director, and cinematic team to incorporate feedback and align animations with the overall creative vision.
4. Implement cinematics into our proprietary engine, ensuring seamless integration with gameplay and overall flow.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING:

1. Impressive animation portfolio showcasing high-quality, realistic facial and body animations across multiple projects, ideally from AAA titles. A link to the portfolio website or an attachment with your CV is acceptable.
2. Five or more years in animation, with a proven track record on at least two published titles.
3. Proficient in body, facial and camera animation, motion capture clean-up and industry-standard animation software.
4. A genuine enthusiasm for video games, narrative, and the creative process.
5. Experience in cinematography, editing, or game engine implementation is highly desirable and will set you apart.

This is a fantastic opportunity to make world-class games with an established, talented, and collaborative team at one of the industry’s most exciting first-party game studios.