UK Only | Senior Blender Animator

Blue Zoo Production; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid/Remote options

Start Autumn 2026

Job summary

Blue Zoo Production seeks a senior Blender animator to join our UK-based team. You will work within a studio environment, translating direction into expressive character animation and meeting production deadlines.

Work will involve live capture integration, feedback-driven iteration, and mentoring junior artists while pushing the boundaries of TV animation. Flexible hybrid/remote options are available, with start planned for early Autumn 2026.

Qualifications

• Proven Blender animation skills with strong storytelling.
• Advanced body mechanics, posing and performance.
• Experience with facial/body capture workflows.
• Ability to receive and apply direction and feedback.
• Good time management to meet deadlines.
• Willingness to mentor junior artists.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the animation team and Animation Lead.
• Integrate live-capture takes in Blender and refine performances.
• Manage time to meet shot deadlines.
• Maintain clear storytelling and acting through animation.
• Incorporate feedback from Directors.
• Mentor less experienced teammates.
• Deliver high-quality work within time constraints.

Skills

Blender animation

Body mechanics

Rig parenting (Cloudrig)

Face capture

Graph editor

Lip-sync

Time management

Mentoring teammates

Tools

Python scripting

Mel scripting

ShotGrid

Job description

Our senior 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.

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

This opportunity requires talent to be based in the UK and will require the right to work in the UK.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.

This role is due to start in early Autumn 2026.

Day to Day:

• Working as part of a team of animators, and regularly communicating with your Animation Lead.
• Using devices (Phone or iPad) for recording, as well as performing animation for live capture. This show will bring in live recorded takes that the animator will perform directly in Blender, capturing from a device(s), miming to locked audio edit. They would be expected to mix and match different takes, and then tweak the performances when required.
• Managing your time efficiently to meet the deadlines of your assigned shots.
• 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 Director and Animation Director.
• Supporting the Team Lead when under pressure or the Lead is absent
• Mentoring and coaching less experienced members of the team
• Achieving the highest quality work in the time given, as well as responding well to fixes

Must Have:

Demonstrable experience of using Blender to a high levelAdvanced understanding of body mechanics, posing and getting the best performance possible out of a characterAn understanding of switching rig parenting hierarchy (we are using an adapted Cloudrig rigging setup!)Previous experience with face and/or body capture.Experience in using graph editor, keyframe animation and cleanupSomeone who is willing to adapt and use bespoke animation tools built for the projectUnderstanding of principles of lip-syncAbility to receive and act on feedback and respond to directionExcellent time management and prioritising skillsAbility and drive to share your knowledge and skills with other team membersDemonstrable experience of being a team player and great collaboratorExcellent creative problem solving skillsBonus Points:Python or Mel script knowledgeGood at drawing/additional creative skills (acting/dance)Shotgrid (Flow)

Bonus Points:

Python or Mel script knowledgeGood at drawing/additional creative skills (acting/dance)Shotgrid (Flow)