Animator

Blind Squirrel Games; Auckland; On-site; NZD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Blind Squirrel Games is seeking an Animator to bring characters to life through movement across multiple titles. You will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to deliver animation that aligns with artistic direction, gameplay needs, and engine constraints.

Ideal candidates have at least two years in game animation, a strong portfolio, and proficiency in Maya/Blender/3ds Max, MotionBuilder, and game engines. This is a full-time, onsite role in Auckland, New Zealand.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in animation or related field.
• Minimum two years of game animation experience.
• Portfolio demonstrating animation fundamentals and technical understanding.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality character animations using Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max.
• Apply animation principles to deliver believable performances for gameplay.
• Integrate motion capture data and clean up as needed.
• Collaborate with artists, designers, and programmers to meet engine requirements.
• Follow production pipelines and manage assets with Perforce.
• Communicate progress and obstacles to leads and stakeholders.

Skills

Communication skills

Collaboration

Attention to detail

Deadline management

Teamwork across disciplines

Education

Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or related field

Two years of industry experience in game development

Tools

Maya

Blender

3ds Max

MotionBuilder

Unreal Engine

Unity

Perforce

Job description

Animator

Blind Squirrel Games Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

About this position

About Blind Squirrel Games

At Blind Squirrel Games (BSG), creating exceptional games is just the start. As a proud, independent studio, we collaborate with developers and publishers who value innovation and excellence, serving as a trusted partner in bringing high-quality games to life. Our work spans ports, co-development, and full game development, each with its own creative and technical demands.

With studios in Irvine, California; Austin, Texas; Auckland, New Zealand; and Manizales, Colombia, we bring together global talent to build outstanding games. Guided by the Blind Squirrel Way, the standard for how we work, our teams operate with ownership, accountability, and collaboration.

People are central to our success. We prioritize an inquisitive, proactive, and collaborative environment where individuals can make meaningful contributions. We value skills and experience while recognizing that talent develops through hard work, resilience, and a commitment to growth. We welcome diverse perspectives and believe inclusion strengthens our teams, our ideas, and our work.

About the Opportunity

Animators at BSG bring characters to life through movement, performance, and interaction. Their work shapes how players experience gameplay and connect with a game’s story. If your experience aligns with this work, we welcome your interest in our upcoming opportunities.

Working alongside animation leadership and a multidisciplinary development team, you will create and refine animations that support each project’s artistic direction, gameplay requirements, and technical standards. Your work may include keyframe animation, motion capture integration and cleanup, character performances, and animation implementation, depending on project needs and your expertise.

The scope of animation ownership, performance development, and technical contribution will reflect your experience and demonstrated capabilities. These opportunities are for full-time, temporary positions based in Auckland, New Zealand, with a fully onsite requirement at our studio.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality character animations using Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max that meet established artistic and technical requirements.
• Apply animation principles, including weight, timing, spacing, and posing, to deliver believable performances that support gameplay and storytelling.
• Integrate, clean up, and refine motion capture data using MotionBuilder, preserving performance quality while addressing artifacts and technical requirements.
• Support motion capture planning and sessions, including performance direction and supervision where appropriate to your experience and project responsibilities.
• Collaborate with artists, designers, and programmers to ensure animations support character design, gameplay mechanics, and engine requirements.
• Work with programmers to integrate animation features and functionality into the game engine.
• Identify and help resolve animation challenges involving character rigs, technical limitations, and performance constraints.
• Follow established production pipelines and deliver animation assets according to project schedules and specifications.
• Maintain organized animation assets using version control systems such as Perforce.
• Communicate progress, dependencies, and potential obstacles clearly to leads and project stakeholders.
• Contribute ideas that strengthen character movement, expression, and interaction while supporting the project’s creative direction.
• Participate in team meetings, animation reviews, and collaborative problem-solving discussions.
• Incorporate feedback thoughtfully and efficiently while maintaining animation quality and consistency.
• Adjust priorities, techniques, and animation approaches as project needs evolve.
• Document relevant workflows, techniques, and best practices to support knowledge sharing and consistent production.
• Continue developing your skills and adapting to new tools, technologies, and animation practices.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• A minimum of two years of industry experience in game development specializing in animation.
• At least one shipped title as an animator.
• A portfolio or demo reel demonstrating strong animation fundamentals, character performance, visual judgment, and technical understanding.
• Proficiency in at least one major 3D animation application, such as Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max.
• A strong understanding of keyframe animation principles and techniques.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across disciplines.
• Attention to detail and the ability to manage assignments, meet deadlines, and respond constructively to feedback.

Preferred Skills

• Experience integrating and refining motion capture data using MotionBuilder.
• Familiarity with game development pipelines and animation implementation in Unreal Engine, Unity, or other contemporary game engines.
• Experience using Perforce or another version control system.
• Experience supporting or directing motion capture sessions.
• Ability to troubleshoot animation and rigging issues in collaboration with technical artists and programmers.
• Adaptability across animation styles, production requirements, and project priorities.
• A commitment to continued learning and creating high-quality player experiences.

Blind Squirrel Entertainment, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Eligibility for benefits and perks may vary based on position, employment status, and location.