Character Animator — Motion Capture & Performances (Auckland)

Blind Squirrel Games; Auckland; On-site; NZD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Blind Squirrel Games, based in Auckland, New Zealand, is seeking an experienced Animator for full-time, onsite work. You will bring characters to life through keyframe and motion capture-driven animation, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to meet artistic direction, gameplay needs, and technical standards.

The role requires a strong portfolio, 2+ years in game animation, and proficiency in Maya/Blender/3ds Max.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or a related field.
• 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 Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max.

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.
• 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.

Skills

Animation fundamentals

Character performance

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Animation/Fine Arts or related field

2+ years in game animation

At least one shipped title

Tools

Maya

Blender

3ds Max

MotionBuilder

Unreal Engine

Unity

Perforce

Job description

Blind Squirrel Games, based in Auckland, New Zealand, is seeking an experienced Animator for full-time, onsite work. You will bring characters to life through keyframe and motion capture-driven animation, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to meet artistic direction, gameplay needs, and technical standards.

The role requires a strong portfolio, 2+ years in game animation, and proficiency in Maya/Blender/3ds Max.