Onsite Character Animator — Mocap & Gameplay (NZ)

Rippling, Inc.; Auckland; On-site; NZD 60,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Blind Squirrel Games in Auckland, New Zealand, is seeking an experienced Animator to bring characters to life across projects. You will work with animation leadership and a multidisciplinary team to deliver animations that support gameplay and storytelling.

You will create keyframe animation, integrate motion capture data with MotionBuilder, and ensure compatibility with Unreal Engine or Unity. A strong portfolio and shipped-title experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or related field or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of two years of industry experience in game animation.
• At least one shipped title as an animator.
• Portfolio or demo reel showing strong animation fundamentals and technical understanding.
• Proficiency in Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max.
• Strong knowledge of keyframe animation principles.
• Excellent communication and collaboration across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality character animations using Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max.
• Apply animation principles to deliver believable performances for gameplay and storytelling.
• Integrate, clean up, and refine motion capture data using MotionBuilder.
• Support motion capture planning and sessions where appropriate.
• Collaborate with artists, designers, and programmers to support design and engine requirements.
• Work with programmers to integrate animation features into the game engine.
• Identify and resolve animation/ch rigging issues with technical artists and programmers.
• Follow production pipelines and deliver assets on time.
• Maintain animation assets using Perforce and documentation for knowledge sharing.
• Communicate progress and potential obstacles to leads and stakeholders.

Skills

Animation

Team collaboration

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Animation or related field

Tools

Maya

Blender

3ds Max

MotionBuilder

Perforce

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

Blind Squirrel Games in Auckland, New Zealand, is seeking an experienced Animator to bring characters to life across projects. You will work with animation leadership and a multidisciplinary team to deliver animations that support gameplay and storytelling.

You will create keyframe animation, integrate motion capture data with MotionBuilder, and ensure compatibility with Unreal Engine or Unity. A strong portfolio and shipped-title experience are required.