3D Animation Director job at Ubisoft, Malmö, Sweden

Festybay; Malmö kommun; On-site; SEK 754,066 - 969,514; Full time

Job summary

Festybay is seeking a visionary Animation Director to lead the animation for AAA titles at our state-of-the-art studio in Malmö, Sweden. You will oversee the animation quality and performance, working with a team of animators to create immersive experiences.

As Animation Director, you will define and document the animation style, ensure excellence in game feel, and foster collaboration across disciplines to integrate animation into gameplay mechanics. A proven track record in AAA games and strong leadership skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in AAA game development with successful titles.
• Extensive experience managing animation teams for complex projects.
• Deep knowledge of modern game engine constraints.

Responsibilities

• Lead the animation vision and manage a team of animators and technical artists.
• Establish and maintain animation quality and technical standards.
• Collaborate with other departments to integrate animation into gameplay.

Skills

Leadership skills

Expertise in game animation

Strong communication skills

Technical proficiency in DCC tools

Tools

Motion Builder

Maya

3DS Max

Job description

Massive Entertainment, a Ubisoft studio, is seeking a visionary and technically accomplished Animation Director to lead the animation vision for one of our premier AAA intellectual properties, including highly anticipated projects like Tom Clancy’s The Division 3. This permanent, full-time position is based on-site at our state-of-the-art studio in Malmö, Sweden.

As the Animation Director, you will be the ultimate guardian of visual quality, character performance, and mechanical responsiveness. You will bridge the gap between artistic expression and cutting‑edge technology, translating the overarching creative direction into a fluid, tactile reality. Leading an elite team of animators and technical artists, you will define pipelines, push engine capabilities, and ensure that every movement, combat encounter, and cinematic moment aligns perfectly with the game’s core tone and player fantasy.

Job Summary : Animation Director

Company Massive Entertainment (A Ubisoft Studio)

Job Title Animation Director

Location Malmö, Sweden (Office-based)

Department Animation / Creative Leadership

Employment Type Full-time

Contract Type Permanent

Experience Level Director / Principal (AAA Lead/Director Experience Required)

Core Specialization Gameplay & Technical Animation Vision, Runtime System Integration

Key Frameworks Snowdrop Engine, Motion Matching, Procedural & IK Systems, Maya/Motion Builder

Core Vision & Strategic Objectives

At Massive Entertainment, we believe that world‑class animation is the cornerstone of player immersion and game feel. The Animation Director is tasked with a profound responsibility: finding the perfect equilibrium between cinematic visual fidelity and instantaneous gameplay responsiveness.

You will dictate how characters interact with complex urban environments, how they express weight, tension, and tactical awareness, and how the world responds to their presence. Working closely with core stakeholders, you will champion an animation philosophy that honors the established identity of a globally recognized franchise while pioneering new techniques in locomotion, combat physics, and non‑verbal storytelling.

As a key creative leader within the studio, your responsibilities will span across strategic vision, team leadership, technical innovation, and operational pipeline design:

1. Vision, Execution & Game Feel

• Establish the Direction: Define, document, and drive the overarching animation style guide and technical standards for the entire project, ensuring alignment with the game’s creative and narrative pillars.
• Optimize Game Feel: Serve as a primary stakeholder for game feel, ensuring that character controls are sharp, responsive, and satisfying without sacrificing the realistic weight and visual polish of the animations.
• Quality Assurance: Review and critique animation assets across gameplay, cinematics, and ambient systems to guarantee a cohesive, high‑quality player experience from conception to final implementation.
• Team Leadership: Mentor, inspire, and manage a multi‑disciplinary team of lead animators, technical animators, and runtime programmers. Provide clear, constructive feedback and foster an inclusive environment built on creative growth.
• Pipeline Engineering: Partner with the production team to design efficient asset pipelines, establish clear workflows, manage scope, and outline realistic milestone targets without compromising creative quality.
• Cross‑Disciplinary Synergy: Collaborate intimately with Design, Art, Audio, and Production departments to integrate animation seamlessly into systemic gameplay mechanics and world‑building structures.

3. Technological Innovation & Engine Evolution

• Snowdrop Advancement: Partner directly with the proprietary Snowdrop Engine team to pioneer next‑generation animation tools, systems, and workflows that empower content creators across all of Ubisoft.
• Technological Architecture: Strategically evaluate and implement advanced animation systems, finding the optimal balance between traditional keyframe artistry, motion capture data, and cutting‑edge procedural technologies.

Candidate Profile: Who You Are

We are looking for an enthusiastic, forward‑thinking leader who pairs an elite artistic eye with a deep understanding of modern game engine constraints and animation technical architecture.

Professional Experience & Proven Expertise

• AAA Pedigree: You possess a proven track record of success with at least one fully shipped, large‑scale AAA title in a supervising role (such as Animation Director, Associate Director, or Lead Animator).
• Leadership Excellence: You have extensive professional experience managing, mentoring, and scaling internal and external animation teams through complex, multi‑year production cycles.
• Articulate Communicator: You excel at translating abstract creative concepts into actionable production strategies, confidently pitching and presenting your vision to executives and grassroots developers alike.

Technical & Systems Proficiency

• Software Mastery: You possess deep, expert‑level knowledge of industry‑standard DCC tools, including Motion Builder, Maya, and 3DS Max.
• Advanced Animation Systems: You understand the mechanical nuances, performance costs, and practical pros and cons of modern runtime technologies, including:
  • Motion Matching and advanced locomotion systems.
  • Inverse Kinematics (IK) and Forward Kinematics (FK) integration.
  • Procedural physics, ragdoll blending, and contextual environmental replication.

About Massive Entertainment & Ubisoft

Located in the progressive, culturally rich city of Malmö, Sweden, Massive Entertainment is a powerhouse of game development. Boasting a highly diverse team of over 700 professionals from 50+ countries, we celebrate unique perspectives, collaboration, and a collective passion for innovation.

As part of the global Ubisoft family, we leverage the reach of an industry leader while maintaining a close‑knit, supportive studio culture. We are dedicated to pushing the absolute boundaries of entertainment technology—whether through our proprietary Snowdrop engine or our genre‑defining live games like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Star Wars Outlaws, and Tom Clancy’s The Division franchise.

How to Apply

If you are ready to lead an elite team and leave a permanent mark on one of gaming’s most successful franchises, we invite you to apply. Please submit your comprehensive CV, a cover letter detailing your directional philosophy, and a portfolio or showreel showcasing your shipped AAA work, leadership contributions, and technical animation oversight.