3D Animator – Wildlife Cinematic Short

Twine; United States; On-site; USD 83,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

Twine is seeking a skilled 3D Animator to produce a 60-second stylized wildlife sequence for vertical platforms (YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Reels). The project centers on a fire ant colony navigating rising floods, with cinematic camera work and dynamic pacing in 9:16 format.

We expect a portfolio showcasing cinematic wildlife or creature animation, proficiency in Blender, Maya, or Cinema 4D, and the ability to reuse assets to animate multiple ants efficiently.

Qualifications

• Portfolio showing cinematic wildlife or creature animation.
• Proficiency with Blender, Maya, or Cinema 4D.
• Understanding of stylized animation and camera movement.
• Ability to animate multiple characters with reusable assets.
• Experience with fluid/environmental simulations desirable.
• Strong communication and ability to meet deadlines.
• Availability for a single project with potential for future work.

Responsibilities

• Create a 60-second stylized 3D animation in 9:16 format for short-form platforms.
• Animate multiple ants using reusable models.
• Incorporate cinematic camera work, flood simulations, and suspenseful pacing.
• Establish a strong opening hook and a satisfying narrative arc.
• Deliver polished visuals and provide workflow details and references.

Skills

Cinematic wildlife animation

Camera movement

Storytelling

Efficient asset reuse

Vertical formatting

Tools

Blender

Maya

Cinema 4D

Job description

Bring a dramatic wildlife story to life as a 3D Animator, creating a 60-second cinematic animation for vertical short-form platforms such as YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Facebook Reels. The project centers on a fire ant colony facing rising floodwaters, showcasing their survival instincts as they form a living raft to protect their queen and young. The animation should feature stylized visuals, believable ant behavior, and a polished, suspenseful narrative arc. Cinematic camera movement, dynamic close-ups, and fast-paced editing are essential to capture viewers’ attention and deliver a compelling story in a 9:16 format. Suitable ant models may be provided or sourced to streamline production.

Deliverables

• Produce a 60-second stylized 3D animation in 9:16 vertical format, optimized for short-form platforms.
• Animate multiple ants efficiently using reusable or duplicated models.
• Integrate cinematic camera movement, dramatic floodwater simulation, and suspenseful pacing.
• Ensure a strong opening hook and a satisfying narrative conclusion.
• Deliver polished, high-quality visuals comparable to leading wildlife animation creators.
• Provide estimated turnaround time, detailed workflow, and relevant examples of cinematic 3D character, creature, or wildlife animation.

Requirements

• Proven experience in 3D animation, with a portfolio demonstrating cinematic wildlife or creature work.
• Proficiency in industry-standard 3D software (e.g., Blender, Maya, Cinema 4D).
• Strong understanding of stylized animation, camera movement, and visual storytelling.
• Ability to efficiently animate multiple characters using reusable assets.
• Experience with fluid or environmental simulations is highly desirable.
• Skilled in editing for vertical, short-form content (9:16 aspect ratio).
• Excellent communication and ability to meet deadlines.
• Availability for a single project with potential for future collaboration.

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