Animation Director — Lead AAA Game Animation Vision

Activision Blizzard, Inc.; San Mateo (CA); Hybrid; USD 137,000 - 253,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

Activision Blizzard, Inc. is seeking an Animation Director for Sledgehammer Games in San Mateo, CA. You will define the animation vision, lead a world-class team, and collaborate across Design, Art, Narrative, Engineering, and Production to deliver immersive gameplay and cinematic experiences.

You will shape animation standards, workflows, and direction, balancing creative, technical, and team development to drive excellence at scale in a major AAA franchise.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of professional animation experience in game development.
• Proven experience leading animation teams on AAA titles.
• Deep understanding of animation principles and pipelines.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and champion the overall animation vision, quality bar, and creative direction.
• Lead, mentor, and develop animation leads and team members.
• Partner with studio leadership to establish animation strategy and staffing plans.
• Collaborate with Art, Design, Narrative, Engineering, and Production teams to support gameplay and storytelling.
• Drive the creation of world-class character, gameplay, cinematic, and AI animation.
• Oversee integration of animation content within tools and pipelines.
• Establish workflows and best practices to improve quality and efficiency.
• Guide performance capture and motion capture strategies.
• Review animation content and provide actionable feedback.
• Work with outsourcing partners to maintain quality and consistency.
• Stay informed on industry trends and drive innovation.

Skills

Leadership experience

AAA titles

Animation vision

Team mentorship

Communication

Tools

Maya

Job description

Activision Blizzard, Inc. is seeking an Animation Director for Sledgehammer Games in San Mateo, CA. You will define the animation vision, lead a world-class team, and collaborate across Design, Art, Narrative, Engineering, and Production to deliver immersive gameplay and cinematic experiences.

You will shape animation standards, workflows, and direction, balancing creative, technical, and team development to drive excellence at scale in a major AAA franchise.