Lead Gameplay Animator – AAA Open World

Absurd Ventures; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

401(k) matching

Bonus & equity potential

Job summary

Absurd Ventures in Santa Monica, CA, is seeking a Principal Gameplay Animator to define and deliver animation quality for our AAA open world action-adventure. As a creative and technical contributor, you will craft exceptional gameplay animations, establish animation standards, and collaborate with Design, Engineering, Art, and Narrative to ensure fluid, realistic movement and enhanced gameplay.

This on-site role combines hands-on animation with leadership through craft.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of animation experience in the video game industry.
• Proficiency in Maya and other industry-standard animation tools.
• Multiple shipped AAA titles in a gameplay animation role.
• Strong understanding of Unreal Engine 5 animation systems, including Animation Blueprints, State Machines, Blend Spaces, Control Rig, and Motion Matching workflows.
• Strong understanding of anatomy, motion, and weight in animation.
• Experience with both keyframe animation and motion capture techniques.
• Proven track record of leading animation teams and delivering high-quality content.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and communicate effectively.
• Strong problem-solving abilities with a balance of artistic vision and technical execution.
• Self-motivated, organized, and able to drive complex initiatives with minimal oversight.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality gameplay animations establishing visual and gameplay standards for all characters, creatures, and object animations.
• Drive the development of locomotion, traversal, combat, interaction, and systemic animation content; review animation content and help maintain consistent quality and artistic direction across all gameplay features.
• Collaborate with the Animation Director to define the animation style and direction.
• Partner with Design and Engineering teams to implement animation systems that enhance gameplay feel, responsiveness, and player immersion.
• Work closely with Technical Animation to improve pipelines, tools, and workflows.
• Help establish efficient workflows that balance visual quality, gameplay requirements, and technical constraints.
• Provide feedback and mentorship to other animators.
• Ensure animations meet performance and memory constraints for different platforms.
• Partner with outsource and co-development teams to review deliverables and ensure quality standards are met.
• Stay current with industry trends and techniques in animation.

Skills

Unreal Engine 5

Maya

AAA titles

Team leadership

Motion capture

Animation systems

Communication

Problem solving

Tools

Maya

Unreal Engine 5

Job description

Absurd Ventures in Santa Monica, CA, is seeking a Principal Gameplay Animator to define and deliver animation quality for our AAA open world action-adventure. As a creative and technical contributor, you will craft exceptional gameplay animations, establish animation standards, and collaborate with Design, Engineering, Art, and Narrative to ensure fluid, realistic movement and enhanced gameplay.

This on-site role combines hands-on animation with leadership through craft.