Lead Gameplay Animator: Fluid Combat & Immersive Motion

Activision Publishing Inc.; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 137,000 - 253,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays and vacation

Mental health & wellbeing programs

Incentive compensation eligibility

Job summary

Activision Publishing Inc. seeks a Principal Gameplay Animator for Elsewhere Entertainment to shape the animation vision of an exciting new IP. You will lead character animation with a focus on responsive combat, working with Design, Engineering, Art, Audio and Narrative to elevate the player experience.

The role requires expert mocap integration, advanced Maya skills and a track record of shipped titles. You will mentor teammates and help improve tools, pipelines and production processes within

Qualifications

• Significant gameplay animation experience, including a senior or principal-level contribution to one or more shipped titles.
• Strong combat animation skills, with experience creating impactful, responsive player and enemy combat behaviours.
• A deep understanding of combat readability, timing, anticipation, hit reactions, attack cycles, locomotion and player control.
• Experience working in game engines and contributing to animation systems and implementation.
• Strong knowledge of motion-capture pipelines, including editing, cleanup and blending mocap with keyframe animation.
• Exceptional animation fundamentals across human and creature movement, including timing, weight, balance and physicality.
• Proven experience collaborating across disciplines and influencing creative decisions at a project level.
• A thoughtful, constructive approach to giving feedback and supporting the growth of other animators.
• Advanced proficiency in Maya and the ability to adapt quickly to new tools and technologies.
• Strong technical and collaborative problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Owning and driving the quality bar for gameplay animation, with a particular focus on responsive, readable and satisfying combat.
• Creating and refining high-quality character animations using strong animation fundamentals, gameplay principles and motion-capture data.
• Shaping animation approaches that support combat design, player expression, enemy behaviours, traversal and moment-to-moment gameplay.
• Partnering closely with Design, Engineering, Art, Audio and Narrative to ensure animation enhances the overall player experience.
• Applying deep knowledge of game design mechanics, 3Cs (character, camera and controls), AI behaviour, camera animation and narrative context.
• Contributing to animation systems, state machines, blending, transitions and in-engine implementation to achieve fluid, responsive gameplay.
• Providing clear creative direction, feedback and mentorship to help raise the craft and capability of the animation team.
• Identifying opportunities to improve tools, workflows and pipelines, helping the team work more effectively at scale.
• Solving complex technical and creative challenges while balancing quality, performance and production needs.

Skills

Gameplay animation

Combat animation

Mocap integration

Maya

Engine animation

Tools

Maya

Job description

Activision Publishing Inc. seeks a Principal Gameplay Animator for Elsewhere Entertainment to shape the animation vision of an exciting new IP. You will lead character animation with a focus on responsive combat, working with Design, Engineering, Art, Audio and Narrative to elevate the player experience.

The role requires expert mocap integration, advanced Maya skills and a track record of shipped titles. You will mentor teammates and help improve tools, pipelines and production processes within