Head of 3D Character Animation — Lead, Innovate, Inspire

Placements24; Rustenburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical insurance

Retirement contributions

Access to latest animation software

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Animator (3D Character Specialist) near Rustenburg, North West, to spearhead the animation department. You will guide a team of animators, set quality standards, and ensure seamless integration of animations into the game engine (Unreal/Unity).

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in 3D character animation for games, with 2+ in a lead role, strong Maya/Blender skills, and a solid portfolio. Bachelor’s in Animation or related field or equivalent experience is required.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in 3D character animation for games, with at least 2 in a lead role.
• Proficient with Maya or Blender for animation and rigging.
• Strong knowledge of animation principles, anatomy, timing, and acting.
• Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity and state machines/IK/FK.
• Portfolio demonstrating high-quality character work is mandatory.
• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Game Design, or related field, or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of 3D character animators.
• Set and maintain animation quality standards across all projects.
• Create high-quality animations: walk cycles, combat moves, expressions, and cinematic sequences.
• Collaborate with designers and narrative teams to align animations with gameplay and story.
• Work with engineers to implement animations in the game engine (Unreal/Unity).
• Develop and refine animation pipelines, tools, and workflows.
• Conduct animation reviews and provide actionable feedback to team.
• Oversee rigging for characters to ensure fidelity.
• Stay current with industry trends and best practices in 3D animation.
• Manage animation tasks and deadlines for projects.

Skills

3D animation

Lead team

Maya

Blender

Unreal/Unity

Rigging

Feedback & mentoring

Education

Bachelor's in Animation/Game Design or related field

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Animator (3D Character Specialist) near Rustenburg, North West, to spearhead the animation department. You will guide a team of animators, set quality standards, and ensure seamless integration of animations into the game engine (Unreal/Unity).

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in 3D character animation for games, with 2+ in a lead role, strong Maya/Blender skills, and a solid portfolio. Bachelor’s in Animation or related field or equivalent experience is required.