Head of Animation & Visual Storytelling

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Generous annual leave

Professional development

Collaborative environment

Job summary

Placements24 in Cape Town is seeking a Senior Animation Director to guide the creative direction and supervise animation sequences for major feature films and television series. You will inspire and lead teams of animators, technical directors, and storyboard artists to deliver work of the highest standard.

You will mentor junior staff, collaborate with directors, and ensure storytelling, character performance, and pacing align with the project vision while solving complex challenges in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, Film, or related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• 10+ years in animation with at least 5 years in leadership roles such as Supervisor or Director.
• Strong portfolio showing character animation and directing on notable projects.
• Deep understanding of animation principles and character performance.
• Proficiency in Maya, 3ds Max, Blender; motion capture experience is a plus.
• Excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills; ability to inspire teams.
• Strong storytelling, cinematography, and editing understanding.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for animation and keen eye for detail and aesthetics.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the animation pipeline from pre-visualization to final output with artistic and technical excellence.
• Provide clear creative direction and feedback to animators, riggers, and modelers.
• Collaborate with directors and storyboard artists to translate scripts into sequences.
• Ensure character performance, pacing, and storytelling meet project vision.
• Mentor junior and mid-level animators; foster skill development and growth.
• Resolve complex animation challenges and drive workflow innovations.
• Maintain consistent style and quality across assets for a project.
• Participate in casting sessions and input on character performance.
• Review dailies and provide timely feedback to the team.
• Communicate with other department heads for seamless production integration.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Storytelling

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Job description

Placements24 in Cape Town is seeking a Senior Animation Director to guide the creative direction and supervise animation sequences for major feature films and television series. You will inspire and lead teams of animators, technical directors, and storyboard artists to deliver work of the highest standard.

You will mentor junior staff, collaborate with directors, and ensure storytelling, character performance, and pacing align with the project vision while solving complex challenges in a