Lead Animation Artist

Placements24; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid and retirement fund

Professional development opportunities

Supportive studio environment in Tembs

Job summary

Placements24 in Tembisa, Gauteng, is seeking a highly creative Lead Animation Artist to spearhead our animation department. This leadership role guides a team of talented animators to deliver character and environmental animations that bring projects to life.

You will define animation style, manage the pipeline from concept to delivery, and collaborate with art directors, designers, and engineers to ensure a cohesive vision.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in 3D animation with leadership experience.
• Proficient in Maya, Blender or 3ds Max.
• Strong knowledge of animation principles, rigging and performance capture.
• Proven ability to lead and motivate a team of artists.
• Excellent communication, organization and problem-solving skills.
• Portfolio demonstrating exceptional animation quality.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of animation artists, providing artistic direction and technical guidance.
• Oversee high-quality character, environment, and cinematic animations.
• Develop animation styles and workflows to meet project deadlines.
• Collaborate with art directors, game designers, and engineers to ensure a cohesive vision.
• Review animation assets and ensure adherence to quality standards.
• Manage the animation production pipeline, including scheduling, task assignment, and asset management.

Skills

3D Animation

Leadership

Portfolio

Animation Principles

Character Rigging

Communication

Tools

Maya

Blender

3ds Max

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly creative and experienced Lead Animation Artist to spearhead their animation department in Tembisa . This is a leadership role responsible for guiding a team of talented animators to produce exceptional character and environmental animations that bring our projects to life. You will play a critical role in defining the animation style, ensuring technical quality, and managing the animation pipeline from concept to final delivery. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on visually driven projects within a studio that values artistic excellence and teamwork.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of animation artists , providing artistic direction and technical guidance.
• Oversee the creation of high-quality character, environment, and cinematic animations.
• Develop and refine animation styles and workflows to meet project requirements and deadlines.
• Collaborate with art directors, game designers, and engineers to ensure cohesive project vision.
• Review animation assets, provide constructive feedback, and ensure adherence to quality standards.
• Manage the animation production pipeline, including scheduling, task assignment, and asset management.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in 3D animation, with at least 2 years in a lead or supervisory role.
• Expertise in industry-standard animation software such as Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max.
• Strong understanding of animation principles, character rigging, and performance capture.
• Proven ability to manage and motivate a team of artists.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional animation quality and artistic versatility.

Benefits

• A competitive salary package commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement fund.
• Opportunity to work on diverse and exciting projects.
• A supportive and collaborative studio environment in Tembisa .
• Professional development and training opportunities.