Lead Animator

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 700.000 - 1.100.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Competitive salary package

Performance bonuses

Health, dental, vision insurance

Hybrid work model

Professional growth opportunities

Generous paid time off

Retirement savings plan

Creative and supportive environment

Long-term career advancement

Zusammenfassung

Placements24 in East London, Eastern Cape, is seeking an experienced Lead Animator to guide our animation team. This role oversees the animation pipeline, mentors junior animators, and ensures high-quality character and creature animations across our games in a collaborative, hybrid environment.

You will work with art directors, designers, and tech teams to define style and standards, ship AAA-quality animation, and stay current with industry trends.

Qualifikationen

• 7+ years in game animation with min 2 years in lead/senior role
• Strong portfolio showcasing character animation including performance, dialogue, and mocap cleanup
• Proficiency with industry-standard animation software (Maya, 3ds Max)
• Solid understanding of animation principles, timing, weight, and acting
• Experience with game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and their animation systems
• Familiarity with rigging and character setup
• Strong leadership, communication, and mentoring skills
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and collaborate across disciplines
• Excellent problem-solving and debugging abilities
• Experience with motion capture data is highly desirable

Aufgaben

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of animators, providing artistic direction and technical guidance
• Oversee the animation pipeline, ensuring efficient and high-quality delivery of all animation assets
• Create high-quality character and creature animations, including keyframe animation, motion capture cleanup, and facial animation
• Collaborate with game designers and narrative teams to bring characters to life and convey emotion and personality
• Work with technical animators and riggers to ensure smooth integration of animations into the game engine
• Establish and maintain animation quality standards and style guides
• Conduct animation reviews, providing constructive feedback and ensuring artistic consistency
• Troubleshoot and resolve animation-related technical issues
• Stay current with industry trends and advancements in animation technology and techniques
• Contribute to the development of animation tools and pipelines

Kenntnisse

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Unreal Engine

Unity

Motion capture cleanup

Rigging familiarity

Jobbeschreibung

About the Role

Our client, a prestigious game development studio located in East London, Eastern Cape, is seeking an experienced and inspiring Lead Animator to guide their animation team. This role is critical in bringing characters and creatures to life with compelling and believable motion. You will oversee the animation pipeline, mentor junior animators, and ensure the highest quality of animation across all aspects of our games. You will collaborate closely with the art director, game designers, and technical teams to establish and maintain the animation style and quality standards. We are looking for an individual with exceptional animation skills, a deep understanding of motion principles, and strong leadership capabilities. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in shipping AAA titles and a passion for crafting fluid, impactful animations that enhance player immersion. This Hybrid role combines the benefits of in-office collaboration with remote work flexibility, fostering a balanced and productive environment in East London, Eastern Cape. You will play a key role in defining the performance and emotional impact of our game's characters.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of animators, providing artistic direction and technical guidance.
• Oversee the animation pipeline, ensuring efficient and high-quality delivery of all animation assets.
• Create high-quality character and creature animations, including keyframe animation, motion capture cleanup, and facial animation.
• Collaborate with game designers and narrative teams to bring characters to life and convey emotion and personality.
• Work with technical animators and riggers to ensure smooth integration of animations into the game engine.
• Establish and maintain animation quality standards and style guides.
• Conduct animation reviews, providing constructive feedback and ensuring artistic consistency.
• Troubleshoot and resolve animation-related technical issues.
• Stay current with industry trends and advancements in animation technology and techniques.
• Contribute to the development of animation tools and pipelines.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in game animation, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior role.
• A strong portfolio showcasing exceptional character animation skills, including performance, dialogue, and motion capture cleanup.
• Proficiency with industry-standard animation software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max).
• Solid understanding of animation principles, timing, weight, and acting.
• Experience with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and their animation systems.
• Familiarity with rigging and character setup is a plus.
• Strong leadership, communication, and mentoring skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and collaborate across disciplines.
• Excellent problem-solving and debugging abilities.
• Experience with motion capture data is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary package and potential for performance bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage is provided.
• The Hybrid work model offers flexibility, blending in-office collaboration in East London, Eastern Cape with remote workdays.
• Opportunities for professional growth and skill development, including access to training and industry events, are available.
• Generous paid time off, including vacation and sick leave, is standard.
• A retirement savings plan with company contributions is offered.
• We foster a creative and supportive work environment.
• Long-term career advancement opportunities within the studio are significant.