Lead Animator

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Annual leave

Sick days

Project bonuses

On-site studio

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a visionary Lead Animator to spearhead the animation department in Rustenburg. You will guide a team of animators to deliver character and environmental animations for upcoming projects, establishing quality benchmarks and mentoring staff.

You will collaborate with art directors and game designers, ensuring storytelling through movement remains at the forefront of production. Strong leadership and communication are essential in a collaborative studio setting in Rustenburg.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in 3D character animation, with at least 2 years in a lead or supervisory role.
• Proficiency in Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender.
• Strong understanding of animation principles, character performance, and storytelling through movement.
• Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Direct and supervise the animation team, providing clear artistic direction and feedback.
• Develop and refine character rigs and animation pipelines to optimize efficiency and quality.
• Create keyframe animations for complex characters and scenes, setting the standard for the team.
• Collaborate with art directors and game designers to ensure animation aligns with project goals.
• Conduct animation reviews, provide constructive criticism, and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the team.

Skills

Team leadership

Animation direction

Storytelling through movement

Mentoring

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a visionary Lead Animator to spearhead their animation department in Rustenburg . This crucial leadership role involves guiding a team of talented animators to create breathtaking character and environmental animations for upcoming projects. You will be responsible for establishing animation quality benchmarks, mentoring team members, and ensuring the cohesive artistic vision of our productions is realized. The ideal candidate has a proven track record in delivering high-quality animation and possesses strong leadership capabilities, thriving in a collaborative studio environment that values creativity, precision, and impactful storytelling.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct and supervise the animation team, providing clear artistic direction and feedback.
• Develop and refine character rigs and animation pipelines to optimize efficiency and quality.
• Create keyframe animations for complex characters and scenes, setting the standard for the team.
• Collaborate with art directors and game designers to ensure animation aligns with project goals.
• Conduct animation reviews, provide constructive criticism, and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the team.

Requirements

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in 3D character animation, with at least 2 years in a lead or supervisory role.
• Expert proficiency in animation software such as Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender.
• Strong understanding of animation principles, character performance, and storytelling through movement.
• Experience managing animation pipelines and working with game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, with a keen eye for detail.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and potential for project-based bonuses.
• Full-time, on-site position within a state-of-the-art studio in Rustenburg .
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement fund contributions.
• Generous annual leave and paid sick days.
• Opportunities for professional growth and contributions to award-winning projects.