Lead Animator - 3D Character Performance

Placements24; Richards Bay; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Retirement Fund

Paid Vacation

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Placements24 in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, ZA, seeks an experienced Lead Animator to guide a team in bringing characters to life. You will set animation quality, mentor juniors, and ensure artistic vision across projects, leveraging deep anatomy, timing, and acting expertise.

You will lead a 3D animation team, collaborate with directors and department leads, and drive pipelines and best practices while maintaining high standards and creative energy in a hybrid, studio-based environment in

Qualifications

• 7+ years in 3D character animation across feature film, game or VFX
• Experience as Lead/Senior Animator with proven leadership
• Strong portfolio showcasing character performance, acting and emotion
• Proficiency in Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender and understanding of animation principles

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a team of 3D animators with clear direction and feedback
• Oversee the animation pipeline to deliver high-quality character performances on schedule
• Set and maintain artistic quality standards for character animation
• Collaborate with directors, art directors and leads to achieve emotional storytelling
• Review and approve animation scenes providing technical and artistic guidance
• Develop and document animation pipelines, workflows and best practices
• Mentor junior animators to foster growth and development
• Contribute to key shots and complex character performances while ensuring consistency

Skills

Character animation

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Problem-solving

Storytelling

Feedback

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prestigious animation studio renowned for its visually stunning character work, is looking for an experienced Lead Animator to guide their team in bringing characters to life. This exciting opportunity is located in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, ZA. You will be responsible for setting the animation quality bar, mentoring junior animators, and ensuring the artistic vision for character performance is realized across all projects. The ideal candidate is a master of character animation with a strong understanding of anatomy, timing, and acting, coupled with proven leadership capabilities. This role is crucial in maintaining the studio's reputation for excellence in animation artistry.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a team of 3D animators, providing clear direction and constructive feedback.
• Oversee the animation production pipeline, ensuring high-quality character performances that meet project deadlines.
• Set and maintain the artistic quality standards for character animation.
• Collaborate closely with directors, art directors, and other department leads to achieve the desired character emotionality and storytelling.
• Review and approve animation scenes, providing technical and artistic guidance.
• Develop and document animation pipelines, workflows, and best practices.
• Troubleshoot animation challenges and find creative solutions.
• Mentor and train junior animators, fostering their growth and development.
• Contribute to the animation process by creating key shots and complex character performances.
• Ensure consistency in character performance, style, and technical execution throughout the project.
• Participate in character rigging reviews to ensure animatability.
• Communicate effectively with cross-functional teams on animation requirements and progress.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in 3D character animation within the feature film, game, or VFX industries.
• Proven experience in a Lead Animator or Senior Animator role, with demonstrated leadership skills.
• A strong portfolio showcasing exceptional character animation with a focus on performance, acting, and emotion.
• Expertise in industry-standard animation software such as Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender.
• Deep understanding of animation principles, including timing, spacing, weight, and appeal.
• Proficiency in rigging concepts and ability to collaborate effectively with rigging artists.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Experience with motion capture data cleanup and editing is a plus.
• A strong sense of visual storytelling and narrative comprehension.
• Ability to provide clear and actionable feedback to animation teams.
• Passion for character development and performance animation.

Benefits

Our client offers an attractive salary of Rand per annum, a comprehensive health insurance plan, a retirement fund, and generous paid vacation. The studio provides a stimulating and creative work environment with access to the latest animation technologies. Opportunities for professional growth, attending industry conferences, and cross-departmental collaboration are abundant. This hybrid role is based in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, ZA, offering a perfect blend of creative freedom and collaborative energy.