Lead Animator – On-site Studio Leader

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

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.