Remote Lead Animation Director for Feature Films

Placements24; Upington; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Stock options

Professional development

Industry events

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead Animation Director to steer creative direction and oversee animation for feature films with a remote global team. You will guide performance, timing, and storytelling, ensuring cinematic quality across all sequences.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in animation, a strong portfolio, and proven leadership in remote environments, with proficiency in Maya or Blender.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in animation with leadership roles on feature films or high-end projects.
• Strong portfolio showing character animation, timing, and storytelling performance.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor animation teams remotely.

Responsibilities

• Provide creative leadership to the animation team throughout production.
• Guide character performances for emotional depth and storytelling clarity.
• Collaborate with directors and storyboard artists to realize the film vision.

Skills

Leadership

Animation direction

Character performance

Storytelling

Remote team management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Animation or related field

Tools

Maya

Blender

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a visionary studio at the forefront of digital animation within the Arts & Entertainment industry, is searching for an exceptional Lead Animation Director to join their world-class, fully remote team. This is a unique opportunity to shape the creative direction and artistic execution of groundbreaking animated feature films from anywhere in the world. You will lead and inspire a team of talented animators, guiding the performance, character development, and storytelling through animation. We seek a highly experienced and creatively driven individual with a proven track record of delivering outstanding animated performances and a passion for pushing the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. This remote-first position requires exceptional leadership, communication, and artistic vision.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide creative leadership and direction to the animation team throughout the production pipeline.
• Oversee and guide the development of character performances, ensuring emotional depth, personality, and storytelling clarity.
• Collaborate closely with the Director, Storyboard Artists, and other department leads to realize the film's vision.
• Establish and maintain the animation style and quality standards for the project.
• Review animation dailies, provide constructive feedback, and ensure technical and artistic objectives are met.
• Mentor and develop animators, fostering a collaborative and inspiring work environment.
• Troubleshoot animation challenges and proactively find creative solutions.
• Participate in storyboarding and pre-visualization to plan key animation sequences.

Requirements

• Extensive experience (10+ years) in animation, with a significant portion in a Lead Animator or Animation Director role on feature films or equivalent high-end projects.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional character animation skills and a deep understanding of performance, timing, and storytelling.
• Proven experience in leading and mentoring animation teams.
• Expertise in industry-standard animation software ("e.g., Maya, Blender").
• Excellent understanding of anatomy, physics, and acting principles as applied to animation.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills essential for a remote team environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Ability to provide clear and actionable feedback remotely.

Benefits

• Fully remote work arrangement offering global flexibility.
• Opportunity to lead animation on visually stunning and critically acclaimed feature films.
• Highly competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including performance bonuses.
• Access to cutting-edge animation tools and technologies.
• Professional development opportunities and participation in industry events.
• Stock options or profit-sharing opportunities.