Remote Lead Animator (Character & Creature)

Placements24; Stellenbosch Local Municipality; Remote; ZAR 1,523,000 - 2,538,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Global collaboration

Competitive compensation

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Remote Lead Animator specializing in character and creature animation. You will guide a distributed team, set quality standards, and drive lifelike performances across projects.

This fully remote role requires leadership, deep animationPrinciples mastery, and the ability to collaborate with directors and art leads to realize artistic visions.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in character and creature animation for film, games, or related Arts & Entertainment fields.
• Proven leadership experience managing animation teams.
• Strong understanding of animation principles, weight, timing, spacing, and performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of character and creature animators, providing constructive feedback and guidance.
• Establish and maintain the animation style and quality standards for projects.
• Oversee the animation process from blocking to final polish, ensuring timely delivery.
• Collaborate closely with directors, art directors, and other department leads to achieve the artistic vision.
• Animate complex character and creature performances, focusing on emotional nuance and believable movement.
• Review animation dailies and provide clear, actionable notes.
• Troubleshoot animation pipeline issues and develop efficient workflows.
• Stay current with cutting-edge animation techniques and software.

Skills

Leadership

Maya

Animation

Team management

Communication

Problem solving

Remote collaboration

Tools

Maya

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading innovator in the Arts & Entertainment industry, is actively seeking a highly skilled and visionary Remote Lead Animator specializing in Character & Creature animation. This is a fully remote opportunity, allowing you to contribute your exceptional talent from Paarl, Western Cape, or anywhere globally. You will be responsible for guiding a team of talented animators, setting the animation quality bar, and ensuring the lifelike and compelling performance of characters and creatures across various projects. This role demands a deep understanding of animation principles, strong leadership qualities, and a passion for bringing digital beings to life. We are looking for a creative force who can inspire a team and deliver world-class animation that drives narrative and captivates audiences. Your expertise will be crucial in shaping the emotional depth and visual appeal of our client's productions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of character and creature animators, providing constructive feedback and guidance.
• Establish and maintain the animation style and quality standards for projects.
• Oversee the animation process from blocking to final polish, ensuring timely delivery.
• Collaborate closely with directors, art directors, and other department leads to achieve the artistic vision.
• Animate complex character and creature performances, focusing on emotional nuance and believable movement.
• Review animation dailies and provide clear, actionable notes.
• Troubleshoot animation pipeline issues and develop efficient workflows.
• Stay current with cutting-edge animation techniques and software.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in character and creature animation for film, games, or related Arts & Entertainment fields.
• Proven leadership experience managing animation teams.
• Mastery of Maya or other industry-standard 3D animation software.
• Deep understanding of animation principles, including weight, timing, spacing, and performance.
• Strong ability to create realistic and stylized character/creature performances.
• Experience with motion capture data cleanup and integration is a plus.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem‑solving skills, essential for leading a remote team.
• A strong portfolio showcasing exceptional animation skills and leadership examples.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, coupled with the unique advantage of a fully remote work arrangement within the Arts & Entertainment sector. You will have the opportunity to influence major creative projects and contribute to a culture of artistic excellence. This role provides significant scope for career advancement and the chance to work with a globally distributed, talented team, all from the convenience of your chosen location.