Remote Senior 3D Animator - Character Specialist

Placements24; Klerksdorp; Hybrid; ZAR 1,482,000 - 2,470,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Remote work from home

Global/international team

Professional development opportunities

Training resources

Flexible work arrangements

Participation in leading-edge tech

Memorable digital character projects

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly talented and experienced remote Senior 3D Animator specializing in character animation to join a globally distributed studio in the Arts & Entertainment space. You will bring virtual characters to life with realism, timing, and expressive movement, from concept through to final output.

You will collaborate with modelers, riggers, and art directors, refine animation techniques, ensure technical quality for target platforms, mentor junior animators, and stay

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree or equivalent experience in animation or related field.
• Outstanding portfolio showing advanced character animation across styles.
• 6-8 years of professional 3D character animation experience in Arts & Entertainment.
• Expert proficiency in Maya, Blender or 3ds Max.
• Strong understanding of animation principles, timing and biomechanics.
• Experience with motion capture cleanup and retargeting is a plus.
• Excellent communication and ability to collaborate remotely.
• Ability to manage time and meet production deadlines.
• Passion for storytelling and bringing characters to life.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality character animations for games, films, or digital media.
• Animate with believable performance, emotion, and nuanced movement.
• Collaborate with modelers, riggers, and art directors to achieve results.
• Incorporate feedback from supervisors and directors into animations.
• Develop workflows to improve efficiency and quality.
• Ensure animations are technically sound and optimized for target platforms.
• Contribute to character backstories and personalities through animation.
• Mentor junior animators and provide constructive feedback.
• Stay current with industry trends and animation technology.
• Troubleshoot and solve complex animation challenges.

Skills

Portfolio

Character animation

Maya

Blender

3ds Max

Anatomy & biomechanics

Remote work

Communication skills

Storytelling

Motion capture cleanup

Deadline management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, Computer Graphics, or related field

Tools

Maya

Blender

3ds Max

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge studio within the Arts & Entertainment sector, is seeking a highly talented and experienced Remote Senior 3D Animator with a specialization in character animation. This fully remote position offers the exciting prospect of bringing virtual characters to life with breathtaking realism and dynamic motion, contributing to a wide array of visually stunning projects. You will be responsible for creating high-quality character animations that convey emotion, personality, and believable movement, working from concept through to final output. The ideal candidate is a master of their craft, with an impeccable eye for detail, a strong understanding of anatomy and physics, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of animated performance. Join our globally distributed team and help shape the future of digital character artistry from the comfort of your home.

Key Responsibilities

• Create exceptionally high-quality character animations for games, films, or other digital media.
• Animate characters with a focus on believable performance, emotional expression, and nuanced movement.
• Work closely with character modelers, riggers, and art directors to achieve desired results.
• Interpret and implement animation notes and feedback from supervisors and directors.
• Develop and refine animation techniques and workflows to improve efficiency and quality.
• Ensure animations are technically sound and optimized for the target platform.
• Contribute to the development of character backstories and personalities through animation.
• Mentor junior animators and provide constructive feedback.
• Stay current with industry trends, new software, and animation technologies.
• Troubleshoot and solve complex animation challenges.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, Computer Graphics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• An outstanding portfolio showcasing advanced character animation skills across various styles.
• Minimum of 6-8 years of professional experience in 3D character animation within the Arts & Entertainment industry.
• Expert proficiency in industry-standard 3D animation software (e.g., Maya, Blender, 3ds Max).
• Deep understanding of animation principles, cinematography, anatomy, and biomechanics.
• Experience with motion capture data cleanup and retargeting is a plus.
• Strong artistic eye and a keen sense of timing, weight, and performance.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, comfortable working in a remote setting.
• Ability to manage time effectively and meet production deadlines.
• A passion for storytelling and bringing characters to life.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package for remote employees.
• Opportunity to work on diverse and exciting projects in the Arts & Entertainment space.
• Be part of a highly skilled and collaborative international team.
• Professional development opportunities and access to training resources.
• Flexible work arrangements and the convenience of working from home.
• Contribution to the creation of memorable digital characters and experiences.
• Exposure to leading-edge animation technology and workflows.