Remote Senior Animation Director (3D Character Animation)

Placements24; Gqeberha; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Remote work package

Retirement planning

Generous PTO

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Animation Director to lead a remote team responsible for high-quality 3D character animation across feature and series projects. You will shape character performances, guide the pipeline, and collaborate with directors and story teams to translate scripts and boards into compelling animation.

The role demands a strong leader with deep knowledge of animation principles, acting, and cinematography, plus experience with Maya/3ds Max/Blender and remote team

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years in 3D character animation.
• At least 3 years in a supervisory or directorial role.
• Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or related field, or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee 3D character animation pipeline and ensure quality across projects.
• Provide clear creative direction and technical guidance to the team.
• Collaborate with story artists, directors, and department leads to interpret scripts.
• Develop and implement animation styles and workflows tailored to project needs.
• Review and approve shots for acting, timing, and technical execution.
• Mentor and train junior and mid-level animators.
• Troubleshoot animation challenges and propose solutions.
• Ensure rigs and tools suit desired performances and coordinate with TDs.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Creative direction

Character animation

Cinematography

Animation principles

Education

Animation degree

Fine Arts degree

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Job description

About the Role

Our client, an award-winning independent animation studio renowned for its visually stunning and character-driven projects, is seeking a highly talented and experienced Senior Animation Director to lead their 3D character animation team. This is a fully remote position, allowing you to contribute your expertise from anywhere. You will be responsible for overseeing the animation quality and performance of characters across our major productions, ensuring they meet the highest artistic standards and effectively convey emotion and performance. This role requires a visionary leader with a deep understanding of character performance, acting, and the technical aspects of 3D animation. You will guide and mentor a team of animators, providing clear direction and constructive feedback to achieve compelling character portrayals. The ideal candidate is a seasoned professional with a passion for storytelling through animation and a proven ability to inspire creativity within a remote collaborative environment. This is a unique opportunity to shape the emotional core of our animated features and series from your home studio.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and direct the 3D character animation pipeline, ensuring consistent quality and artistic integrity across all projects.
• Provide clear creative direction, feedback, and technical guidance to the animation team to achieve exceptional character performance.
• Collaborate closely with story artists, directors, and other department leads to interpret scripts and storyboards for animation.
• Develop and implement animation styles and workflows tailored to specific project needs.
• Review and approve animation shots, ensuring they meet the highest standards of acting, timing, and technical execution.
• Mentor and train junior and mid-level animators, fostering their professional growth and skill development.
• Troubleshoot animation challenges and develop innovative solutions to complex character movement and performance issues.
• Ensure character rigs and tools are suitable for desired performances and work with technical directors to address any limitations.
• Maintain clear communication channels with the broader production team in a remote setting.
• Stay current with industry trends, software advancements, and best practices in 3D character animation.

Requirements

• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in 3D character animation, with at least 3 years in a supervisory or directorial role.
• Extensive portfolio showcasing exceptional character animation work and directorial experience.
• Deep understanding of animation principles, character acting, and cinematography.
• Proficiency in industry-standard 3D animation software such as Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender.
• Experience with performance capture technology and its integration into the animation pipeline.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to motivate and manage a remote team.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a keen eye for detail.
• Ability to provide constructive criticism and support artistic development.
• Experience with various animation styles and genres.
• Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary and performance bonuses, along with a comprehensive remote work benefits package, including health insurance, retirement planning, and generous paid time off.
• You will have the opportunity to work on exciting, large-scale projects with a globally distributed, talented team.
• We provide support for home office setup and encourage continuous learning through workshops and online courses.
• This role offers the flexibility of remote work while providing a significant creative leadership opportunity within the animation industry.