Senior Animation Director

Placements24; Kempton Park; Remote; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Animation Director for a fully remote team. The role oversees artistic and technical direction across projects, shaping visual storytelling from concept to completion, with emphasis on character performance and high-quality animation.

You will lead a distributed creative team, collaborate with writers and concept artists, and stay at the forefront of animation technology. The position supports a remote-first culture with flexibility and global collaboration.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 8 years of animation experience with 3+ years in directorial roles.
• Experience directing animation for feature films, TV, or high-end commercials.
• Strong understanding of animation principles, cinematography, storytelling, and character performance.
• Proficient with industry tools (Maya, Blender, 3ds Max) and rendering engines.
• Ability to lead and motivate diverse teams in a remote setting.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Keen eye for composition, color, lighting and visual design.
• Experience across 3D CG, 2D, and motion graphics methods.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating animation direction and character performance.
• Able to work independently and manage multiple projects remotely.

Responsibilities

• Provide artistic leadership and direction for all animated sequences.
• Collaborate with writers, storyboard artists, and concept artists to shape visuals.
• Oversee the animation team through production, giving actionable feedback.
• Develop character performance, blocking and staging for story depth.
• Manage pipeline, software integration and troubleshooting.
• Review dailies and issue notes to animators at all levels.
• Maintain strong communication with producers and department leads.
• Stay updated on animation tech and integrate new tools as appropriate.
• Mentor junior animators and support department growth.
• Ensure outputs meet broadcast, film, or interactive media standards.

Skills

Animation leadership

Storytelling

Remote leadership

Portfolio management

Communication

Tools

Maya

Blender

3ds Max

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge animation studio, is searching for a visionary Senior Animation Director to join their fully remote team. This pivotal role involves guiding the artistic and technical direction of animated projects from concept to completion. You will be responsible for setting the visual style, defining character performance, and ensuring the highest quality of animation across all productions. This is an unparalleled opportunity to lead creative teams in a distributed environment, shaping the narrative and visual impact of our client's acclaimed animated content. We are deeply committed to fostering a remote-first culture that prioritizes collaboration, innovation, and the well-being of our global talent. Working from anywhere within South Africa is encouraged, as long as connectivity and collaboration are maintained.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide artistic leadership and direction for all animated sequences, ensuring consistency in style, tone, and quality.
• Collaborate closely with writers, storyboard artists, and concept artists to translate scripts and ideas into compelling visual narratives.
• Oversee and guide the animation team throughout the production pipeline, offering constructive feedback and ensuring adherence to project deadlines.
• Develop and refine character performance, blocking, and overall staging to achieve emotional depth and storytelling clarity.
• Manage the technical aspects of animation production, including pipeline development, software integration, and troubleshooting.
• Review animation dailies and provide clear, actionable notes to animators at all levels.
• Maintain strong communication channels with producers, art directors, and other department leads to ensure project alignment.
• Stay current with advancements in animation technology and techniques, incorporating new tools and methodologies as appropriate.
• Mentor junior animators and contribute to the overall growth and skill development of the animation department.
• Ensure the final animated output meets the highest industry standards for broadcast, film, or interactive media.

Requirements

• A minimum of 8 years of experience in animation, with at least 3 years in a directorial or lead animation role.
• Proven experience directing animation for feature films, television series, or high-end commercials.
• Exceptional understanding of animation principles, cinematography, storytelling, and character performance.
• Strong proficiency in industry-standard animation software (e.g., Maya, Blender, 3ds Max) and rendering engines.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and manage diverse creative teams in a remote setting.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• A keen artistic eye for composition, color, lighting, and visual design.
• Experience with various animation techniques (e.g., 3D CG, 2D, motion graphics).
• A strong portfolio showcasing exceptional animation direction and character performance is essential.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously within a fully remote framework.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary package, reflecting the seniority and importance of this role, along with performance-based incentives. As a fully remote position, you gain unparalleled flexibility in structuring your workday and achieving work-life balance. Comprehensive health and wellness benefits are provided, along with significant opportunities for professional development, including access to specialized training and industry masterclasses. You will be part of an inspiring and collaborative creative environment, contributing to visually stunning and critically acclaimed projects within the Arts & Entertainment sector. This role offers excellent career progression potential.