Senior Animation Director

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Health insurance

Retirement annuity fund

Paid time off

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in Rustenburg, North West, seeks a Senior Animation Director to lead and elevate the animation teams, translating creative vision into compelling sequences with technical excellence.

The role requires a strong showreel and a track record directing animation for major projects, with exceptional leadership and storytelling skills guiding the studio’s artistic direction.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in animation with a directorial or lead role.
• Strong showreel demonstrating directing capabilities across styles and genres.
• Experience directing animation for feature films, TV series, or high-end game cinematics.
• Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Maya or Blender.
• Excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire animation teams, setting the creative tone and ensuring high-quality output.
• Collaborate with writers, directors and storyboard artists to translate scripts into scenes.
• Oversee the animation process from blocking to final polish, ensuring emotional and visual impact.
• Provide clear feedback to animators to realise artistic vision.
• Work with technical directors and modelers to ensure rigs meet production needs.
• Maintain consistency in design, performance, and style across production.
• Review dailies, approve shots, and ensure adherence to schedules.
• Contribute to development of animation pipelines and best practices.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Creative direction

Mentoring

Problem solving

Tools

Maya

Blender

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading player in the animation and entertainment industry, is looking for a dynamic and experienced Senior Animation Director to join their creative hub in Rustenburg, North West. This senior role is responsible for overseeing and guiding the animation teams to achieve the highest standards of character performance and visual storytelling. You will translate creative vision into compelling animated sequences, ensuring artistic integrity and technical excellence. The ideal candidate will have a strong portfolio of successfully directed animated projects, exceptional leadership skills, and a deep passion for bringing characters and stories to life. This is a significant opportunity to shape the artistic direction of animated content in Rustenburg.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire animation teams, setting the creative tone and ensuring high-quality animation output.
• Collaborate with writers, directors, and storyboard artists to interpret scripts and storyboards into dynamic animated scenes.
• Oversee the animation process from initial blocking through to final polish, ensuring character performances are emotionally resonant and visually engaging.
• Provide clear and constructive feedback to animators, guiding them towards the desired artistic vision.
• Work with technical directors and modelers to ensure character rigs and assets meet the demands of the animation.
• Maintain consistency in character design, performance, and style throughout the production.
• Review animation dailies, approve shots, and ensure adherence to production schedules.
• Contribute to the development of animation pipelines and best practices.

Requirements

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in animation, with a significant portion in a directorial or lead animation role.
• A strong showreel demonstrating exceptional animation skills and directing capabilities across various styles and genres.
• Proven experience directing animation for feature films, TV series, or high-end game cinematics.
• Expertise in industry-standard animation software such as Maya, Blender, or similar.
• Deep understanding of animation principles, cinematography, and character performance.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate and guide creative teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to evolving project needs in Rustenburg.
• A keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling.
• Experience with motion capture technology is a plus.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary package, reflective of the seniority and responsibilities of this role, along with potential performance-based incentives.
• Benefits include comprehensive health insurance coverage, a retirement annuity fund, and ample paid time off.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development are actively encouraged, including attendance at leading animation festivals and workshops.
• The Rustenburg, North West studio provides a state-of-the-art working environment with advanced technology and a culture that values creativity and collaboration, promoting a sustainable work-life integration.