Senior Animation Director for Educational Games

Placements24; Soweto; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Paid vacation

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Animation Director to lead the animation team in creating engaging educational games in Soweto, Gauteng. You will define visual style and quality across titles and guide the process from concept to implementation.

You will mentor animators, collaborate with designers and art directors, and stay ahead of industry trends while ensuring timely delivery and performance across platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Animation or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 7+ years of 3D animation; 3+ years in leadership/director role.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating character animation and timing.
• Proficiency in Maya, 3ds Max, Blender; experience with Unity/Unreal.
• Experience directing teams and managing animation pipelines.
• Excellent art fundamentals and teamwork skills.
• Experience in game development studio environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and direct the animation team for high-quality educational games.
• Establish and maintain animation style and visual quality standards.
• Collaborate with game designers and art directors on concepts.
• Provide direction, feedback, and technical guidance to animators.
• Develop animation sequences, keyframes, and motion data interpretation.
• Manage animation production schedule and asset delivery.
• Review and approve animation work per requirements and vision.
• Troubleshoot animation issues and optimize performance.
• Mentor junior animators and foster growth.
• Stay current with industry trends and techniques.

Skills

Leadership

Portfolio

Communication

Mentoring

Game animation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Animation

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Unity

Unreal Engine

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a renowned studio specializing in the creation of engaging and effective educational games. They are seeking a talented Senior Animation Director to lead their animation team in bringing educational content to life through captivating visual storytelling in Soweto, Gauteng . This role is integral to defining the visual style and quality of animations across multiple game titles, ensuring that characters and environments are not only aesthetically pleasing but also effectively convey learning objectives. You will guide the animation process from conceptualization through to final implementation, collaborating closely with game designers, artists, and developers. This position is based full-time in our Soweto, Gauteng studio, offering a vibrant and collaborative work environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and direct the animation team in the creation of high-quality character and environmental animations for educational games.
• Establish and maintain the animation style and visual quality standards for all projects.
• Collaborate with game designers and art directors to develop animation concepts that align with game mechanics and learning objectives.
• Provide clear direction, feedback, and technical guidance to animators throughout the production pipeline.
• Develop animation sequences, keyframes, and motion capture data interpretation.
• Manage the animation production schedule, ensuring timely delivery of assets.
• Review and approve all animation work, ensuring it meets project requirements and artistic vision.
• Troubleshoot animation-related technical issues and optimize animations for performance.
• Mentor and develop junior animators, fostering their growth and skill enhancement.
• Stay current with industry trends and advancements in animation techniques and software.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, Game Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in 3D animation, with at least 3 years in a leadership or directorial role, preferably in the gaming or educational media sector.
• A strong portfolio showcasing exceptional character animation, understanding of timing, weight, and motion principles.
• Proficiency in industry-standard animation software such as Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, and game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine.
• Proven experience directing teams and managing animation production pipelines.
• Excellent understanding of art fundamentals, including form, color, composition, and anatomy.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to provide constructive criticism and foster a positive team environment.
• Passion for creating engaging and educational interactive experiences.
• Experience working in a game development studio environment.

Benefits

• Our client provides a competitive salary, comprehensive health insurance, and paid vacation.

You will be part of an innovative studio dedicated to making learning fun and effective through games. This role offers the opportunity to shape the visual direction of impactful educational products and to lead a talented team of animators in Soweto, Gauteng .