Senior Animator

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 420,000 - 540,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

Professional development

Advanced tools

Studio culture

Job summary

Placements24 in Queenstown, Eastern Cape, seeks a Senior Animator to bring characters and environments to life across games and interactive media. You will lead animation quality, mentor junior animators, and ensure fluid motion aligned with project vision.

Proficiency in Maya/3ds Max/Blender and Unity/Unreal Engine is required. You will collaborate with the art director and design team, optimize for real-time performance, and push creative storytelling through motion.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years of professional animation experience, with at least 2 years in a senior role.
• Proficiency in Maya, 3ds Max or Blender and game engines (Unity/Unreal).
• Strong understanding of anatomy, mechanics, and animation principles.
• Excellent eye for detail and storytelling through motion.
• Ability to mentor junior animators and work in hybrid team.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality character and environmental animations for games and interactive media.
• Apply principles of timing, spacing, weight, and appeal to produce lifelike and engaging animations.
• Collaborate with the art director and design team to ensure animation meets project vision and style guides.
• Optimize animations for real-time performance and integrate them into the game engine.
• Provide feedback and guidance to junior animators, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented team environment in Queenstown.
• Stay current with animation techniques and tools used in the Arts & Entertainment industry.

Skills

Senior Animator

Mentoring

Character animation

Real-time optimization

Team collaboration

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Unity

Unreal Engine

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled Senior Animator to join their creative powerhouse in Queenstown, Eastern Cape . You will be responsible for bringing characters and environments to life through high-quality animation, ensuring fluid motion, realistic performance, and compelling storytelling. This role requires a deep understanding of animation principles, exceptional artistic talent, and the ability to mentor junior animators. Contribute to captivating visuals within the Arts & Entertainment sector and help create unforgettable experiences for players worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-quality character and environmental animations for games and interactive media.
• Apply principles of timing, spacing, weight, and appeal to produce lifelike and engaging animations.
• Collaborate with the art director and design team to ensure animation meets project vision and style guides.
• Optimize animations for real-time performance and integrate them into the game engine.
• Provide feedback and guidance to junior animators, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented team environment in Queenstown .
• Stay current with animation techniques and tools used in the Arts & Entertainment industry.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of professional animation experience, with at least 2 years in a senior role.
• Proficiency in industry-standard animation software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Blender) and game engines (e.g., Unity, Unreal Engine).
• Strong understanding of anatomy, mechanics, and animation principles.
• Excellent artistic eye and attention to detail in conveying emotion and performance.
• Ability to work effectively within a team and communicate creative ideas clearly.
• Experience in a hybrid work setting within the Eastern Cape studio.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with potential for bonuses.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• Generous paid time off and professional development opportunities.
• Access to advanced animation tools and technologies.
• A collaborative and creative studio culture located in Queenstown .