Senior Animator - Character & Creature Animation

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Sur place; ZAR 420 000 - 600 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Competitive salary and benefits

Comprehensive health, dental, and view

Generous paid vacation and holidays

Professional development in Bloemfonte

State-of-the-art facilities and tools

Creative and supportive work enviro

Exciting and visually rich projects

Retirement savings plan

Regular team-building events

Résumé du poste

Placements24 seeks a Senior Animator for our Bloemfontein studio. You will create high-quality character and creature animations, collaborating closely with directors and the rigging/modeling teams to ensure assets meet pipeline requirements and artistic goals.

Ideal candidates bring 6+ years of professional animation experience, a strong portfolio, and proficiency in Maya, with a solid grasp of anatomy and performance-driven storytelling.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in animation.
• 6+ years of professional animation experience focusing on character and creature animation.
• Proficiency in Maya or similar 3D software.
• Strong understanding of anatomy, physics, and biomechanics.

Responsabilités

• Create high-quality character and creature animations emphasizing performance and believability.
• Interpret director and supervisor guidance to meet artistic and narrative goals.
• Apply animation principles—timing, spacing, weight, and appeal.
• Animate complex action sequences, facial expressions, and subtle moments.
• Collaborate with rigging and modeling to ensure animation-friendly rigs.
• Mentor junior animators and provide constructive feedback.
• Troubleshoot animation issues and optimize pipelines.
• Adhere to production schedules and maintain quality standards.
• Stay updated with latest animation techniques and software.

Connaissances

Character animation

Performance

Animation principles

Storytelling

Communication

Formation

Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or related field

Outils

Maya

Rigging collaboration

Description du poste

About the Role

Our client, a distinguished animation studio celebrated for its visually stunning and character-driven projects, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Animator to join their creative team in **Bloemfontein**. This pivotal role demands exceptional artistic talent and technical proficiency in bringing characters and creatures to life. You will be responsible for creating high-quality, nuanced animations that embody personality, emotion, and dynamic movement, contributing to the visual storytelling of our projects. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of animation principles, anatomy, and performance, coupled with a passion for creating believable and engaging characters. You will collaborate closely with directors, art leads, and other animators, ensuring a cohesive and high-quality animation output for the **Bloemfontein** studio. This is an outstanding opportunity to work on diverse and exciting projects within a supportive and inspiring creative environment. Join us and help craft unforgettable animated performances.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-quality character and creature animations, focusing on performance, emotion, and believability.
• Work closely with directors and supervisors to interpret character performances and ensure animation meets project artistic and narrative goals.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of animation principles such as timing, spacing, weight, and appeal.
• Animate complex action sequences, facial expressions, and subtle character moments.
• Collaborate with rigging and modeling departments to ensure character rigs are animation-friendly and meet pipeline requirements.
• Provide constructive feedback and mentorship to junior animators within the **Bloemfontein** team.
• Troubleshoot animation issues and find creative solutions to technical challenges.
• Ensure animation meets the quality bar and stylistic requirements of the project.
• Maintain efficient workflow and adhere to production schedules.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest animation techniques and software developments.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of professional animation experience, with a strong focus on character and creature animation for film, TV, or games.
• Exceptional portfolio showcasing a wide range of high-quality character animation work.
• Proficiency in Maya or other industry-standard 3D animation software.
• Strong understanding of anatomy, physics, and biomechanics as they apply to animation.
• Experience with performance capture cleanup and facial animation is a plus.
• Excellent understanding of storytelling and acting principles through animation.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team in **Bloemfontein**.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Good communication skills, able to articulate creative and technical ideas effectively.
• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid vacation and holiday leave.
• Opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement in **Bloemfontein**.
• Access to state-of-the-art animation facilities and tools.
• A creative and supportive work environment with talented peers.
• Involvement in exciting and visually rich animation projects.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Regular team-building events.