Senior Character Animator - Game Development

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 450,000 - 750,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Professional development

State-of-the-art facilities

Collaborative studio culture

Job summary

Placements24 in East London, South Africa, is seeking a Senior Character Animator to bring characters to life across gameplay, cinematics, and cutscenes. You will shape motion, performance, and emotional expression to resonate with players, collaborating with art and design teams to define character movement.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of industry experience, a strong portfolio, and proficiency in Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max, plus Unreal Engine or Unity.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in character animation for video games.
• Strong portfolio showcasing diverse high-quality character animation work in various styles.
• Proficiency in animation software such as Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender.
• Experience with game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Deep understanding of animation principles (timing, spacing, weight, appeal, etc.).
• Experience with facial animation and rigging is a plus.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and meet deadlines.
• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, Game Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Animate characters for gameplay, cinematics, and cutscenes, focusing on performance, emotion, and believability.
• Collaborate with character artists, game designers, and directors to achieve desired character aesthetics and movements.
• Implement animations into the game engine, ensuring proper integration and performance.
• Develop and refine animation rigs for characters and other assets as needed.
• Create high-quality animation cycles, state machines, and blend trees.
• Troubleshoot and resolve animation-related issues.
• Provide constructive feedback and mentorship to junior animators.
• Stay current with animation techniques, tools, and industry trends.
• Contribute to the overall quality and artistic vision of character animation.

Skills

Character animation

Team collaboration

Portfolio

Maya (3D)

Blender

Unreal Engine

Unity

Animation principles

Facial animation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Fine Arts

Game Design

Equivalent experience

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, an award-winning game development studio based in East London, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Character Animator to contribute to their next generation of critically acclaimed titles. This role demands exceptional talent in bringing characters to life through fluid, believable, and impactful animations. You will work closely with the art and design teams to define character movement, performance, and emotional expression, ensuring our characters resonate with players. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of animation principles, extensive experience with industry-standard tools, and a passion for creating memorable character performances within interactive entertainment. Join our vibrant team in East London and help shape the personalities of the characters that players will love.

Key Responsibilities

• Animate characters for gameplay, cinematics, and cutscenes, focusing on performance, emotion, and believability.
• Collaborate with character artists, game designers, and directors to achieve desired character aesthetics and movements.
• Implement animations into the game engine, ensuring proper integration and performance.
• Develop and refine animation rigs for characters and other assets as needed.
• Create high-quality animation cycles, state machines, and blend trees.
• Troubleshoot and resolve animation-related issues.
• Provide constructive feedback and mentorship to junior animators.
• Stay current with animation techniques, tools, and industry trends.
• Contribute to the overall quality and artistic vision of character animation.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in character animation for video games.
• A strong portfolio showcasing diverse and high-quality character animation work in various styles.
• Proficiency in animation software such as Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender.
• Experience with game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Deep understanding of animation principles (timing, spacing, weight, appeal, etc.).
• Experience with facial animation and rigging is a plus.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and meet deadlines.
• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, Game Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, and numerous opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
• The position in East London provides access to state-of-the-art facilities and a collaborative studio culture.
• We are committed to fostering a creative and supportive work environment where talent can thrive.