Senior Character Animator - Games

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Hybrid work arrangement

Innovative game projects

Health and wellness benefits

Supportive studio atmosphere

Job summary

Placements24 in Bloemfontein is seeking a Senior Character Animator to bring game characters to life with expressive, realistic animation. You’ll collaborate with the animation director, designers and artists to ensure characters are lively, responsive and visually compelling.

The role requires 5+ years of professional experience, a strong portfolio, and proficiency in Maya, 3ds Max or Blender, plus Unreal Engine or Unity.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in game character animation.
• Strong portfolio showcasing relevant work.
• Expertise in 3D animation principles including timing, spacing, weight and appeal.
• Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity is highly desirable.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a hybrid studio environment.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality, keyframe animation for game characters with lifelike performance.
• Implement character animations within the game engine, optimizing performance.
• Collaborate with the animation director and art team to define movement styles and ensure consistency.
• Incorporate feedback from team members to refine animation quality.
• Mentor junior animators and contribute to pipeline development.

Skills

Character animation

Strong portfolio

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Unreal Engine

Unity

Communication

Teamwork

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and passionate Senior Character Animator to join their vibrant game development studio in Bloemfontein. You will be responsible for bringing game characters to life through compelling and realistic animations that drive narrative and gameplay. This role demands a deep understanding of animation principles, character performance, and the technical requirements of game engines. You will work closely with the animation director, game designers, and artists to ensure characters are expressive, responsive, and visually stunning. This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute your expertise to exciting new game titles and shape the player experience through masterful animation.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-quality, keyframe animation for game characters, ensuring lifelike performance and emotional depth.
• Implement character animations within the game engine, working with animators and engineers to optimize performance.
• Collaborate with the animation director and art team to define character movement styles and ensure stylistic consistency.
• Incorporate feedback from team members to refine and improve animation quality.
• Mentor junior animators and contribute to the development of animation best practices and pipelines.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience as a Character Animator in the video game industry, with a strong portfolio showcasing relevant work.
• Expertise in 3D animation software such as Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender.
• In-depth knowledge of animation principles, including timing, spacing, weight, and appeal.
• Experience with game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity is highly desirable.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in a hybrid studio environment.

Benefits

• A competitive annual salary with potential for performance-based bonuses.
• A hybrid work arrangement providing flexibility and in-person collaboration opportunities.
• The chance to work on innovative and exciting game projects.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• A supportive and creative studio atmosphere focused on teamwork and artistic excellence.