Senior Cinematics Animator

Placements24; Mossel Bay; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health benefits

Performance-based bonus

Remote work

Professional development

Access to advanced software/hardware

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Cinematics Animator to craft high-quality narrative sequences for award-winning games. This fully remote role requires a strong reel, mastery of animation principles, and storytelling talent to bring characters and environments to life.

You will collaborate with directors and animators, implement cutscenes in game engines, and push the visual storytelling to new heights with timing, weight, and expressive performances.

Qualifications

• Extensive professional experience as a Cinematics Animator in the video game industry with a strong portfolio.
• Proficiency in Maya or equivalent industry-standard software.
• Deep understanding of animation principles including timing, spacing, weight, and appeal.
• Experience with facial animation and lip-syncing techniques.
• Familiarity with game engines such as Unreal Engine and their animation systems.
• Strong storytelling sense and cinematography through animation.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, especially in remote teams.
• Ability to take direction and iterate on feedback.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Animate compelling and emotionally driven character performances for in-game cinematics and cutscenes.
• Collaborate with directors and leads to interpret scripts and translate them into impactful sequences.
• Work with game engines and proprietary tools to implement and refine cinematic animations.
• Create realistic or stylized character movements, facial animations, and body performances.
• Ensure animation quality, timing, and pacing meet high industry standards.
• Coordinate with technical artists to address rigging and pipeline issues.
• Provide feedback and guidance to junior animators to foster growth.
• Troubleshoot and resolve animation-related technical challenges.
• Stay updated on latest animation techniques, software, and industry trends.
• Contribute to storytelling and visual quality of cinematics.

Skills

Cinematics animation

Animation timing

Facial animation

Lip-sync

Cinematography storytelling

Collaboration

Feedback iteration

Problem solving

Remote work communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Animation

Tools

Maya

Unreal Engine

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a critically acclaimed game development studio known for its narrative-driven titles, is looking for a talented Senior Cinematics Animator to join their team. This position is fully remote, allowing you to contribute your skills from anywhere. You will be responsible for creating high-quality cinematic sequences, breathing life into characters and environments through masterful animation. This role requires a deep understanding of animation principles, character performance, and storytelling. You will work closely with directors, artists, and other animators to deliver emotionally resonant and visually stunning cutscenes. This is a prime opportunity to impact the player's experience by crafting memorable animated moments within our award-winning games.

Key Responsibilities

• Animate compelling and emotionally driven character performances for in-game cinematics and cutscenes.
• Collaborate with directors and leads to interpret scripts and translate them into impactful animated sequences.
• Work with game engines and proprietary tools to implement and refine cinematic animations.
• Create realistic or stylized character movements, facial animations, and body performances.
• Ensure animation quality, timing, and pacing meet the highest industry standards.
• Work closely with technical artists to address rigging and pipeline issues.
• Provide feedback and guidance to junior animators, fostering artistic growth within the team.
• Troubleshoot and resolve animation-related technical challenges.
• Stay updated on the latest animation techniques, software, and industry trends.
• Contribute to the overall storytelling and visual quality of the cinematics.

Requirements

• Extensive professional experience as a Cinematics Animator in the video game industry, with a strong portfolio showcasing high-quality cinematic animation.
• Proficiency in industry-standard animation software such as Maya or equivalent.
• Deep understanding of animation principles, including timing, spacing, weight, and appeal.
• Experience with facial animation and lip-syncing techniques.
• Familiarity with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine) and their animation systems.
• Strong understanding of cinematography and storytelling through animation.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, essential for remote team environments.
• Ability to take direction and feedback effectively, and iterate on work.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, and a performance-based bonus program.
• This fully remote position provides excellent work-life balance, flexible working hours, and opportunities for professional development.
• You will have access to advanced animation software and hardware, and the chance to collaborate with a world-class team on exciting, narrative-rich projects.