Technical Animator

Placements24; Vereeniging; On-site; ZAR 360,000 - 520,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive contract rate

Exciting projects in Arts & Entertainm

Collaborative studio environment in Ve

Exposure to cutting-edge animation技

Potential extension or conversion to a

Growth opportunities and professional

Valuable experience within a renowned

Job summary

Placements24 invites a skilled Technical Animator to join a dynamic Arts & Entertainment studio in Vereeniging, Gauteng. You'll bridge artistic vision and technical execution, building rigs, tools, and pipelines that empower the animation team.

You will collaborate with character animators, modelers, and programmers to deliver visually impressive work. Proven rigging expertise, strong scripting skills, and a deep understanding of animation principles are essential.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Technical Animator or Rigger in gaming, film, or animation.
• Proficiency in 3D animation software (Maya, Blender, 3ds Max).
• Expertise in character rigging: skeletal setup, skinning, facial rigs.
• Scripting in Python or MEL to develop tools and automate tasks.
• Strong understanding of animation principles and rigging relationships.
• Experience with Unity or Unreal Engine is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Portfolio showcasing rigging work and technical animation capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain animation rigs for characters, props, and environments.
• Create and refine animation tools and scripts to streamline the animation workflow.
• Collaborate with animators to understand their technical needs and provide support for rigging and animation-related issues.
• Work with the rigging team to ensure consistency and quality across all character setups.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical problems related to animation rigs, skinning, and deformation.
• Optimize animation assets for performance, ensuring smooth playback in real-time or rendering environments.
• Document rigging processes, tools, and pipeline changes.
• Stay current with advancements in rigging technology, animation software, and pipeline tools.
• Assist in the technical setup and implementation of animations within the game engine or other target platforms.

Skills

Technical Animation

Rigging

Scripting (Python/MEL)

Problem solving

Communication & collaboration

Animation principles

Tools

Maya

Blender

3ds Max

MEL scripting

Unity

Unreal Engine

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic studio in the Arts & Entertainment sector, is seeking a highly skilled Technical Animator to join their production team. This role is based in Vereeniging, Gauteng . As a Technical Animator, you will bridge the gap between artistic vision and technical execution, developing and maintaining animation rigs, tools, and pipelines to support the needs of the animation department. You will work closely with character animators, modelers, and programmers to ensure that characters and assets are efficiently and effectively animated. The ideal candidate possesses a strong understanding of animation principles, scripting, and rigging systems, combined with excellent problem-solving abilities. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute your technical expertise to visually impressive projects and collaborate with a talented group of creatives in a studio environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain robust and user-friendly animation rigs for characters, props, and environments.
• Create and refine animation tools and scripts to streamline the animation workflow and improve efficiency.
• Collaborate with animators to understand their technical needs and provide support for rigging and animation-related issues.
• Work with the rigging team to ensure consistency and quality across all character setups.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical problems related to animation rigs, skinning, and deformation.
• Optimize animation assets for performance, ensuring smooth playback in real-time or rendering environments.
• Document rigging processes, tools, and pipeline changes.
• Stay current with advancements in rigging technology, animation software, and pipeline tools.
• Assist in the technical setup and implementation of animations within the game engine or other target platforms.

Requirements

• Proven experience as a Technical Animator or Rigger in the gaming, film, or animation industry.
• Strong proficiency in 3D animation software such as Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max.
• Expertise in character rigging, including skeletal setup, skinning, and facial rigging.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL) for developing animation tools and automating tasks.
• Solid understanding of animation principles and how they relate to rigging.
• Experience with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team.
• A portfolio showcasing your rigging work, tools, and technical animation capabilities.

Benefits

• Competitive contract rate commensurate with experience.
• Opportunity to work on exciting projects within the Arts & Entertainment industry.
• Collaborative studio environment in Vereeniging, Gauteng .
• Exposure to cutting-edge animation technologies.
• Potential for extension or conversion to a permanent role based on performance.
• Skill development and professional growth opportunities.
• Gain valuable experience within a recognized studio.