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- Tasks: Lead the Character Art team to create stunning game characters and optimise assets.
- Company: Join Playground Games, a top Xbox Game Studio known for the award-winning Forza Horizon franchise.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, relocation assistance, and a supportive, inclusive environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team making world-class games while fostering diversity and innovation.
- Qualifications: Experience with AAA games, strong anatomy knowledge, and proficiency in industry-standard software required.
- Other info: We celebrate diversity and support self-development and career progression.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Playground Games is looking for a Lead Character Artist to join our talented Forza Horizon team here in Leamington Spa on a permanent basis.
About us:
As a premier first-party Xbox Game Studio, we are passionate about making genre-defining games that are accessible, beautiful, and most of all fun. We are looking to expand our diverse team as we continue driving forward our BAFTA award-winning Forza Horizon franchise.
About the role:
As Lead Character Artist you’ll oversee the Character Art team, working in conjunction with the Art Director and Art Manager to plan work for the team and ensure our high-quality bar is realised. You will be expected to steer your team in creating clean and functional topology, high quality materials and optimise content for game, being comfortable leading communications with technical departments.
Our ideal candidate is familiar with industry standard software packages such as 3DSMax or Maya and have extensive experience with Brush and Substance Painter. They would have exceptional knowledge of human anatomy and possess a great understanding of best practices to suit animation needs and engine requirements.
This is a permanent role based at our state-of-the-art facilities in Royal Leamington Spa. We have a hybrid work model in place with a minimum of 3 days a week in studio. Relocation assistance is available if required.
What you’ll do:
- Be responsible for the tasks and bugs of the Character Art team, and work with other stakeholders to help define and prioritise them
- Develop the skills and talent of the Character Art team, carrying performance reviews and owning line management duties
- Mentor and provide feedback to the team and our outsource partners
- Creation of realistic sculpting, retopology and texturing, as well as assets briefs for body, face, hair and garments
- Integration of character assets in engine, troubleshoot rendering and shader issues and balance textures
- Collaborate closely with the Character, Tech Animation, Animation, Tech Art and Tech Teams to define pipelines and workflows whilst maintaining their documentation
- Ensure that the communication between the Character team and other stakeholders is smooth and efficient
What you’ll bring:
- An interest in modern fashion
- Experience on at least one shipped AAA game project
- Strong understanding and demonstration of human anatomy and proportions
- A self-motivated team player attitude with good communication skills
- Portfolio demonstrating real time character artwork to very high standard
- A genuine passion for video games
- Proficiency in 3DSMax, Maya, Marvelous Designer, ZBrush, Wrap3D and Substance Painter
- Established character production workflows such as creating clean deformable topology, efficient UV mapping and baking, texturing, and cloth creation techniques
- A good understanding of technical considerations for character creation, with the ability to communicate with technical team members
This is a fantastic opportunity to make world-class games with an established, talented, and collaborative team at one of the industry’s most exciting first-party game studios.
Playground Games is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity and inclusion fuels creativity. We are dedicated to creating a safe, comfortable and welcoming working environment. We strive to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices of our team members. It drives our innovation and connects us closer to our players. We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion across age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
At Playground Games we recognise the importance of self-development, career progression, well-being and retention of our colleagues. We celebrate difference and welcome everyone to join us and to be themselves at work.
If you require any reasonable accommodation to apply for this position, please contact us on recruitment@playground-games.com
Lead Character Artist employer: Playground Games Limited
Contact Detail:
Playground Games Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Character Artist
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Playground Games' previous titles, especially the Forza Horizon series. Understanding their art style and character design will help you align your portfolio and discussions with their expectations.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Playground Games on platforms like LinkedIn. Engaging in conversations about their experiences can provide valuable insights into the company culture and what they value in a Lead Character Artist.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you've developed talent in previous roles. Highlight specific examples where you've mentored team members or improved workflows, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your understanding of technical aspects related to character creation. Be ready to discuss how you’ve collaborated with technical teams in the past, as effective communication with them is key to success in this position.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Character Artist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio showcases real-time character artwork that aligns with the high standards expected by Playground Games. Highlight your experience with human anatomy and any relevant AAA game projects.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your proficiency in industry-standard software such as 3DSMax, Maya, ZBrush, and Substance Painter. Mention your understanding of character production workflows and technical considerations.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for video games and your motivation to join Playground Games. Discuss how your skills and experiences make you a perfect fit for the Lead Character Artist role.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your application materials for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application demonstrates attention to detail, which is crucial for a role in character art.
How to prepare for a job interview at Playground Games Limited
✨Showcase Your Portfolio
Make sure to bring a well-organised portfolio that highlights your best character artwork. Focus on pieces that demonstrate your skills in realistic sculpting, texturing, and understanding of human anatomy, as these are crucial for the role.
✨Understand the Company Culture
Familiarise yourself with Playground Games' commitment to diversity and inclusion. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to a collaborative and inclusive environment, as this is highly valued by the team.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions about industry-standard software like 3DSMax, Maya, and Substance Painter. Brush up on your knowledge of character production workflows and be ready to discuss how you handle technical challenges in character creation.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Lead Character Artist, you'll need to show your ability to mentor and develop a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led projects or teams in the past, focusing on communication and collaboration with other departments.
