Principal Animator

Principal Animator

Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Create and implement high-quality animations for an exciting new game project.
  • Company: Join Creative Assembly, a leading game developer known for immersive experiences.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, enhanced holidays, and comprehensive health insurance.
  • Why this job: Make a significant impact on character quality in a sequel to Alien: Isolation.
  • Qualifications: Expertise in hand-key animation, strong communication skills, and experience with AAA titles required.
  • Other info: Portfolio submissions are encouraged to showcase your animation skills.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Creative Assembly is looking for a Principal Animator to join our talented team to work on our new project, a sequel to Alien: Isolation. This role will be based at our studio in Horsham, UK and can be offered as hybrid or in-studio.
The Role
As Principal Animator, you will play a crucial role within the animation team, producing best in class animation and showcasing exceptional creative and artistic skills that set a standard for the team to emulate.
Your work will drive character quality in-game, delivering memorable performances that provide players with an engaging and immersive experience.
This is a new project, being built in UE5, with a strong focus on character on an iconic IP. This role offers an exciting opportunity to have a significant impact on that experience.
What you’ll be doing
On a day-to-day basis, you will:
  • Create and implement high quality animation assets
  • Collaborate with related teams to develop and refine animations and systems from block-out to final implementation, ensuring they integrate seamlessly and meet gameplay requirements.
  • Work closely with the animation team, artists, technical artists, and engineers, in helping deliver engaging and immersive characters.
  • Embrace opportunities to learn new skills that will enhance your capabilities, elevate the team\’s performance, and provide innovative solutions to meet project requirements.
  • Tackle day-to-day requests for improvements and bug fixes.
What we are looking for
Essential
  • Expert hand-key animation skills for both creatures and humans.
  • Excellent communication skills, self-motivated and proven ability to work well within a team with a passion for games.
  • Excellent understanding of animation pipelines from conceptual phase to deployment.
  • Strong ability to communicate clear direction, break down tasks and feedback to help mentor, guide and educate fellow teammates.
  • Excellent knowledge of Maya/Motion Builder
  • Previously worked on AAA titles in an equivalent role.
Desirable
  • Experience with Unreal Engine
  • Experience with Motion Matching or equivalent advanced locomotion system
  • Experience with facial animation
  • Experience with character setup – rigging and skinning
  • Experience with motion capture pipelines and shoots
Note: Applications for this role will ideally include a portfolio (or link to a portfolio).
About Creative Assembly
Creative Assembly crafts deep and detailed games that last, entertaining millions of players across the globe for decades.

We are all game makers and we care deeply about the experiences we create. We empower our teams to make significant contributions to our games, supported by skills development and growth opportunities.

We are located in Horsham, UK and Sofia, Bulgaria.
We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:

  • Work from Anywhere for a temporary period each year (restrictions apply such as VISAs)
  • Enhanced holiday allowance, maternity and paternity breaks, flexibility with our core hours, and no-notice holidays
  • Bespoke relocation package for you and your dependents
  • Private medical and dental insurance, life insurance, permanent health insurance, critical illness cover and free health care screening
  • Generous holiday allowance plus full studio closure over the Christmas and New Year period, and all Bank holidays
  • Join our Diversity and Inclusion Network – an employee-led group
  • Season ticket travel loans and cycle to work scheme with free bike servicing and discounted car valet service on site
  • Wellbeing support and virtual confidential counselling
  • Community activities including parties, football and more.
  • Our studio sites have disabled access.
We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.
Note to Recruitment Agencies: SEGA Europe Limited and our studios do not accept unsolicited candidate introductions from unauthorised third parties. For the avoidance of doubt, SEGA Europe is not liable for any fees, compensation or any other costs associated with the introduction of a candidate or recruitment services unless and until an agreement has been duly executed. Further details can befound here.

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Principal Animator employer: Creative Assembly

Creative Assembly is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, allowing employees to make significant contributions to exciting projects like the sequel to Alien: Isolation. Located in Horsham, UK, the company offers a range of benefits including flexible working arrangements, enhanced holiday allowances, and comprehensive health insurance, all while supporting employee growth through skill development opportunities. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, Creative Assembly ensures a welcoming environment for all team members.
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Contact Detail:

Creative Assembly Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Animator

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in animation, especially in relation to character design and performance. This will not only enhance your portfolio but also show that you are up-to-date with industry standards, which is crucial for a role like Principal Animator.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the gaming industry, particularly those who have experience with AAA titles. Attend industry events or join online forums where you can connect with animators and learn from their experiences, which could give you insights into what Creative Assembly values in candidates.

✨Tip Number 3

Showcase your expertise in Unreal Engine and any advanced locomotion systems in your discussions or during interviews. Being able to demonstrate your knowledge in these areas will set you apart as a candidate who can contribute immediately to the team.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss your previous work on AAA titles in detail, focusing on your specific contributions and the impact they had on the projects. This will help illustrate your experience and how it aligns with the expectations for the Principal Animator role at Creative Assembly.

We think you need these skills to ace Principal Animator

Expert hand-key animation skills for both creatures and humans
Excellent communication skills
Self-motivated with a proven ability to work well within a team
Strong understanding of animation pipelines from conceptual phase to deployment
Ability to communicate clear direction and provide constructive feedback
Excellent knowledge of Maya and Motion Builder
Experience working on AAA titles in an equivalent role
Familiarity with Unreal Engine
Experience with Motion Matching or equivalent advanced locomotion systems
Experience with facial animation
Experience with character setup, rigging, and skinning
Knowledge of motion capture pipelines and shoots

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your expert hand-key animation skills and experience with AAA titles. Emphasise your understanding of animation pipelines and any relevant software knowledge, such as Maya or Motion Builder.

Showcase Your Portfolio: Include a link to your portfolio that demonstrates your best animation work. Focus on projects that showcase your ability to create high-quality animation assets and your experience with character setup and rigging.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for games and your motivation to join Creative Assembly. Mention specific experiences that align with the role, such as collaboration with teams or tackling animation challenges.

Highlight Communication Skills: In your application, emphasise your excellent communication skills and your ability to mentor and guide teammates. Provide examples of how you've successfully collaborated with artists and engineers in past projects.

How to prepare for a job interview at Creative Assembly

✨Showcase Your Portfolio

Make sure to bring a well-organised portfolio that highlights your best animation work. Include examples of both creature and human animations, as well as any relevant projects you've worked on, especially AAA titles.

✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills

Prepare to discuss how you've successfully collaborated with other teams in the past. Highlight specific instances where your communication and teamwork led to improved animation quality or project outcomes.

✨Understand the Animation Pipeline

Brush up on your knowledge of the animation pipeline from conceptual phase to deployment. Be ready to explain how you approach each stage and how you ensure seamless integration of animations into gameplay.

✨Be Ready for Technical Questions

Expect questions about your technical skills, particularly in Maya and Motion Builder. Be prepared to discuss your experience with rigging, skinning, and motion capture pipelines, as these are crucial for the role.

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