At a Glance
- Tasks: Create immersive gameplay animations for characters and environments in a collaborative team.
- Company: Join a dynamic studio passionate about horror games and innovative animation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, free lunches, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Enjoy regular social events and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make an impact on thrilling gameplay experiences while developing your animation skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in gameplay animation and proficiency in Unity and 3D software.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 60000 € per year.
About the role: We are looking for an experienced and highly skilled Senior Gameplay Animator to join our team. As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will play a key role in creating high-quality first-person and third-person gameplay animations that feel immersive, responsive, and impactful. You will work closely with designers, artists and programmers to bring gameplay systems, interactions, characters and horror moments to life through animation. You will be responsible for creating polished in-game animations, improving animation quality and workflows, and helping define the animation direction and standards for gameplay features across the project.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Create high-quality gameplay animations for player characters, ghosts, interactions, equipment, and environments.
- Work closely with designers and programmers to ensure animations support gameplay readability and responsiveness.
- Implement and maintain animations within Unity using Animator Controllers, State Machines, Blend Trees and animation events.
- Collaborate across departments to improve animation workflows and pipelines.
- Help define animation quality standards.
- Polish and iterate on animations based on gameplay feedback, testing and player experience goals.
- Ensure animations work effectively across PC, VR, PSVR2 and consoles.
Requirements:
- Professional experience as a Gameplay Animator or similar role on at least one shipped PC or Console title.
- Strong animation skills with a focus on gameplay feel, weight, timing and responsiveness.
- Experience creating and implementing gameplay animations in Unity.
- Strong knowledge of animation principles for both first-person and third-person gameplay.
- Experience with a 3D software package such as Blender or Maya.
- Strong understanding of animation state machines, blending systems and animation-driven gameplay.
- Strong collaboration and communication skills.
- Ability to take ownership of features and work proactively in a fast-paced environment.
- Passion for horror games.
- Experience with version control systems such as Git, Perforce and Plastic.
- Automatically have the right to work in the UK.
Nice To Have:
- Experience working on multiplayer or co-op games.
- Experience animating for VR gameplay.
- Experience with character rigging.
- Familiarity with IK systems, procedural animation or physics-based animation.
- Experience with motion capture, retargeting and cleanup.
- Experience with facial animation workflows.
- Experience with cinematic animations using Unity Timeline or similar.
Benefits & Perks:
- Competitive salary
- 5% Employer Match Pension Scheme
- Annual performance bonus + Company performance bonus
- Weekly free team lunches – good food, great company!
- Regular social events – we love bringing our teams together!
- Hybrid & flextime working - because life doesn’t always fit 9–5
- Access to Southampton Football Club tickets - subject to availability and sponsor allocation
- Relocation package to help you settle in
- Electric Vehicle Car Scheme - Get a new car & Save money & the planet
- Employee of the Month vouchers
- Personal wellbeing allowance
- Referral scheme
- Training & Development Budget – invest in your growth with courses, conferences & learning resources
- Training & career development support
- Vitality Health Insurance – includes Vision, Dental & Travel cover
- Aviva Life Insurance
- 30 days holiday, including your birthday and a dedicated wellbeing day
- Christmas studio shutdown – enjoy the holidays, on us!
Senior Gameplay Animator in Southampton employer: Kinetic Games
Join a dynamic and innovative team as a Senior Gameplay Animator, where your creativity will thrive in a collaborative environment that values quality and responsiveness in gameplay. With competitive salaries, generous benefits including a hybrid working model, and a strong focus on employee growth through training and development budgets, this company fosters a culture of support and well-being. Located in a vibrant area with access to exciting social events and perks like Southampton Football Club tickets, this is an excellent opportunity for those passionate about horror games and looking to make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Gameplay Animator in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to fellow animators and industry professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. Join relevant groups and participate in discussions to get your name out there and learn about potential job openings.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a standout portfolio that highlights your best gameplay animations. Make sure to include a variety of styles and techniques, especially those that align with the horror genre, to catch the eye of recruiters.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and showcasing your knowledge of animation principles. Be ready to discuss your previous projects and how you collaborated with teams to create immersive experiences.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Gameplay Animator in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills:When you're applying, make sure to highlight your animation skills and any relevant experience you've got. We want to see how you can create those immersive gameplay animations that really pop!
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific requirements of the Senior Gameplay Animator role. Show us how your experience aligns with what we're looking for.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that get straight to the good stuff. Make it easy for us to see why you’re the perfect fit!
Apply Through Our Website:Make sure to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Kinetic Games
✨Showcase Your Animation Skills
Make sure to bring a portfolio that highlights your best gameplay animations. Focus on showcasing a variety of styles, especially those that demonstrate your understanding of weight, timing, and responsiveness in both first-person and third-person perspectives.
✨Know Your Tools Inside Out
Familiarise yourself with Unity and the specific animation tools mentioned in the job description, like Animator Controllers and Blend Trees. Be ready to discuss how you've used these tools in past projects to create immersive gameplay experiences.
✨Collaborate Like a Pro
Since this role involves working closely with designers and programmers, prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated across departments in previous roles. Highlight any specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them to improve workflows.
✨Passion for Horror Games
Express your enthusiasm for horror games during the interview. Share your favourite titles and what you love about their animation styles. This will show that you not only have the skills but also a genuine interest in the genre, which can set you apart from other candidates.
