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- Tasks: Lead and mentor the animation team, ensuring high-quality animations for an iconic game sequel.
- Company: Creative Assembly creates immersive games enjoyed by millions worldwide, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, enhanced holidays, private health insurance, and community activities.
- Why this job: Join a passionate team on a groundbreaking project, making a real impact in the gaming industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in game animation, strong communication skills, and proficiency in Maya or Motion Builder required.
- Other info: Remote work options available; portfolio submission is encouraged.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 £ per year.
Creative Assembly is looking for a Lead 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, West Sussex and can be offered as hybrid or in-studio. Remote working (UK) would be considered, and further details can be discussed during the recruitment process.
The Role
As the Lead Animator, you will oversee and motivate our animation team, collaborating closely with the Animation Director to set and uphold the highest animation standards throughout the production process. You will be responsible for delivering exceptional animations that enhance 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
- Lead and mentor the animation team, providing guidance, setting objectives, and conducting performance evaluations.
- Collaborate with the Animation Director to establish and maintain animation benchmarks, ensuring consistent and high-performing visual quality.
- Interpret high level direction to plan and prioritise animation tasks, balancing quality with technical requirements and deadlines.
- Collaborate with related teams to develop and refine animations and systems from block-out to final implementation, ensuring they integrate seamlessly and meet performance and gameplay requirements.
- Review existing workflows, tools, and systems, identifying and solving challenges within the animation pipeline.
- Promote ongoing advancements in animation quality and techniques to elevate the team’s capabilities and provide innovative solutions that meet design, gameplay, and project requirements.
- Work closely with outsource partners to develop high-quality animation assets.
- Tackle day-to-day requests for improvements and bug fixes.
What we are looking for
Essential
- A passion for games and games animation.
- Strong ability to communicate clear direction, break down tasks and feedback to help mentor, guide and educate fellow teammates.
- Demonstrated expertise in game animation, utilising both hand-key and motion capture techniques.
- Excellent knowledge of Maya and/or Motion Builder.
- Extensive technical knowledge of animation pipelines and game engine character and animation systems.
- Exceptional problem-solving abilities, with a strong emphasis on proactive solutions.
Desirable
- Previously worked on AAA titles in an equivalent role.
- Experience with Unreal Engine.
- Experience with Motion Matching or equivalent advanced locomotion system.
- Experience with facial animation and related pipelines.
- Experience with character setup - rigging & skinning.
- Experience with motion capture shoots.
- Experience with animation outsource/co-development.
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.
Lead Animator employer: What Jobs
Contact Detail:
What Jobs Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Animator
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in game animation, especially those relevant to Unreal Engine 5. Being knowledgeable about current techniques and tools will help you stand out during discussions with the team.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills by preparing examples of how you've successfully mentored or guided a team in previous roles. This will demonstrate your capability to lead the animation team effectively.
✨Tip Number 3
Connect with current or former employees of Creative Assembly on platforms like LinkedIn. Engaging with them can provide insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable during the interview process.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your problem-solving approach in detail. Think of specific challenges you've faced in animation projects and how you overcame them, as this will highlight your proactive mindset and technical expertise.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Animator
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in animation, particularly any leadership roles or projects you've worked on that align with the responsibilities of a Lead Animator. Emphasise your expertise in game animation and any specific software like Maya or Motion Builder.
Showcase Your Portfolio: Include a link to your portfolio in your application. This should feature your best work, especially animations that demonstrate your skills in character quality and performance. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and showcases a variety of styles and techniques.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that not only expresses your passion for games and animation but also explains why you are a great fit for Creative Assembly. Mention specific projects or experiences that relate to the job description and how you can contribute to their new project.
Highlight Collaboration Skills: In your application, emphasise your ability to work collaboratively with teams. Provide examples of how you've successfully led or mentored others in past roles, as this is crucial for the Lead Animator position.
How to prepare for a job interview at What Jobs
✨Showcase Your Passion for Animation
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for games and animation during the interview. Share specific examples of projects you've worked on, especially those that highlight your creativity and technical skills in game animation.
✨Prepare Your Portfolio
Since a portfolio is essential for this role, ensure it is polished and showcases your best work. Include a variety of animations that demonstrate your expertise in both hand-key and motion capture techniques, as well as any relevant AAA titles you've contributed to.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Lead Animator, you'll need to mentor and guide your team. Be ready to discuss your leadership style and provide examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, including how you set objectives and conducted performance evaluations.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Unreal Engine 5
Since the project is being built in UE5, it's crucial to have a good understanding of this engine. Brush up on its features and be prepared to discuss how you've used it in previous projects or how you plan to leverage it for character animation.
