Gameplay Animator

Responsibilities:

Work closely with the Animation Director, Animation Leads and the Combat Design Team during the pre-visualization process to develop combat and character navigation 3D pre-vis
Ideate, implement and iterate on animation assets, balancing the needs of style and function
Focus on character development, choreography, and timing of each move with the Animation Director and Gameplay Animation Lead
Collaborate with Combat Designers and Gameplay Programmers to achieve the perfect balance between animation fidelity and gameplay responsiveness, to integrate moves into the game engine, and to monitor and troubleshoot any technical issues that might arise
Animate keyframed characters, creatures, and props by hand; this includes hand-keyed facial expressions and lip sync as necessary
Assemble, edit, clean up, and enhance motion capture data shot on stage, including both body and face
Assemble and prepare navigation, combat, and world interactive move-lists for shooting on the motion capture stage
Work with the Character Tech Art team to improve character rigs, tools, and workflows
Proactively facilitate requests or information needs regarding any aspect of the animation creation process
Actively advance skill set and abilities by keeping aware of industry trends and techniques, evaluating competitive products, and learning new software packages and traditional art methods

Requirements:

1+ years of industry or related experience
A strong demo reel that demonstrates expert knowledge of fundamental animation principles and acting skills, and the ability to create a full range of lifelike performances from the subtle to the dramatic and powerful
Proficient command of weight, timing, and posing through both keyframing and the manipulation of motion capture data
High level of proficiency in Maya
High comfort level with learning and utilizing animation systems and game engine pipelines
Ability to rapidly prototype, iterate, and explore animation style and functionality
Ability to succeed in a creative, team-oriented environment
Excellent communication, time-management, and organizational skills
Ability to work across multiple disciplines to gather feedback and address cross-functional issues
Strong production sensibilities, and the drive and talent needed to produce and implement the highest quality work
B.A. in fine arts or relevant curriculum, or equivalent skillset

Preferred Experience: