Lead Animator

Job Summary

We are on the lookout for a Lead Animator! 

The Lead Animator is responsible for overseeing the animation team and ensuring the creation of high-quality character, environment, and gameplay animations that align with the creative vision of the project. This role combines hands-on animation production with leadership, mentorship, and pipeline supervision. 

Responsibilities

Define, communicate, and uphold the artistic direction for all animation content in the project.

Ensure that animation style, quality, and consistency meet the creative and technical standards of the production.

Review and approve animation work, providing clear and constructive feedback to the team.

Guide the creation of animation systems that support gameplay mechanics and player experience.

Align animation production with the overall project vision, milestones, and production goals.

Plan, prioritize, and manage animation tasks and schedules in collaboration with production.
Ensure the adoption of efficient tools, workflows, and pipelines to optimize animation production.

Collaborate closely with Technical Animators to ensure smooth implementation and performance optimization.

Lead animation reviews and provide detailed feedback to maintain a high-quality bar.

Ensure feedback is clearly communicated and properly implemented by the team.

Maintain consistency of animation quality across all characters, environments, and gameplay systems.

Mentor and support animators, fostering growth and continuous improvement within the team.

Promote best practices in animation techniques, workflows, and problem-solving.

Encourage a collaborative, creative, and proactive team environment.

Support onboarding and training of new team members.

Ensure animations are fully integrated into gameplay systems and meet performance requirements.

Collaborate with Design, Engineering, and Technical Animation teams to deliver responsive and polished gameplay animation.

Ensure timely delivery of animation assets to maintain project continuity.

Requirements

Proven experience as a Lead Animator in the game industry or real-time projects.

Strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality character and gameplay animation.

Expert knowledge of animation principles, body mechanics, and performance acting.

Proficiency with industry-standard autodesk animation tools (e.g., Maya, MotionBuilder).

Solid understanding of real-time animation pipelines and game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).

Strong leadership experience managing or mentoring animation teams.

Ability to provide clear, constructive, and actionable feedback.

Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Strong organizational and time-management skills.

Fluency in written and spoken English.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience shipping at least one AAA/AA game title.

Knowledge of motion capture pipelines and performance cleanup.

Knowledge of animation state machines, blend trees, and gameplay animation systems.

Experience working closely with Technical Animation on rigging, tools, and pipeline optimization.

Experience with performance optimization for real-time animation.

Passion for games and strong understanding of player experience and gameplay feel.

Competencies

Advanced character and gameplay animation skills.

Strong understanding of animation systems for real-time applications.

Ability to define and maintain animation style guides and quality benchmarks.

Experience managing animation pipelines from concept to final integration.

Ability to evaluate animation quality and provide precise, production-ready feedback.

Strong collaboration skills with Design, Engineering, Art, and Technical teams.

Capability to balance creative goals with technical constraints and performance targets.

Strong decision-making skills in animation direction and prioritization.

Soft Skills

Ability to inspire, guide, and grow a high-performing animation team.

Clear, respectful, and effective communication across all departments.

Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving production environment.

Proactive mindset with a solution-oriented approach.

Excellent organization and prioritization under tight deadlines.

Strong artistic sensibility and passion for animation.

Team-oriented attitude with a strong sense of ownership and responsibility.

Motivation to stay updated on animation trends, tools, and techniques.

Submit your resume and a short cover letter in English to join Stormind Games.