Animation Career | Microsoft

JOB POSITION : LEAD ANIMATOR

LOCATION     :  Guildford,UK

 LEAD ANIMATOR

Role Purpose

Lionhead Studios, the award winning developer of the Fable series of games, is looking for an experienced Lead Animator to join their Animation team. Working in a AAA environment they will be responsible for establishing, creating and maintaining animations that will bring our game world alive in order to build an immersive, exciting gaming experience. Leading a team of animators they also need to have a passion for working with and developing creative talent. This person is a seasoned veteran who possesses strong leadership skills, a good production-sense and the talent to produce and implement the highest quality work.

Team/Department Mission:

Are you a highly talented individual who enjoys a challenge and is brimming with drive and enthusiasm? Do you feel your skills and talents are waiting to find the right creative environment in which to thrive? 

At Lionhead we strive to create successful, landmark games and to be one of the world’s most respected developers. To that end we are continually looking for bright, talented individuals to join our team. We are well aware that new employees and fresh ideas keep us the dynamic and creative Studio that we are!

Key Accountabilities:

- Lead the technical and aesthetic animation processes in order to realize the visual and game-play goals.
- Provide clear leadership and direction to the animation team. Demonstrate and communicate clear expectations for quality of work, productivity, communication and professionalism.
- Have excellent communication skills in expressing the vision for the animation in game and working with the other team members to realise that vision.
- They must be able to assess workload and capacity for production. They will plan the work and set the priorities for the animation team.
- Work with other disciplines within the development team to enable the best integration of animations in game and how this process can be continually improved and developed.

Key Success Criteria:

- To be able to problem solve creatively.
- Support the career development of the team members and to suggest training to further enhance the quality output of the department.
- To have a good understanding of character set up, rigging and associated areas.
- To be able to mentor less experienced team members and lead by example.
- Actively participate within the leadership and development team.
- Be task-driven, self-motivated, proactive and works well under deadline pressure
- An overriding passion for animation and to make great games.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

- Strong understanding of next-gen animation development processes, limitations and dependencies including motion-capture, key-framed, dynamic and physics-based movement
- Animation experience.
- Must have been in a Lead Animator role on at least one next gen console title
- Excellent leadership, interpersonal and organizational skills.
- Strong communication, time-management and organizational skills 
- Excellent knowledge of 3D animation packages, Maya, 3DSMax. Knowledge of MotionBuilder an advantage
- Experience with animation pipelines and procedural solutions
- Some experience of Service based games useful
- Experience working within Scrum ideal.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity.

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