Job Description

Lead Animator
Department: Animation/Rigging/MotionArtist
Position: Lead Animator
Role and responsibilities:

About the Role 

We are seeking a highly skilled and creative Lead Animator to drive the animation vision, quality, and execution across our game projects. You will lead and mentor a team of animators, collaborate closely with other Art LeadsRiggers, Game Designers, Developers and Clients to ensure that all animations meet world-class gameplay and cinematic standards. 

Key Responsibilities 

Creative & Technical Leadership 

  • Create high quality animations to set the style and quality standards for 3D Animation and 2D Spine projects. 

  • Translate game design requirements into strong, readable, and engaging gameplay animations. 

  • Drive Visual style, combat, locomotion, facial, and cinematic animation quality. 

  • Ensure animation deliverables are suitable for real-time game engines (Unity/Unreal). 

Team & Production Management 

  • Lead, mentor and conduct regular reviews for a team of animators. 

  • Estimate project requirements with detailed breakdowns. Plan and assign tasks to ensure on-time delivery. 

  • Provide clear, actionable feedback and maintain high team morale and productivity. 

  • Identify skill gaps and conduct training or upskilling initiatives. 

  • Oversee and provide key inputs on the tasks of Rigging and FX artists in certain projects to ensure they are aligned with the overall art direction. 

Pipeline & Collaboration 

  • Work closely with Developers and Designers to ensure smooth pipeline integration. 

  • Maintain and improve animation workflows, tools, rigs, and export pipelines. 

  • Troubleshoot animation, rigging, and implementation issues in engine. 

  • Establish best practices for custom 3D keyframe animation, 2D spine animation, motion-capture/mixamo animations and animation blending. 

Required Skills & Qualifications 

  • 8+ years of professional experience in animation. With at least 2-3 years of those in game studios as a senior or lead animator. 

  • Experience working on AAA quality commercial game and multiple shipped titles. 

  • Expert knowledge of Maya2D Spine animations, and technical integration of animations in game engines. 

  • Experience with multiple styles of animations like Realistic, Stylized, Cartoonish and Anime. 

  • Strong understanding of: 

  • All Animation principles 

  • Human & Creature anatomy 

  • Gameplay animation systems (locomotion, combat, state machines, control rigs, Animation Blueprints) 

  • Hands-on experience with Unreal Engine or Unity animation pipelines. 

  • Strong team leadership, mentoring, and communication skills. 

  • Experience working on combat-heavy, third-person, or cinematic-driven games. 

  • Background in Technical Animation is a big plus. 

What success looks like in this role: 

  • Animations feel responsive, impactful, and polished in-game. 

  • The animation team consistently meets quality and delivery expectations. 

  • Strong collaboration between animation, design, and engineering. 

  • A motivated, well-mentored animation team with growing skill levels. 


    Portfolio Requirement: 

    Applicants must provide their Animation Demo reel showcasing: 

    • High quality Cinematic or Dialogue shots