Animation Director

Techland

Job Summary

As an Animation Director at Techland, you will be responsible for guiding the creative vision and direction of animation, ensuring the highest quality standards are met. This includes defining and upholding animation quality, developing and implementing efficient production standards, and collaborating with other directors to ensure a unified project vision. You will also oversee animation production processes, optimize workflows, and support ongoing projects through quality control. Furthermore, you will build and structure the animation team, mentor team members, and provide constructive feedback to encourage growth. This role demands a broad experience in game animation leadership, in-depth knowledge of animation techniques and software, and strong communication skills to work with both technical and creative teams. The role demands creative and artistic talent to deliver high-quality animations.

Must Have

  • Experience in game animation leadership at director or lead level.
  • In-depth knowledge and hands-on experience of gameplay and cinematic animation.
  • Knowledge of current games and trends in animation techniques and quality.
  • Strong knowledge of animation software and game development processes.
  • Experience with directing mocap sessions of combat related movement.
  • Strong creative and technical problem-solving skills.

Job Description

Company Description

Techland is one of the biggest video game companies in Poland, with over 30 years of experience in the gaming industry. From our studios in Wroclaw and Warsaw, we’ve built an international team of more than 500 talented professionals, all dedicated to pushing the boundaries of game development.

We’re known for creating iconic franchises like Call of Juarez and the zombie genre-defining Dying Light, which has been played by over 45 million players worldwide. With a focus on open-world action, storytelling, and community engagement, we’re committed to delivering unforgettable experiences to our players.

We’re constantly striving to improve, innovate, and take on new challenges. With ambitious plans for the future, we’re looking for passionate people to be part of this exciting journey.

Job Description

Your daily tasks:

1. Guiding the creative vision and direction of animation

  • Define and uphold the highest quality standards for all animations, ensuring they meet the studio's excellence benchmarks.

  • Develop and implement efficiency standards that streamline the animation production process

  • Work closely with the technology team to maintain and enhance the competitive edge of our game animations, staying at the forefront of industry advancements.

  • Collaborate with Art, Game, and Narrative Directors to ensure a unified project vision and effectively resolve any direction-related challenges

2. Overseeing animation production processes

  • Create, refine, and optimize animation workflows, including cinematics, gameplay animations, and other visual elements to ensure seamless integration and high-quality output.

  • Actively support the animation process for ongoing titles through quality control and occasional hands-on involvement to meet project needs.

  • Assist in the planning and management of animation projects, including estimating timelines, planning work schedules, and accepting completed work.

3. Building and structuring Animation Team:

  • Develop clear career paths for team members to encourage long-term growth within the company

  • Conduct regular performance reviews to provide constructive feedback and support team development.

  • Mentor team members to enhance their skills and capabilities, fostering an environment of continuous learning and excellence.

  • Lead and manage the animation team, including leads and senior animators, to drive creative and technical achievements.

Qualifications

  • Broad experience in game animation leadership at the director, lead, or principal level (more than 5 years and at least one AAA title shipped).

  • In-depth knowledge, understanding and hands-on experience of gameplay and cinematic animation.

  • Wide knowledge of current games and trends with opinions about animation techniques and quality.

  • Strong knowledge of animation software, pipelines, and game development processes

  • Experience with directing mocap sessions of combat related movement

  • Creative and artistic talent with passion for animation.

  • Strong creative and technical problem-solving skills.

  • Good at communication and collaboration, capable of showing vision and standards to both technical and creative teams.

Additional Information

What we can offer:

  • A wide array of benefits: private medical care, life insurance, pro-health campaigns, gifts for different occasions.

  • An outstanding work atmosphere in a highly-skilled team of professionals, with flexible working hours, no dress code, and full support of the dedicated HR Business Partner.

  • A constant stream of company newsletters, PR & project updates so you will always be in the know.

  • Many opportunities for personal development: a dedicated development budget for each employee, extra two paid days for training and CSR, stable career paths, extensive internal and external training, and financing of English and Polish language classes.

  • State-of-the-art offices filled with chillout zones, a fully equipped kitchen, a gym (Wrocław office), and a free car park (Wrocław/Warsaw office).

4 Skills Required For This Role

Budget Management Oops Storytelling Quality Control