Animation Supervisor (FACS & Motion Capture)

Steamroller Animation is seeking an experienced Animation Supervisor to lead Facial and Motion Capture teams for a hyper-realistic virtual performer in a live musical experience. This contract role requires a leader with a deep understanding of performance-driven animation, uniting facial expression, body movement, and emotional authenticity. You will guide creative and technical direction, ensuring realism and artistry from micro-expressions to full-body choreography.

Must Have

• Lead Facial and Motion Capture teams.
• Define artistic direction and quality standards for animation.
• Supervise FACS and Mocap Cleanup Animators.
• Collaborate with Directors, Technical Leads, and Production.
• Review and refine animation for seamless integration.
• Partner with Rigging, Performance Capture, and Engineering teams.
• Conduct dailies, rounds, and team reviews.
• Anticipate and resolve creative and technical challenges.
• Document processes and workflows.
• Mentor and inspire animators.
• Act as primary Animation representative in cross-departmental meetings.
• Represent the animation team in internal and partner-facing meetings.
• Promote a collaborative and motivated team environment.
• Minimum 8 years of professional animation experience.
• Proven supervisory or lead experience managing animation teams.
• Expert understanding of FACS, facial anatomy, and performance-driven animation.
• Deep knowledge of body mechanics, weight, timing, and naturalistic human movement.
• Proficiency in Autodesk Maya.
• Experience integrating motion capture data and facial solving into cinematic or real-time pipelines.
• Familiarity with Unreal Engine and Sequencer workflows.
• Must be located in British Columbia.

Good to Have

• Experience working with 4D capture, high-fidelity scanned assets, or virtual production pipelines.
• Background in musical, live, or performance-based animation projects.
• Demonstrated success in mentoring or training animation teams.
• Strong interest in pushing the boundaries of digital performance and real-time storytelling.

About the role

We’re seeking an experienced Animation Supervisor to lead the Facial and Motion Capture teams, bringing a hyper-realistic virtual performer to life for a live musical experience. This role requires a leader with a deep understanding of performance-driven animation — uniting facial expression, body movement, and emotional authenticity into a cohesive, lifelike digital performance. You’ll guide both the creative and technical direction, ensuring that every nuance—from micro-expressions to full-body choreography—embodies the realism and artistry that define the project.

What you'll do

• Define artistic direction and quality standards for facial and motion capture animation, ensuring lifelike and emotionally compelling performances.
• Supervise a team of FACS and Mocap Cleanup Animators, providing clear creative and technical guidance across all stages of production.
• Collaborate closely with Directors, Technical Leads, and Production internally and externally to maintain consistent performance quality across both facial and body animation.
• Review and refine animation to achieve seamless integration between facial solving, body motion, and overall performance intent.
• Partner with the Rigging, Performance Capture, and Engineering teams to improve animation pipelines, tools, and workflows.
• Conduct dailies, rounds, and team reviews, delivering concise, actionable feedback to elevate shot quality and maintain consistency.
• Anticipate and resolve creative and technical challenges, ensuring efficient production flow and delivery of assets on schedule.
• Document processes and workflows for team onboarding, pipeline consistency, and knowledge sharing.
• Mentor and inspire animators, fostering growth in both technical skill and artistic expression.
• Act as the primary Animation representative in cross-departmental meetings, communicating team needs, progress, and goals effectively.
• Represent the animation team in internal and partner-facing meetings as needed.
• Promote a collaborative and motivated team environment built on trust, respect, and creative excellence.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of professional animation experience in film, games, or real-time production.
• Proven supervisory or lead experience managing animation teams, ideally across both facial and motion capture workflows.
• Expert understanding of FACS, facial anatomy, and performance-driven animation.
• Deep knowledge of body mechanics, weight, timing, and naturalistic human movement.
• Proficiency in Autodesk Maya; MotionBuilder experience is highly valued.
• Experience integrating motion capture data and facial solving into cinematic or real-time pipelines.
• Familiarity with Unreal Engine and Sequencer workflows.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong ability to manage priorities, delegate effectively, and maintain quality under tight deadlines.
• Applicants must be located in British Columbia.

Preferred (but not required) Qualifications:

• Experience working with 4D capture, high-fidelity scanned assets, or virtual production pipelines.
• Background in musical, live, or performance-based animation projects.
• Demonstrated success in mentoring or training animation teams.
• Strong interest in pushing the boundaries of digital performance and real-time storytelling.