Animator

Studio Gobo, an established AAA games studio and part of the Keywords family, is seeking an Animator for an exciting new project. The role involves creating and implementing high-quality gameplay animations for creature-based and biped characters, applying strong animation principles, and collaborating with the Lead Animator, designers, and programmers. The studio offers a comprehensive benefits package and an award-winning environment, recognized as one of the Best Mid-Sized Game Studios in the U.K.

Must Have

• Create inspiring gameplay animations for creature-based and biped characters.
• Apply strong animation principles to deliver high-quality work, while optimizing animations to meet technical constraints and artistic direction.
• Collaborate closely with the Lead Animator, game designers, and programmers to understand gameplay intent, engine capabilities, and quality goals.
• Communicate effectively with designers and programmers to identify issues, propose solutions, and deliver work on time.
• Quickly prototype and previsualize animation systems and ideas to support gameplay and animation related discussions.
• Excellent keyframe animation skills, with a reel showcasing high-quality character and creature gameplay animation.
• A strong understanding of animation principles and how they apply to gameplay.
• Advanced experience with game development tools such as Maya and various game engines.
• A proactive, self-motivated team player with strong communication skills.
• The ability to manage priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to feedback.
• Strong problem-solving skills.

Good to Have

• Experience working with and adapting motion capture.
• A passion for animation, games, and film.
• Experience or understanding of character rigging or modelling.

Perks & Benefits

• 22 days’ annual leave entitlement, plus 3 days’ studio closure over the Christmas period, giving a total of 25 days paid annual leave plus all 8 UK bank holidays.
• An additional day of annual leave for each year’s anniversary working at Studio Gobo, to a maximum of 5 extra days!
• Generous Team Project Bonuses.
• Visa & Relocation Package for qualified employees and their families.
• Company Pension Scheme provided by NEST.
• Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP).
• Private Medical Insurance Scheme provided by BUPA Private Healthcare.
• Group Life Insurance.
• Private Dental Insurance Scheme.
• Group Income Protection.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Volunteer Time Off ‘Studio Gobo in the Community’ (one day per year on full pay).
• Cycle & Tech Scheme (up to £3000 worth of goodies).
• Eye-care Vouchers (free eye tests).
• Train Travel Season Ticket Loan (interest-free).
• Health and Wellbeing Allowance (£50 per month).
• Industry Conferences Budget (e.g., GDC, UnrealFest, SIGGRAPH, THU, Develop).
• Inspire & Motive Programme (training opportunities, inspiring workshops).
• Free locally roasted Coffee & Speciality Teas.
• Gobo Cereal Bar (extensive granola, muesli and breakfast cereal selections).
• Full Chefs Kitchen & Equipment (free use).
• World Famous Free Lunches every Friday, cooked in-house by their own chef.
• Fresh Fruit & Healthy Snacks provided every day.
• Pastries, Cakes & Doughnuts.
• Soft Drinks Fridge (large range of free chilled soft drinks).
• Gobo Beer & Wine Fridge (free beers, ales, wine, gin and tonic).
• In-house Social Clubs (D&D, board games, bouldering, drawing nights, yoga, cooking club).
• Extensive Video Game & Book Library.
• Spacious Industrial Chic Studio Space.
• Dogs with Jobs (dog-friendly employer).
• Project Wrap Parties, Cinema Nights & Team Nights Out.
• Monthly Studio Social Nights (with food, drinks, board games, Smash Bros tournaments, karaoke).
• Summer Festival (annual event with pop-up diner, cocktail shack, bouncy castle, face painting, family invited).

Description

Studio Gobo is an established AAA games studio, part of the Keywords family. Our team has worked on multiple world class projects for companies such as Guerrilla Games, Arkane, Warner Bros, Ubisoft, Disney and Tencent. Projects include LEGO Horizon Adventures, Redfall, Hogwarts Legacy, For Honor, Marvel Super Heroes: Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Wars: Rise Against the Empire playsets for Disney Infinity 3.0.

Studio Gobo is working on an exciting new project, and we’re looking for an Animator to join the team. As part of the animation team, you’ll be focusing on creating and implementing high-quality gameplay animations.

At Studio Gobo, we’re proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We offer a comprehensive benefits package and an award-winning environment that support your growth and well-being. We've been recognized seven times by GamesIndustry.Biz as one of the Best Mid-Sized Game Studios to work for in the U.K.

An Animator at Studio Gobo will:

• Create inspiring gameplay animations for creature-based and biped characters.
• Apply strong animation principles to deliver high-quality work, while optimizing animations to meet technical constraints and artistic direction.
• Collaborate closely with the Lead Animator, game designers, and programmers to understand gameplay intent, engine capabilities, and quality goals.
• Communicate effectively with designers and programmers to identify issues, propose solutions, and deliver work on time.
• Quickly prototype and previsualize animation systems and ideas to support gameplay and animation related discussions.

Things we’d love to see from you:

• Excellent keyframe animation skills, with a reel showcasing high-quality character and creature gameplay animation.
• A strong understanding of animation principles and how they apply to gameplay.
• Advanced experience with game development tools such as Maya and various game engines.
• Experience working with and adapting motion capture would be a bonus.
• A passion for animation, games, and film.
• Experience or understanding of character rigging or modelling is a plus.
• A proactive, self-motivated team player with strong communication skills.
• The ability to manage priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to feedback.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to quickly identify and resolve issues.

Benefits

When you join Studio Gobo you can expect to enjoy a unique culture. Whether its relaxing with one of our wellness benefits, or discussing the latest games over lunch, cooked by our in-house chef. The Studio knows that it’s the best people that make the best games and this is what Studio Gobo invests in. Below you will find all the benefits and perks you can enjoy as a Studio Gobo team member.

• Holidays - 22 days’ annual leave entitlement, plus 3 days’ studio closure over the Christmas period, giving a total of 25 days paid annual leave plus all 8 UK bank holidays.
• Bonus Anniversary Holidays - An additional day of annual leave for each year’s anniversary working at Studio Gobo, to a maximum of 5 extra days!
• Generous Team Project Bonuses
• Visa & Relocation Package - For qualified employees, we will pay for the visa costs for you and your family. We will also provide you with a relocation allowance.
• Company Pension Scheme – Employer contribution matching award-winning pension scheme provided by NEST under the UK governments automatic enrolment scheme.
• Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP) - ESPP is an easy way for staff to get involved in entry level company ownership or make a small profit on savings.
• Private Medical Insurance Scheme – Full private medical cover provided by BUPA Private Healthcare.
• Group Life Insurance
• Private Dental Insurance Scheme – Full private dental cover provided under our Dental plan company scheme.
• Group Income Protection
• EAP - Employee Assistance Program that assists employees with personal problems and/or work-related problems that may impact their work, health, mental and emotional wellbeing.
• Volunteer Time Off ‘Studio Gobo in the Community’ – Spend one day per year on full pay volunteering for the non-profit organisation of your choice.
• Cycle & Tech Scheme – Receive up to £3000 worth of goodies as part of this salary sacrifice scheme.
• Eye-care Vouchers – Free eye tests.
• Train Travel Season Ticket Loan – Interest-free company loan to spread the cost of an annual season ticket.
• Health and Wellbeing Allowance - £50 per month to spend on your choice of a range of healthy activities.
• Fast Growing Studio – Plenty of room for career advancement
• Industry Conferences Budget – A generous annual studio conferences budget. Many of our employees benefit from attending conferences such as GDC, UnrealFest or SIGGRAPH, THU, Develop etc every year.

Perks

• Inspire & Motive Programme - Offering training opportunities, inspiring workshops and industry conferences.
• Free locally roasted Coffee & Speciality Teas
• Gobo Cereal Bar – Extensive granola, muesli and breakfast cereal selections.
• Full Chefs Kitchen & Equipment – Free use of our large full-sized chef’s kitchen ideal for whipping up a quick snack or a culinary feast.
• World Famous Free Lunches – Every Friday our studio enjoys a studio lunch together. Cooked in-house by our very own chef with meat, vegan and gluten free options available every week.
• Fresh Fruit & Healthy Snacks – Provided every day, with a suggestion board for new treats!
• Pastries, Cakes & Doughnuts – For the odd naughty pleasure.
• Soft Drinks Fridge – A large range of free chilled soft drinks.
• Gobo Beer & Wine Fridge – Free beers, ales and wine and even the odd gin and tonic! Grab a beer at our end of week Show and Tell sessions and see what everybody else in the company has been up to!
• In-house Social Clubs – There are lots of ways to socialise with your colleagues here! From day one you’re invited to join in clubs for D&D fans, board games, bouldering, drawing nights, yoga, cooking club – the list goes on and there is always space open for new members!
• Extensive Video Game & Book Library – Borrow a game, a book or even a whole console.
• Spacious Industrial Chic Studio Space – Many visitors comment on what an amazing studio space we have. We’ve invested a lot of time, thought and money into our studio. And we get to work in this space every day. Our working environment makes an incredible difference in our mood and productivity.
• Dogs with Jobs – Studio Gobo is a dog-friendly employer. Bring doggo into the studio to meet and hang out with the rest of the team any time!
• Project Wrap Parties, Cinema Nights & Team Nights Out – We work hard together so it’s good to let off steam and spend some time together seeing what the wonderful city of Brighton & Hove has to offer.
• Monthly Studio Social Nights – Once per month the studio plays host to the biggest party in Brighton & Hove (probably). The drinks fridge is open for all. Invite a loved one to join us for food, drinks and anything in an array of board games, Smash Bros tournaments or even a bit of karaoke.
• Summer Festival – Every year on a hot summer’s afternoon, we all leave work early to enjoy the sun with company organised pop-up diner, cocktail shack, bouncy castle, face painting and other fun amenities. The whole family is invited to spend the day coming to socialise with us, on us :)