Associate Cinematics Facial Animator (Temporary)

NetherRealm Studios, part of Warner Bros. Games, is seeking an Associate Cinematics Facial Animator (Temporary). This role involves assisting the Cinematics Team Animators with facial animation tasks, including managing and testing in-game facial animation, and learning to tweak in-house and outsourced animation using Maya to achieve higher quality. The studio is known for creating cutting-edge entertainment like Mortal Kombat and Injustice, focusing on industry-leading tech, game art, and overall gaming experiences.

Must Have

• Validate facial animation works and looks correct in the game
• Assemble delivered facial animation into game ready packages
• Produce facial animation, or edit facial performance data
• Tweak delivered facial animation to achieve higher shippable quality
• Participate in team content reviews
• Assist in Motion Capture shoots as needed
• Familiarity animating with at least one Industry Standard 3D package (Maya, MotionBuilder)
• Familiarity in facial/body animation
• Familiarity with Photoshop, Premier
• Familiar with the Unreal Engine
• Some amount of formal animation education or equivalent level of experience

Good to Have

• Experience with scripting
• Familiar with the Metahuman Facial Animation Pipeline

Perks & Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Employee wellness program
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement savings plan
• Paid holidays
• Sick time
• Vacation

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of.

Who We Are…

When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next…

From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.

The creative team that brought Mortal Kombat and Injustice to life is now NetherRealm Studios, part of the Warner Bros. Games family. With over 20 years of creation under our belts, NetherRealm’s mission remains the same: to create cutting edge entertainment and deliver industry leading tech, game art and overall gaming experiences. NetherRealm Studios is a collaborative and creative environment, constantly striving to up the ante on what is possible in interactive entertainment. Our team is comprised of dedicated professionals with years of experience who are at the forefront of the gaming industry. The passion and energy that made Mortal Kombat a reality is still on display every day in our offices, our hallways and most definitely the studio’s arcade room.

The Artist is responsible for assisting the Cinematics Team Animators on tasks relating to the facial animation pipeline. They will be managing and testing facial animation in-game and learning to tweak in-house and outsourced animation using Maya to obtain a higher quality.

Job Responsibilities

• Validate facial animation works and looks correct in the game
• Assemble delivered facial animation into game ready packages
• Produce facial animation, or edit facial performance data
• Tweak delivered facial animation to achieve higher shippable quality
• Participate in team content reviews
• Assist in Motion Capture shoots as needed

Work Experience

• Previous internship or related position a plus

Education, Professional Training, Technical Training or Certification

• Some amount of formal animation education such as BFA\BS from accredited art or design school or equivalent level of experience required. Applicants must have either graduated from or be enrolled in such a program.

Knowledge/Skills

• Familiarity animating with at least one Industry Standard 3D package required (Maya, MotionBuilder,etc.)
• Familiarity in facial/body animation.
• Familiarity with Photoshop, Premier, etc.

Other Requirements

• Ability to take direction well
• Strong problem solving skills
• Ability to learn new tools quickly
• Highly organized. Ability to multitask and manage multiple tasks at once
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Detail oriented and able to spot small mistakes quickly
• Familiar with the Unreal Engine

Desired Skills and Pluses

• Experience with scripting
• Familiar with the Metahuman Facial Animation Pipeline

How We Get Things Done…

This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/

along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.

Championing Inclusion at WBD

Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.

If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page

for instructions to submit your request.

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of Warner Bros. Discovery’s total compensation package for employees. Pay Range: $43,680.00 - $81,120.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time and vacation.