Cinematic Lead

1 Month ago • 6-8 Years • Animation

About the job

Job Description

As a Cinematic Lead, you will manage the Cinematics team, ensuring the delivery of high-quality game cinematics. You will collaborate with directors and producers to align cinematic vision with overall game direction. This role requires a comprehensive understanding of the cinematics pipeline, including previz, motion capture, animation, and production. You will maintain the efficiency of pipelines and processes, mentor team members, and manage team resources, schedules, and workload.
Must have:
  • Extensive experience in game cinematics, animation, or related fields
  • Strong leadership and team management skills
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
  • Deep understanding of animation principles, acted performance, and cinematic techniques
  • Proficiency with industry-standard software (Maya, MotionBuilder, Unreal Engine, JIRA, Excel)
  • Proven experience in AAA game development
  • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure
Perks:
  • Relocation assistance
  • Hybrid work model
  • Opportunities for career growth
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Description

Playground Games is looking for a Cinematic Lead to join our talented Fable team here in Leamington Spa 

ABOUT US: 

As a first-party Xbox Game Studio, we are passionate about making genre-defining games that are accessible, beautiful, and, most of all, fun. We are excited to be rebooting the much-loved Fable franchise and are expanding our diverse team to create a new classic in the action RPG genre.  

ABOUT THE ROLE:  

As a Cinematic Lead, you will independently manage our Cinematics team while collaborating with directors and producers to ensure the delivery of top-quality game cinematics. This position requires comprehensive knowledge of the cinematics pipeline, including previz, motion capture, animation, and production. 

This is a permanent role based at our state-of-the-art facilities in Royal Leamington Spa. We have a hybrid work model in place with a minimum of 3 days a week in studio. Relocation assistance is available if required.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:  

  • Lead and manage the cinematics team, overseeing their work to ensure the delivery of high-quality Cinematics  
  • Collaborate with Directorship, Production, Design, Gameplay, Audio, Narrative, and Leadership teams to align cinematic vision with overall game direction 
  • Oversee the entire cinematics pipeline, from concept to final delivery 
  • Maintain the efficiency of pipelines and processes and provide guidance to the team on the best practices 
  • Mentor team members and support their career growth through leadership and guidance 
  • Participate in hiring decisions and team expansion as needed 
  • Manage team resources, schedules, and workload effectively, providing regular status updates to upper management 

WHAT YOU'LL BRING:  

  • Extensive experience in game cinematics, animation, or related fields 
  • Strong leadership and team management skills 
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities 
  • Deep understanding of animation principles, acted performance, and cinematic techniques 
  • Proficiency with industry-standard software (Maya, MotionBuilder, Unreal Engine, JIRA, Excel) 
  • Proven experience in AAA game development 
  • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure 

This is a fantastic opportunity to make world-class games with an established, talented, and collaborative team at one of the industry’s most exciting first-party game studios.  

Playground Games is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity and inclusion fuels creativity.  We are dedicated to creating a safe, comfortable and welcoming working environment.   

We strive to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices of our team members.  It drives our innovation and connects us closer to our players.  We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion across age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.  

At Playground Games we recognise the importance of self-development, career progression, well-being and retention of our colleagues. We celebrate difference and welcome everyone to join us and to be themselves at work. 

If you require any reasonable accommodation to apply for this position, please contact us on recruitment@playground-games.com 

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About The Company

Playground Games was established in 2010, bringing together some of the most experienced and talented developers from the UK industry, with the vision to create genre-defining titles for a global audience. Since then, we’ve created five critically-acclaimed, award-winning hits; our Horizon games have garnered more than one hundred awards and have been played by many millions of fans. 


Today, Playground has two world-class studios in Leamington Spa. In our original HQ, we continue to support and grow the huge, vibrant Horizon community. In our new studio on the other side of town, we are excited to be developing Fable, a new beginning for the legendary franchise.

England, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Royal Leamington Spa, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)

England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)

Royal Leamington Spa, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Royal Leamington Spa, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)

England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)

England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)

England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)

England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)

England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)

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