Expert Character Artist

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Job Description:

Elsewhere Entertainment is looking for an Expert Character Artist specializing in creatures to join the development of a new IP.   
 
Feed your creativity while collaborating with our team of highly-skilled developers to build something innovative, exhilarating, and expansively entertaining! 
 
As a member of our Art department, you will be at the forefront of defining and shaping our game's iconic creatures. You will play a pivotal role in bringing our game world to life through your exceptional creature design and look development skills. If you're a creative artist with a strong technical background, a keen eye for detail, and a passion for gaming, this role offers the perfect opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking video game projects.

As a member of the project, you’ll help take the studio and our game from great to even better—with a focus on inclusivity, mutual respect (for ourselves and our players), thoughtfulness, empathy, professionalism, and collaboration.  

You’ll help us by… 

• Act as a key creative collaborator within the art, design, and development teams to align character design with gameplay and narrative objectives.

• Collaborate closely with animation and rigging teams to ensure character designs are planned and executed properly.

• Conduct research to ensure accuracy in character design, contributing to the authenticity of in-game characters.

• Assess scope of character team requests with your immediate supervisor to establish an achievable production schedule.

• Lead small teams of cross disciplinary developers with a focus on facial animation to achieve needs of the project.

• Work with the Photogrammetry Team to ensure quality scanned data is being used as a starting point.

• Create high-quality models, textures, shading, and materials that elevate creature realism and aesthetics, paying meticulous attention to details.

• Utilize industry-standard software to author models and textures that emphasize detail, realism, and visual storytelling.

• Set the standard for visually captivating and memorable character / creature assets, ensuring they align with the game's art style and narrative vision.

• Work closely with the engineering team to optimize character assets for optimal in-game performance while preserving visual fidelity.

• Assist in organizing and managing the character team material library and ensure efficient knowledge of pipeline and utilization by team members.

• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior artists, fostering their growth and development within the studio.

• Stay up-to-date with industry trends, tools, and emerging technologies, continually enhance your skills and contribute innovation to the team's creative process.

• Assist in leading efforts in testing and feedback processes to identify and address character-related issues, bugs, and improvements.

You’re awesome because you have… 

• Outstanding portfolio showcasing your proficiency in creature art for video games, highlighting your ability to create diverse and compelling creatures.

• At least 5 years of experience in creating Character Art in AAA game development with at least one full development cycle completed and credited in your name.

• Experience working in Modern Game Engines with an awareness of game budgets, limits, and memory constraints.

• Excellent artistic and design skills, including a keen eye for composition, color theory, and visual storytelling with a focus on character portraits.

• Expertise with hair and fur development and workflows.

• Proficiency in industry-standard 3D modeling and texturing software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, ZBrush, Substance Painter/Designer).

• Solid understanding of PBR (Physically Based Rendering) principles, with In-depth knowledge of shader creation, material pipelines, and advanced texturing techniques.

• Basic grasp of character/creature rigging, animation integration, and best practices in character/creature design.

• Ability to consistently resolve issues from a visual, production, and technical perspective.

• Excellent communication skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

• Ability to adapt to evolving project needs and work under tight deadlines.

Bonus points for… 

• Experience working with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, demonstrating an understanding of real-time rendering constraints and pipelines

• Experience in muscle/fat simulation workflows

• Experience with hair and cloth simulation

Not sure you meet all the qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! At Activision, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply. 

Our World  

At Activision, we strive to create the most iconic brands in gaming and entertainment. We’re driven by our mission to deliver unrivaled gaming experiences for the world to enjoy, together. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, Crash Bandicoot™, Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™, and Guitar Hero®. As a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and products, our “press start” is simple: delight hundreds of millions of players around the world with innovative, fun, thrilling, and engaging entertainment experiences. 

We’re not just looking back at our decades-long legacy; we’re forging ahead to keep advancing gameplay with some of the most popular titles and sophisticated technology in the world. We have bold ambitions to create the most inclusive company as we know our success comes from the passionate, creative, and diverse teams within our organization.  

We’re in the business of delivering fun and unforgettable entertainment for our player community to enjoy. And our future opportunities have never been greater — this could be your opportunity to level up.  

Ready to Activate Your Future? 

#elsewhere