Senior Cinematic Animator

Company Description

To create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members!

Job Description

CD PROJEKT RED is searching for a Senior Cinematic Animator at our Boston Hub. Join our team dedicated to Cyberpunk 2, the follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077 and the next major video game in the Cyberpunk franchise. The Cinematics Team excels in developing highly interactive cinematic sequences, leveraging animation libraries and motion capture to merge the realms of film and gaming uniquely.

Contribute to a dynamic team by bringing characters to life in the narrative moments of the game. Work hand-in-hand with designers and multidisciplinary teams to bring immersive game content to life — guiding it from initial concepts and quest requirements, through mocap shoots, all the way to polished final animations. As a Senior Cinematic Animator, you'll be an integral part of the storytelling process, using your expertise to ensure that final scenes are not only visually stunning but also deeply engaging for players.

Daily Responsibilities

• Being a game developer first, ensuring that your animations look and feel great while playing the game.
• Collaborating daily with cross discipline pod, Animation Leads and Directors.
• Taking responsibility for the animation-related aspects of the game, including driving collaboration across disciplines to create the best possible player experience.
• Estimating the time required to carry out own tasks and meeting deadlines.
• Delivering work in accordance with the artistic direction of the project.
• Prototyping and drafting animations to explore and validate new ideas.
• Working on concepts and previzes for the narrative parts of the game to ensure a cohesive and engaging story experience.
• Providing knowledge and solutions for everyday problems.
• Building and testing the animation pipeline in Unreal Engine 5, acting as both a key stakeholder and power user in the process.
• Creating final, high-quality narrative animation assets from scratch or motion capture data.
• Sharing your experience and helping less experienced team members.

Qualifications

• At least 7 years experience creating animations in video games
• An animation reel demonstrating senior-level skills with a clear explanation of contributions.
• Solid knowledge of animation principles and an eye for dynamic poses.
• Good instincts for realistic character movement and facial conveying emotions.
• Understanding of camera movement, composition, and character performance to create visually compelling scenes.
• Professional knowledge of Unreal Engine and Motion Builder or Maya.
• Experience directing and working with motion capture and/or performance capture.
• Capability to self-manage and make responsible decisions about time and project priorities.
• Ability to work proactively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Eagerness to receive, seek, and provide constructive feedback.
• Ability to mentor more junior animators.

Nice to have:

(Please note that these skills are not required to apply for the position)

• Interest in the RPG-action genre.
• Experience creating layouts or previzes.
• Experience in developing animation pipelines and tools

Additional Information

This job requires working in Boston, US.

Working mode: in-office in a hybrid or full-time capacity.

Health & Well-being

• Company paid medical healthcare (dental vision & mental).
• Paid Leave — 20 days of holiday for every team member per year (26 days after two years).
• No dress-code — we like to keep it casual.
• 401K with employer matching.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement.

Perks & Professional Growth

• Flexible working hours.
• Trainings, lectures and courses — internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available. There’s always something to learn!
• Merch — regular chances to nab some cool swag!
• A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.

Life in the Office

• Dog-friendly office — dog owner? Bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There’s always a furry friend or two to meet at the studio.
• Truly international working environment — a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.

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