Senior Gameplay Animator

WHO WE ARE:

Next Level Games is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd. 

We’ve been passionate about video game development for 20 years, shipping award-winning Nintendo games for fans across the world. Some of our titles include Super Mario Strikers, Mario Strikers Charged, Punch-Out!!, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, Metroid Prime Federation Force, Luigi’s Mansion 3 and most recently Mario Strikers™: Battle League. 

At NLG, we believe that a project finds success when we collaborate. Therefore, we place careful consideration to build an environment where everyone feels welcome and has fun in the process of achieving our shared goals of creativity, communication, and compassion.
 

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING:

We are looking for a Senior Gameplay Animator to join our crew! We welcome people who love games and who have opinions about what makes games beautifully animated while remaining responsive to the user’s inputs. The ideal candidate loves working on a team with designers, engineers, and other animators to problem-solve design questions, prototype new forms of gameplay, create animation content, and implement some of the technicalities required for animations to play in the game. They also will: 

• Be a proactive communicator who consistently approaches teammates with questions to achieve clarity & alignment 
• ​Think ahead and understand how small decisions fit into a larger plan 
• Have a curiosity that leads them to learn new skills and a teaching mindset to spread that knowledge to their neighbors 
• Be self-motivated, organized, and reliable 
• Embrace and provide constructive feedback

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

• Proven ability to create high quality, hand keyed animation 
• Proficient in Maya 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills 
• Familiarity with gameplay design and mechanics 
• Solid understanding 3D pipelines, technical systems, and best practices   
• Have shipped a minimum of one game in the role of gameplay animator, or 5+ years games industry experience 
• Python, state machine design, and rigging experience are a bonus!  
• Please include a link to your animation reel in either the cover letter or your resume. Applications without a portfolio will not be considered.  
   

WHY YOU’LL LOVE WORKING HERE:  

• Competitive benefits and annual leave, including discretionary performance bonus program and health coverage
• Support for mental health, financial well-being, legal assistance and more through our Employee Assistance Program 
• Access to our in-studio gym, and an extensive media library filled with games and books 
• Join a committee – board games, sports, or something else – it’s all here!  
• Discounted shopping for Nintendo products and merchandise at the online employee store 
• A workplace that values inclusivity and encourages continuous growth   
• A chance to be part of Nintendo, creating award winning games that make an impact