Lead Animator

About the Studio

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The opportunity of a lifetime! Join an exciting, newly-formed studio that is comprised of industry veterans responsible for one of gaming’s most acclaimed video game series ever. Harbouring an inclusive, diverse development environment in one of Canada’s most prominent gaming hubs, this new gathering of minds will surely take the industry by storm in the coming years.

Ready to make history in gaming?

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Responsibilities and Requirements

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Our client seeks a Lead Animator with a curious, collaborative approach to elevating gaming experiences through character development and engaging gameplay. 

As a key contributor, you will focus on crafting and setting the standards for in-world player character animations, especially within gameplay contexts, to ensure every movement is realistic and fluid and elevates the overall gaming experience. This role requires a unique blend of exceptional artistic talent, in-depth technical knowledge, superior organizational skills, and a deep passion for video games.

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• Establish and improve gameplay animation systems, in collaboration with art, programming and design.
• Create engaging and dynamic gameplay animations using keyframing and mocap data.
• Collaborate closely with our Tech team to develop and help implement our animation pipeline.
• Review gameplay animations and, in collaboration with the Animation Director, define our quality expectations.
• Ensure quality expectations are met throughout the different production phases.
• Collaborate with gameplay programmers, game designers and character artists to implement gameplay animations, ensuring the artistic vision is in sync with technical specifications.
• Identify potential risks and implement mitigation plans before issues arise.
• Participating in the planning and hiring of a team of animators to lead, manage and mentor as the team grows.
• Establish and maintain constructive feedback loops with the animation team, maintaining a consistent style and quality level, fostering a curious, collaborative, creative and safe environment.
• Work in collaboration with the Production team to define and improve animation pipelines and priorities and streamline workflows.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and best practices in animation and management, incorporating these insights into workflows.

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About You

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• 10+ years of experience working in video game animation, specifically for AAA games.
• Extensive experience in leading animation teams, building trust and driving results.
• Mastery of animation tools and software (Maya, MotionBuilder).
• Great knowledge of motion matching and inverse kinematics methods.
• Expert in animation fundamentals such as rhythm, timing, anticipation, and silhouette, skilled in expressing emotion and storytelling through movement to ensure characters are both believable and immersive.
• Good understanding of rigging and skinning techniques.
• Experience developing and maintaining animation pipeline (from conception to ship).
• Experience planning, organizing and directing mocap shoots.
• Proficiency in Unreal Engine, particularly in character and in-world animations.

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Desirable bonus skills include the following:

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• Ability to communicate efficiently, with an emphasis on maintaining positive interaction with the rest of the team.
• Ability to self-organize and organize others autonomously.
• Capability to cooperate and build positive relationships with key stakeholders.
• Proficiency in communicating ideas to others with simplicity and logic.
• Skill in preparing, presenting, and documenting comprehensive materials for various groups.
• A passion for narrative-driven games with a broad knowledge of the gaming landscape and market trends.

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About Us

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At Haptic, we know that people-first recruitment is fundamental to our success. We work closely with talented candidates and innovative studios to offer the best opportunities and build the most promising teams.

Operating on the belief that a studio’s strength comes from the team they build to bring their ideas to life, we are committed to assembling the most talented, diverse game makers.

As part of this pledge, whenever you apply for a job with us, one of our specialist recruiters will support you through each stage. From introductions and interviews to accepting an offer and submitting your resignation, we’re always here to help.