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Crystal Dynamics · 3 days ago
Lead Gameplay Animator
United States
Full-time
Remote
Senior Level
$115K/yr - $180K/yr
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Hiring Manager
Annette Mercado (She, Her, Ella)
Insider Connection @Crystal Dynamics
Responsibilities
Lead the animation vision in collaboration with the Creative Director and Art Director, ensuring the game's visual and interactive identity is maintained.
Work in close partnership with Department Leads, Animators, and Designers to assess and meet the game's animation requirements.
Develop a team of skilled animators, directing the creation of high-fidelity game animations and systems.
Deliver engaging combat and traversal animations in collaboration with combat designers and engineers.
Set and manage goals, aligning deliverables with project milestones and deadlines.
Conduct and direct motion capture shoots for both gameplay and cinematic performances as needed.
Manage, direct, and review co-developers and external vendors in different countries and time zones.
Run full pipelines (both internal and external), from narrative / storyboard to fully implemented in-game shippable content.
Promote team growth through regular individual meetings, performance reviews, and targeted training.
Foster a positive, collaborative team environment that values open communication and constructive feedback.
Streamline animation processes to enhance team productivity throughout the game development cycle.
Document and manage animation tasks and processes.
Guide animators across various styles, ensuring a consistent animation approach throughout the project.
Qualification
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Required
Experience in a leadership role within animation (Lead or Principal Animator) in the game development industry, particularly for high-fidelity action-adventure games.
In-depth understanding of gameplay systems, especially in 3rd person perspectives, including weapon, traversal, melee, and ranged combat animations.
Expertise in animation trees, animation blending, and node-based animation editors.
Proficiency in Motion Capture, Motion Matching, Maya, and real-time game engines/editors.
A collaborative mindset, particularly in working with design and engineering teams.
Examples of relevant work (i.e., demo reel, portfolio, or contributions to shipped title). An ideal reel will include:
Up to date examples of realistic animations that clearly demonstrate your skills/expertise in regards to:
Character Animation: High-quality, grounded movements like walking, running, jumping, climbing, and other traversal actions.
Combat Animations: Realistic offensive and defensive moves for both melee and ranged combat, including combos and melee weapons.
Cutscene Integration: Smooth transitions between gameplay and cinematic scenes.
Inclusion of a breakdown sheet detailing your specific contributions to each piece is highly recommended.
Preferred
Experience in Unreal Engine.
Demonstrated leadership abilities with a track record of nurturing and developing animation talent.
Shipped 2+ AAA titles as a Senior or Lead Animator.
Benefits
100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance options
Professional development reimbursement
Flexible hybrid on-site/off-site work opportunities
12 company paid holidays, plus additional paid days in December
Ability to accrue additional paid time-off
Company
Crystal Dynamics
Crystal Dynamics is a leading developer of interactive entertainment based in Redwood City, California.
Founded in 1992
201-500 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Crystal Dynamics has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2023 (3)
2022 (2)
2021 (7)
2020 (10)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
unknown2022-05-02Acquired· by Embracer Group
Leadership Team
Gary Snethen
CTO
C
Chad Queen
Chief Operating Officer
Recent News
Company data provided by crunchbase
