Summary
Mindshow is seeking an Animation Lead. This position requires an experienced, talented, and highly motivated individual to lead the animation team at this state of the Art CG animation company. The Lead Animator will create high-quality 3D animation performances that will bring our amazing characters and creatures to life. The Lead Animator needs to have solid animation and character animation skills as well as strong organizational, administrative, leadership, and communication skills. As they are responsible for providing day-to-day performance feedback to their outsourced animator partners, previous experience in a leadership role, with particular experience providing constructive artistic and performance feedback, is highly desired.
Responsibilities
Set a high bar for all our character animations that capture their distinct personalities and traits but also work with platform core mechanics.
Create key-frame animations for all types of unique characters and creatures.
Partner with the Art Director to define the most appropriate animation direction, methods, and approaches for the project.
Partner with Technical Artists and Engineers to define and improve our animation pipelines.
Troubleshoot animation, exporting, and rigging issues that might arise during development.
Provide animation direction, feedback, and guidance to the show animation team including our domestic and/or international vendors.
Research and develop new animation techniques and methods.
Create animations that are optimal and performant on the target platform.
Attend dailies and touch base meetings as required
Work with the rigging department to ensure that all rigs function properly for proposed shots.
Spend time ‘on the box’ working on shots as required
Monitor hours spent on shots and ensure artists are staying within bid/approved hours.
Act as Character Lead for assigned characters as required
Participating in Animation bidding, turnover, and asset breakdown meetings alongside the show management team
Required Qualifications
Minimum 5 years of 3D animation experience in Maya.
Ability to create compelling and beautiful animations despite artistic, technical, and time limitations.
Exceptional 3D animation skills with a solid understanding of timing, momentum, weight, and anticipation.
Technical understanding of rigging, weighting, and exporting.
Broad animation skills with the ability to execute various performances from photo-real to highly-stylized.
Present feedback and ideas in a clear, concise, and professional manner.
Production experience with motion capture, facial capture, cleanup, and application
Experience with Unity is desired
Experience working with external vendors is highly desired.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Minimum 2 years experience in a lead role
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Excellent knowledge of physics and anatomy as it pertains to animation
Artist mentorship experience a plus
Works well with tight deadlines
Problem-solving capabilities with a “solution-driven” attitude
Strong attention to detail and follow-through
Experience in a fast-paced environment
Nice to Have
Experience within 3D and 2D productions
About Mindshow
Mindshow is a new CG animation studio built upon proprietary software that merges cutting-edge video game technology, visual effects, and machine learning to make premium content. By making 3D animation production exponentially faster and more accessible to live-action talent as well as experienced animators, we’re excited to be creating an entirely new category of content.