Lead Animator

Description

CRITERION GAMES – LEAD ANIMATOR

Criterion is a multi-award winning developer, best known for the hit Burnout series and is amongst the best game studios in the world with a world class team of game makers at its heart. 

Most recently, Criterion were responsible for Need For Speed Most Wanted. The Need For Speed series has been labelled “the bestselling racing brand in the gaming world” after franchise sales topped 100 million copies. Criterion’s latest instalment received rave reviews from critics and won a ton of awards. This follows Criterion developed Hot Pursuit, which became the highest rated Need For Speed title ever and set a new bar for online excellence with its BAFTA winning innovative Autolog feature set.

Criterion Games provides a stable studio atmosphere and is backed by Electronic Arts, the world’s largest publisher and developer of video games. Located in Guildford town centre, within leafy Surrey, we’re only a short 40 minute train journey from London and all its entertainment. 

To be a part of this talented team you need to be passionate about games and committed to being the best in the world at what you do. You need to know what matters to the people who play our games and be passionate about surpassing their and our, expectations. In return we offer the chance to work with the foremost talent in Europe in an upwardly mobile studio where professional growth of our employees is at the heart of how we operate.

This is a very exciting time at Criterion Games and anyone that joins us will be working on top selling, world class games, on cutting edge hardware in an extremely creative environment.

ROLE OVERVIEW

A Lead Animator possesses industry honed abilities in 3D animation and is able to work the entire animation production line from integration to delivery if required. A Lead Animator’s primary role is to assist the Art Director in managing the art team (managing specifically the animation team), including pipeline delivery and personnel development. Lead Animators have highly developed communication skills and are able to work independently and under direction as and when required. Lead Animators have worked with existing IP and are able to translate style guides into working asset pipelines.

• Creates great animation for our games

• Works with Art Director to help establish and implement best practice

• Leads and manages animation asset delivery pipelines

• Mentor junior/intermediate staff

• Employs industry awareness and experience to formulate working creative plans

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Superior animation skills, demonstrating a thorough understanding of principles of weight and movement

• Ability to effectively tell a story through animation with creative flair

• Ability to create Animation with life within extreme technical constraints

• Developed knowledge of integrating Animation into development pipelines

• Experienced with use of motion capture

• Complete understanding of game production process, end to end

• Experience on multiple deployed titles

• Proficient mentor, able to train junior staff

• Developed communication skills, able to work with a range of stakeholders

• Small team management and development

• Team player able to work with and without direction