Lead Animator

About This Role

Leading the animation team, managing production, and ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality animation assets is the core of this role. This position suits an experienced animator with strong leadership skills and a passion for games, who can balance hands-on production with team management.

Responsibilities

• Manage the production and delivery of all animation
• Organise and supervise animators to prioritise and deliver upon requirements
• Ensure the efficient and timely delivery of high-quality assets
• Maintain effective relationships with outsource partners
• Identify and resolve risks to both the project and outsource pipeline
• Plan and schedule animation tasks
• Troubleshoot and solve animation issues with all departments
• Collaborate with the Art Director to verify in-game animation quality, consistency, and iterate according to feedback
• Drive the development of rapid prototypes
• Work with Art, Tech, and Design to help define short and long-term objectives and establish workflows
• Provide mentorship and guidance to the animation team
• Manage the delicate balance between quality and delivering to aggressive deadlines
• Balance between hands-on production and animation-team management

Requirements

• Strong understanding of the principles of animation and character anatomy to provide feedback to Artists
• Hand and key animation skills in a variety of animation styles
• Proficient in Maya or 3DS MAX
• Proven experience in mentoring or leadership through the full cycle of development
• Scheduling and outsourcing experience
• Able to take direction and impart feedback to the Animation team
• General understanding of technical and animation pipelines, including rigging and engine integration
• Broad understanding of contemporary processes and engine technology
• Shipped a high-quality game on mobile or console
• A passion for Games
• English language skills

Nice to have:

• Proficient in Chinese

About the Company

Ubisoft is a global leader in gaming, creating original and memorable gaming experiences for titles like Assassin’s Creed, Rainbow Six, and Just Dance. Established in 2008, Ubisoft Chengdu is a key game studio in western China and a full-fledged production center with over 320 talents. The studio has a strong track record of co-development on major Ubisoft brands such as Assassin’s Creed®, Skull and Bones™, and For Honor®, and also develops casual games and brings hit titles to Switch. Chengdu’s technology team develops products that empower production teams to make educated, data-driven decisions on hit Ubisoft brands, driving the company’s “games as a service (GAAS)” ethos.