Senior Character Animator (Game Development)

TL;DR

Senior Character Animator (Game Development): Creating dynamic, expressive hand-keyed gameplay animations for various characters with an accent on stylized keyframe animations that portray a wide range of personalities. Focus on integrating animations into game engines, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and mentoring junior animators.

Location: Onsite in the Netherlands. Relocation and immigration support available.

Company

Guerrilla is a game development studio dedicated to creating high-quality, stylized animations that enhance player experience, working closely with various departments.

What you will do

• Create compelling, visually appealing hand-keyed gameplay animations for a variety of characters (e.g., locomotion, combat, traversal, cinematics).
• Develop and implement stylized keyframe animations that portray a wide range of personalities.
• Collaborate closely with Tech Animation, Design, VFX, and Direction to achieve the team's vision.
• Take ownership of your work, guiding it from concept to final in-game integration, including iteration based on feedback.
• Work with technical and design partners to ensure animations function well within gameplay systems.
• Mentor, train, and inspire the animation team, helping them grow and develop their skills.

Requirements

• 7+ years of relevant experience as an animator, with a strong focus on stylized, hand-keyed animation.
• Excel at creating dynamic, expressive keyframe animations that feel responsive in gameplay.
• Possess a deep understanding of traditional animation principles and how to apply them.
• Have experience in setting up animation networks in-engine and integrating animations into game engines.
• Proficient in Maya and comfortable using game engine programs.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a team.

Nice to have

• Experience working on third-person action or combat-focused titles, especially with stylized or character-driven animation styles.
• Familiarity with bug tracking software (e.g., JIRA, ShotGrid) and version management systems (e.g., Perforce).

Culture & Benefits

• Part of a cutting-edge, creative project.
• Collaborative environment across various departments.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and empowering employees.
• Opportunity to work on games that resonate with a diverse audience.
• Relocation and immigration support offered for the right candidate.