Lead Animator

Job not on LinkedIn

🔥 0 minutes ago

🇺🇸 United States – Remote

💵 $100k - $150k / year

⏰ Full Time

🟠 Senior

🗿 3D Artist

👻 Ghost score 0%

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IllFonic

WebsiteLinkedInAll Job Openings

11 - 50 employees

Founded 2007

📣 Marketing

🎮 Gaming

Marketing • Gaming

IllFonic is an independent video game studio with locations in Lakewood, Colorado, and Tacoma, Washington. Founded in 2007, the company specializes in creating immersive gaming experiences that connect communities with the content they love. IllFonic's team consists of veterans from the video game, music, technology, marketing, and communications industries. Some of their notable game titles and collaborations include Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, and Friday the 13th: The Game. The company continues to redefine how games are made and marketed, focusing on community connection through innovative gaming experiences.

📋 Description

• Oversee animation quality, gameplay character motion, and the animation team for a new title • Lead keyframing and motion capture integration • Partner with technical animators to refine rigging pipelines • Collaborate with Design and Engineering to deliver responsive, high-fidelity character animation in Unreal Engine • Mentor animation talent and establish animation style guides • Drive visual benchmarks across all in-game movement • Manage, mentor, and inspire internal animators • Direct and task an overseas co-development animation team • Design and optimize responsive UE5 animation systems with the Art & Animation Director and Animation Engineer • Drive animations from initial blockouts and keyframing through in-engine AnimGraph tuning and playtesting • Identify bottlenecks, refine workflows, and manage tasking, feedback, and quality control for external animation partners • Direct live motion capture sessions at the Denver MoCap studio • Oversee motion capture data cleanup and integration • Coordinate cross-discipline animation requirements, dependencies, technical constraints, and gameplay goals

🎯 Requirements

• Deep familiarity with Unreal Engine Control Rig, Sequencer, and animation blueprints • 7+ years of professional experience in video game animation production • 3+ years in Lead Animator roles • Multiple shipped console and PC titles as a Lead Animator • Proven track record leading character animation teams across keyframe, motion capture, and technical animation disciplines • Expert understanding of 3D animation software (Maya, 3ds Max), character keyframing, facial performance capture, motion editing, and real-time animation state machines • Strong hands-on experience with Unreal Engine animation workflows, including Animation Blueprints, state machines, blend spaces, animation montages, and in-engine debugging • Experience directing gameplay animation feel and responsiveness in third-person or first-person titles • Strong animation reel/portfolio demonstrating exceptional keyframing skills, character mechanics, body language, and motion clarity • Ability to work proactively across Design, Engineering, Art, and Production • Excellent communication and mentoring abilities • Bonus: Prior experience working with and expanding existing intellectual property

🏖️ Benefits

• 100% employee-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage (50% for dependents) • 401(k) retirement plan with a 4% company match • Up to 7 weeks of mandated paid time off annually, including Summer/Winter breaks and 7 holidays • Flexible PTO policy • Quarterly Royalty Bonus Plan • Stock Option Plan • Flexible work options (remote, hybrid, or in-office)