3D Animator

Responsibilities of a 3D Animator include

Animating characters, creatures, objects, and environments with fluid, believable motion; collaborating with riggers, modelers, designers, and developers to enhance gameplay and storytelling through expressive 3D animation.

Job description

A 3D Animator is responsible for creating dynamic and realistic animations that bring digital characters, environments, and objects to life in video games or interactive media. They work closely with the art and development teams to ensure animations match the artistic vision and function smoothly within the game engine. From combat sequences to facial expressions, 3D animators play a crucial role in enhancing visual storytelling and player immersion.

Responsibilities:

  • Creating realistic and stylized animations for characters, creatures, vehicles, and props.
  • Developing animation cycles such as idle, walk, run, attack, jump, and facial animations.
  • Working with riggers to ensure rigs meet animation requirements.
  • Importing and implementing animations into game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine.
  • Collaborating with designers and programmers to ensure animations are responsive and align with gameplay mechanics.
  • Refining animation timing, posing, and weight for optimal fluidity and impact.
  • Adhering to technical constraints such as polygon count, performance, and rig limitations.
  • Participating in reviews and iterations based on animation and gameplay feedback.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Computer Graphics, Game Design, or a related field (preferred).
  • Proficiency in animation software such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max.
  • Strong grasp of animation principles including body mechanics and facial expressions.
  • Familiarity with game engine animation systems (e.g., Unity’s Animator, Unreal’s Sequencer).
  • Experience working with rigged characters and inverse kinematics (IK/FK).
  • Understanding of timing, spacing, and weight to produce lifelike animations.
  • Ability to adapt to various animation styles (realistic, stylized, cartoony, etc.).