Join the award-winning team that created God of WarSanta Monica Studio is seeking a Lead Narrative Animator to join its award-winning Animation team!In this role you will partner with other Animation Leads, the Animation Director, the Animation Manager, and creative and technical leadership across the studio to define and execute the visual storytelling of an exciting new project. You will work closely with our Story and Design teams to explore creative solutions, establish best practices, and lead an experienced, talented animation team to execute the narrative goals of the project.Under the guidance of the Animation Director, the Lead Narrative Animator is responsible for individual contributions, planning and oversight for a team of animators, reviews of and feedback on in-progress work, effective cross-discipline collaboration and communication, and upholding the creative and qualitative goals of the Game Director.The ideal candidate will bring strong creative sensibilities, a thorough understanding of game animation pipelines, and a proven track record of leading experienced animation teams to successfully ship AAA titles.ResponsibilitiesPartner with the Animation Director and other Animation Leads to establish and realize the vision for animation at the studioLead and mentor an experienced team of animators, provide guidance and feedback on their work, and uphold the studio’s commitment to high standardsUnify feedback and creative direction from stakeholders and translate into actionable plans for the teamEnsure that the animation team’s deliverables are of the highest possible quality, achieve the project’s creative goals, and are technically performantPartner with Producers and Leads to define clear targets, prioritize tasks, and guide the project’s execution plansCollaborate with engineers and technical artists to identify potential improvements to animation pipelines and processes, and partner with stakeholders across departments to drive progressAssist in the planning, preparation, and execution of motion capture performance sessionsDemonstrate a daily commitment to nurturing a positive and inclusive team cultureRequirements5+ years working in AAA game development with successfully shipped titles2+ years leading animation teamsExpert understanding of the fundamental tools of visual storytelling via animation, staging, performance, and cinematographyExperience with both keyframe and motion capture animation techniquesStrong creative sensibilities and an ability to communicate clear visual goals to colleagues across disciplines and experience levelsExcellent problem-solving skills and a demonstrated ability to identify issues and manage them to successful resolutionsExpert in Maya with strong technical capability in animation pipelinesPreferred ExperienceExperience working with MotionBuilder and ShotgridStrong understanding of cinematographyExperience working with actors and/or motion capture and performance captureFamiliarity with multiple game engines and pipelines#LI-SMS#LI-MC1
