SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT
Position Title: Sr. Animator
Location: Denver, CO
Webpage: http://corporate.station.sony.com/job_search.vm?loc=4
Company Order Number: 3465
Position Title: Senior/Lead Animator, SOE Denver
Department: Art
Location: Denver
Sony Online Entertainment is looking for a skilled and experienced Animator to work with other team members and external vendors to deliver a new dimension of experience to the Magic: the Gathering property This position, will require the Animator to manage the quality of assets that are developed by our external vendors, along with coordinating designers and programmers to animate our human and creatures. The ideal candidate has experience animating human, non-human, and mechanical characters. A solid grasp of the principles of body movement, anticipation, overshoot, follow-through, squash and stretch, forward and inverse kinematics, and other facets of both 2D and 3D animation is essential.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
- Game Character Animation production using Maya
- Oversee animation production internal and external in accordance with production schedules and quality control, while maintaining a strong visual benchmark.
- Create Key frame Character Animations along with Rigging/weighting.
- Coordinate with game designers to define combat timings, and the overall feel of movement/action within the game.
- Identifying and implementing tech needs based on design criteria
- Report directly to the Art Director, outlining asset list, and to establish the overall look & feel of all animations.
- Learn proprietary tools while working within a complex asset development pipeline.
- Coordinate with programmers to troubleshoot and finalize animation pipeline.
- Mentor and train animators on latest software and animation techniques.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Is polite, positive and is responsive to feedback. The candidate must be a great team player.
• Is able to work in a timely and effective manner that aligns with product schedule needs.
- Extensive knowledge and experience in the 3D animation process. Skills in related character tasks (e.g. modeling, texturing, rigging, and weighting).
- Solid understanding of classic animation principles and fundamentals (squash and stretch, staging, timing, anticipation, exaggeration).
- A strong sense for acting, storytelling and cinematography.
- Traditional animation, storyboarding, and other 2D skills and/or film experience a plus.
- Familiarity with the Game production animation pipelines.
- Clear and concise communication and people skills.
- Knowledge of Magic the Gathering.
- Experience working on or playing MMO games.
NICE TO HAVE
• Ability to hand-animate a convincing cinematic performance.
• Mel Scripting/Tools creation.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
· Bachelor’s degree or equivalent formal training in animation.
· 5+ years experience in game development hand-animating characters using Maya.
· Must have shipped at least two titles with heavy 3D content as a lead/senior character animator with management responsibilities.
DIVERSITY INFORMATION
Sony Online Entertainment is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to Diversity in the Workplace.
