Gameplay Animator (Senior+/Lead)
$85,000–$120,000 year
HybridToronto, Ontario, Canada
Job Summary
Define the game's animation style with expressive, solid body mechanics that make gameplay feel amazing. Take ownership of the full animation process from rough prototypes to polished performances. Drive in-engine development using state machines and procedural techniques, collaborating with designers and engineers to solve gameplay challenges. Document tools and workflows while mentoring other animators through feedback and guidance. Champion animation clarity and responsiveness across the studio. This Project Lead role involves interdisciplinary discussions on scope, planning, and team updates, with potential involvement in hiring and career development.
Required Qualifications
- 7+ years of professional experience animating for games, with a focus on gameplay
- A standout demo reel that shows clear body mechanics, timing, and personality
- Expert in Maya or equivalent 3D animation software
- Hands-on experience working in-engine, with focus on general state machine structures
- Proactive and self-directed, with a good sense of when to explore and when to get things done
- Able to effectively communicate technical needs and issues to Engineering/Tech Art/Design
- Above all, deeply curious and passionate about creating responsive, character forward animation that makes gameplay feel amazing
- This is a hybrid or onsite position. Hybrid is 3 days a week in studio
- Our studios are located in Troy, NY and Toronto, ON
Desired Qualifications
- Experience leading small animation teams or driving animation direction
- Reel should include game or engine captures of your animations in gameplay context
- Familiarity with motion matching, procedural animation, or other modern runtime techniques
- Generalist skills in modeling, rigging, or related areas
- A passion for game design and how animation supports player feedback, pacing, and readability
- Experience with motion capture
- Basic scripting or tool-building experience (Python, MEL, or similar) to streamline workflows or prototype ideas
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