Full-Time

Lead Cinematic Animator

Posted on 9/18/2024

2K

2K

1,001-5,000 employees

Develops and publishes interactive video games

Consumer Software
Gaming

Senior, Expert

Montreal, QC, Canada

Hybrid position.

Category
Animation
Motion Graphics
Art, Graphics & Animation
Required Skills
Animation
Requirements
  • Previous Lead, Team Lead, or coaching experience, leading an animation team.
  • Shipped multiple AAA titles, ideally using Unreal or a comparable engine.
  • Exceptional knowledge of motion capture and hand key animation as they pertain to video game cinematics.
  • Animation graph and data integration experience.
  • Experience working with Motion Capture data and pipelines.
  • Experience in hand-key facial animation and audio-driven facial animation tools.
  • Experience structuring & maintaining animation processes such as rigging, or prototyping.
  • A very strong understanding of character performance, form, gesture, and silhouette.
  • Excellent understanding of anatomy and caricature.
  • Exceptional skill in animating the human bipedal figure, organic forms, quadrupedal, and mechanical objects.
  • An exemplary understanding of traditional animation principles and physical storytelling.
  • Able to respond elegantly to difficult creative changes, often late in the process.
  • Strong collaborative and flexible spirit.
  • Champion of high standards, pushing for progress, embracing change, and challenging the status quo.
  • Uncompromising ethics and unwavering integrity.
  • A positive force multiplier with a great team-player attitude.
Responsibilities
  • Manage and mentor a team of cinematic animators in the development of high-end cinematic and cut-scene animations.
  • Contribute to the development of the cinematic animation pipeline and workflows, with a continuous eye for improvement.
  • Partner with other department leads and animation leadership to plan for mocap sessions.
  • Lead review sessions with the cinematic animation team, giving constructive, actionable feedback.
  • Actively collaborate with other disciplines to ensure cinematic animation goals are set, met, and completed in a timely manner.
  • Work closely with Production to identify blocking issues, develop milestone roadmaps, participate in sprint planning and tasking, and delegate animation work.
  • Share your own experience, best practices, and cinematic animation know-how to elevate the less experienced members of the team.
  • Take on a small animation workload when time permits.
  • Take an active role in the animation and cinematic leadership circle, by sharing your voice and best practices to help guide the culture of the cinematic team.
  • Participate in the hiring process for the department, including the creation of job roles and responsibilities.
  • Establish on-boarding and team training for the cinematic animation team regarding animation related tools, and processes, and software.
  • Embrace and evangelize the Cloud Chamber values: Act with Kindness, Lead With Courage, Dare To Be Original and Creative, Stand For Unity, and Embrace Diversity.

2K develops and publishes interactive entertainment, focusing primarily on video games for a wide audience that includes casual gamers, hardcore enthusiasts, and professional eSports players. The company collaborates with well-known game development studios like Supermassive Games and Firaxis Games to create popular titles such as "The Quarry" and "TopSpin 2K25." Their games are available through digital downloads and physical copies, and they also generate revenue from downloadable content (DLC), in-game purchases, and exclusive content partnerships. 2K differentiates itself from competitors by its strong collaborations with top-tier developers and its diverse range of engaging gaming experiences. The company's goal is to provide high-quality video games that appeal to a broad audience while maximizing revenue through various sales strategies.

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Novato, California

Founded

2005

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • 2K secured the FIFA license, expanding its sports game portfolio.
  • Project Ethos introduces a new free-to-play live-service shooter to 2K's lineup.
  • TopSpin 2K25 revives a beloved tennis series, appealing to sports game fans.

What critics are saying

  • Denuvo in NBA 2K25 may cause performance issues, sparking community backlash.
  • Project Ethos' free-to-play model may face monetization challenges.
  • Multiple major titles for 2025 could strain development resources, risking delays.

What makes 2K unique

  • 2K collaborates with top-tier studios like Supermassive Games and Firaxis Games.
  • 2K offers diverse gaming experiences, from sports to interactive drama horror games.
  • 2K's multifaceted revenue model includes DLC, in-game purchases, and exclusive content.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

Health Care Benefits

Health Savings Account (HSA) Including Company Contribution

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

401k Retirement Plan

Life and Disability Benefits

Group Legal Plan

Wellbeing Program

Childcare Benefits

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Generous Compassionate Leave

Companywide End of Year Break

INACTIVE