Animation Director

<div class="content-intro">Crystal Dynamics is constantly seeking the best gaming talent worldwide to add to our 30-plus year legacy of game development creating new and iconic franchises. We are committed to making great games with great people and living the dream while doing it.Benefits for our regular full-time positions include, but are not limited to, a competitive regional salary, 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance options, professional development reimbursement, flexible hybrid on-site/off-site work opportunities, company paid holidays, plus additional paid days in December when the studio is closed for holiday break, and the ability to accrue additional paid time-off.Join us and shape the future of an amazing studio culture committed to creating award-winning franchises like Tomb Raider, the next Perfect Dark, and more! <hr></div>Crystal Dynamics is seeking a visionary Animation Director to lead and inspire our co-development team of talented animators, playing a pivotal role in defining the animation vision for our upcoming high-fidelity action-adventure titles. As the Animation Director, you will blend strategic leadership with hands-on contribution, directly influencing the gameplay experience through the execution of top-tier animations. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the visual and interactive elements of our games, making a substantial impact on our projects.  As an Animation Director, you will:  <ul><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Drive the overarching animation vision in collaboration with the Game Director and Art Director, ensuring the game's visual and interactive identity is maintained. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Work in close partnership with Department Leads, Animators, and Designers to assess and meet the game's animation requirements. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Work closely with our external co-development partner, guiding animators across different time zones to drive creative alignment and ensure the delivery of high-quality animation assets. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Deliver engaging combat and traversal animations in collaboration with gameplay designers and engineers.  </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Set and manage animation goals, aligning deliverables with project milestones and deadlines. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Utilize the animation team's diverse strengths to produce superior quality animations.  </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Promote team growth and morale through regular individual meetings, feedback sessions, and mentorship opportunities. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Foster a positive, collaborative team environment that values open communication and constructive feedback.  </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Develop and maintain a modern animation workflow aligned with our Unreal Editor development environment to enhance team productivity and reduce iteration time. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Document and manage animation tasks and processes. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Guide animators across various styles, ensuring a consistent animation approach throughout the project.  </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Manage, direct, and review external animation vendors, as needed. </li></ul> To be considered for this role, we require the following:  <ul><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="22" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Extensive experience in a leadership role within animation (Director, Lead, or Principal Animator) in the game development industry, particularly for high-fidelity action-adventure games. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="22" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Demonstrated leadership abilities with a track record of nurturing and developing animation talent.  </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="22" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">In-depth understanding of gameplay systems, including weapon, traversal, melee, and ranged combat animations, especially from a 3rd person perspective. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="22" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Expertise in animation graphs, animation blending, and node-based animation editors. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="22" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Proficiency in Motion Capture and real-time game engines / editors. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="22" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">A collaborative mindset, particularly when working with co-development design and engineering teams. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="22" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Examples of relevant work (i.e., demo reel, portfolio, or contributions to shipped title). An ideal reel will include:  <ul><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="22" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Up to date examples of realistic animations that clearly demonstrate your skills/expertise, preferably showcasing some or all of the following: </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="22" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Character Animation: High-quality, grounded movements like walking, running, jumping, climbing, and other traversal actions. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="22" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Gameplay Animations: Realistic offensive and defensive moves for both melee and ranged combat, including combos and melee weapons. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="22" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Cutscene Integration: Smooth transitions between gameplay and cinematic scenes. </li></ul></li></ul><ul><li data-leveltext="o" data-font="Courier New" data-listid="23" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Courier New","469769242":[9675],"469777803":"left","469777804":"o","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Inclusion of a breakdown sheet detailing your specific contributions to each piece is highly recommended. <ul><li data-leveltext="o" data-font="Courier New" data-listid="23" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Courier New","469769242":[9675],"469777803":"left","469777804":"o","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Note: If you directed others, we would then be looking for a director’s cut.  </li></ul></li></ul>  Preference will be given to candidates who have:  <ul><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="25" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Experience with Unreal Engine. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="25" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Experience with Unreal Engine Animation Tools. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="25" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Experience with Metahuman Animation Tools. </li></ul>  It'll be a bonus if you also have:  <ul><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="26" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"> Shipped 1+ AAA titles as an Animation Director. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="26" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Experience and willingness to work with co-development teams in EU time zones. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="26" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Experience directing motion capture shoots for both gameplay and cinematic performances. </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="26" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Experience working within an existing IP.  </li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="26" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Experience with creature animation.</li></ul><hr>En françaisCrystal Dynamics recherche un Directeur de l’animation visionnaire pour diriger et inspirer notre équipe de co-développement composée de professionnels de l’animation talentueux, et jouer un rôle clé dans la définition de la vision d’animation de nos prochains titres d’action-aventure haute fidélité. En tant que Directeur de l’animation, vous combinerez leadership stratégique et contribution concrète, en influençant directement l’expérience de jeu grâce à la réalisation d’animations de premier plan. Ce poste offre une occasion unique de façonner les composantes visuelles et interactives de nos jeux, en ayant un impact significatif sur l’ensemble de nos projets. Vos missions en tant que Directeur de l’animation : <ul><li>Définir la vision d’animation globale en collaboration avec le Directeur artistique et le Directeur du jeu, pour garantir une identité visuelle et interactive cohérente. </li><li>Travailler étroitement avec les responsables de département, animateurs et concepteurs pour cerner et satisfaire les besoins en animation du jeu.</li><li>Collaborer étroitement avec nos partenaires de co-développement à l’international, en coordonnant les animateurs répartis sur plusieurs fuseaux horaires pour garantir l’alignement créatif et la qualité des livrables.</li><li>Concevoir des animations dynamiques de combat et de déplacement avec les designers gameplay et les ingénieurs. </li><li>Définir et suivre les objectifs d’animation en cohérence avec les jalons du projet.</li><li>Tirer parti des forces variées de l’équipe pour produire des animations de très haute qualité. </li><li>Favoriser la montée en compétences et la motivation de l’équipe à travers un suivi individuel régulier, des sessions de feedback et du mentorat.</li><li>Cultiver un environnement d’équipe positif, fondé sur la communication ouverte et les retours constructifs. </li><li>Développer et maintenir un pipeline d’animation moderne, aligné sur notre environnement Unreal Editor, pour accroître la productivité et réduire les temps d’itération.</li><li>Documenter et gérer les tâches et processus liés à l’animation.</li><li>Encadrer l’ensemble des styles d’animation, en garantissant une approche homogène sur tout le projet. </li><li>Superviser, diriger et valider le travail des prestataires externes si nécessaire.</li></ul>Critères de sélection pour ce poste : <ul><li>Expérience confirmée à un poste de direction ou de lead dans l’animation au sein de l’industrie du jeu vidéo, en particulier sur des jeux d’action-aventure haute fidélité. </li><li>Leadership démontré avec un historique de développement de talents en animation. </li><li>Solide compréhension des systèmes de gameplay, notamment les animations d’armes, de déplacement, de combat au corps à corps ou à distance (vue à la 3e personne).</li><li>Expertise des graphes d’animation, du blending et des éditeurs d’animation en nodes.</li><li>Maîtrise de la capture de mouvement et des moteurs / éditeurs temps réel.</li><li>Esprit de collaboration, notamment dans des contextes de co-développement avec les équipes de design et d’ingénierie.</li><li>Portfolio ou démo à jour illustrant votre travail (avec contributions clairement indiquées). Idéalement, la démo inclura : </li><li>Des exemples réalistes et actuels d’animations mettant de préférence en valeur certains ou tous les éléments suivants :<ul><li>Animation de personnages : des séquences de déplacement (marche, course, saut, escalade, etc.)</li><li>Animations du gameplay : mouvements offensifs et défensifs réalistes pour les combats au corps à corps et à distance, y compris des combos et des armes de mêlée.</li><li>Intégration des cinématiques : transitions fluides entre le gameplay et les scènes cinématiques.</li></ul></li><li>L’ajout d’une fiche de décomposition précisant vos contributions à chaque élément est fortement recommandé.</li><li>Remarque : Si vous avez dirigé une équipe, une « version du directeur » est attendue. </li></ul> Seront considérés comme des atouts supplémentaires : <ul><li>Expérience avec MotionBuilder.</li><li>Expérience avec Unreal Engine. </li><li>Expérience avec les outils d’animation d’Unreal Engine.</li><li>Expérience avec les outils d’animation Metahuman.</li></ul> Un atout supplémentaire si vous avez également : <ul><li>Dirigé l’animation d’au moins un jeu AAA. </li><li>Travaillé avec des équipes de co-développement situées dans les fuseaux horaires européens.</li><li>Dirigé des séances de capture de mouvements pour le gameplay et les cinématiques.</li><li>Travaillé sur une propriété intellectuelle (IP) existante.</li><li>Expérience en animation de créatures.</li></ul> <div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description">The pay range for this role includes the annual base salary, not including bonus and the generous benefits package that Crystal Dynamics provides all full-time employees. Individual compensation is determined by work location within our approved states or regions, as well as additional factors, including job related skills, experience, and relevant education. Your recruiter will be able to share more information about total compensation.</div><div class="title">Pay Range (United States)</div><div class="pay-range">$140,000—$200,000 USD</div></div><div class="pay-input"><div class="title">Pay Range (Canada)</div><div class="pay-range">$125,000—$180,000 CAD</div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion">Not sure if you are qualified? We hope that you will still choose to apply so we may review your application!<hr> Please be advised that our company is aware of scammers impersonating us, and we assure you that all legitimate communication will come from the official Crystal Dynamics email address domain "@crystald.com" or will be an automated response from our applicant tracking system using "no-reply@us.greenhouse-mail.io". If you have any concerns about the validity of a message from our staff, feel free to <a href="https://www.crystaldynamics.com/contact-us/">contact us</a>.For more information on how to avoid scams like this please see our <a class="c-link" href="https://www.crystaldynamics.com/careers/job-scams-phishing-attempts/" target="_blank" data-stringify-link="https://www.crystaldynamics.com/job-scams-phishing-attempts/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Jobs Scams & Phishing Attempts</a> help page, or visit the <a class="c-link" href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/scams" target="_blank" data-stringify-link="https://consumer.ftc.gov/scams" data-sk="tooltip_parent">FTC website</a>. Crystal Dynamics is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to identifying and implementing positive and persistent measures to ensure equal opportunity in the recruitment, hiring, development, training, promotion and compensation of a diverse team employee group. This includes persons of different race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity or gender expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or medical conditions related to breastfeeding, genetic characteristic, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, medical condition, political affiliation, age, veteran status, uniform service member status, marital status, physical or mental disability, or citizenship, as well as any other classifications protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Crystal Dynamics is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. If you require any accommodations, please notify us at your earliest convenience during the interview process.By submitting an application, you acknowledge that you have read and understand Crystal Dynamics's <a href="https://www.crystaldynamics.com/legal/privacy/">Privacy Notice</a>.</div>

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