Principal Animator (Gameplay, Conversations & Scripted Events) / Animateur principal ou Animatrice principale – Gameplay et Conversations / Scripted Events
Core
Principal Animator specializing in either Gameplay Animation Systems (locomotion, interaction, traversal) or Conversations & Scripted Events (facial animation, character acting, performance-driven animation) for AAA game titles.
Role type
Principal Animator (Gameplay Systems or Narrative/Performance)
Builds
AAA game characters, gameplay systems, and narrative-driven experiences
Domain
Video Games / 3D Animation
Deliverable
production ML models | product features | dashboards & analysis | research | client delivery | infrastructure | physical/clinical work
Required skills
3D character animation, motion capture, keyframe animation, animation fundamentals (body mechanics, acting, timing, weight, posing, arcs, anticipation, follow-through), Maya, MotionBuilder, gameplay systems understanding, animation pipelines, cross-disciplinary workflows
Preferred skills
First/third-person gameplay animation systems, 3C concepts (Character, Controls, Camera), locomotion/traversal/interaction/multiplayer/blending systems, animation graphs, root motion, motion matching, facial rigs, lip sync, gesture systems, facial capture, game engines (Unreal), various animation styles/character types, rigging workflows
Technologies
Maya, MotionBuilder, Unreal
Responsibilities
Own and drive animation systems or features from concept through final implementation, Create high-quality gameplay, body, and/or facial animations at AAA standards, Collaborate closely with animators, designers, and gameplay programmers, Advance animation quality and recommend improvements to workflows and pipelines, Contribute to planning, dependencies, and structuring animation work across systems, Mentor team members and help elevate overall animation craft, Participate in animation reviews to ensure consistency and quality, Solve complex artistic and technical animation challenges
Seniority
Principal, hands-on IC with mentorship