Technical Gameplay Facial Animator

Summary

Join That's No Moon, an independent game studio, as a Technical Gameplay Facial Animator. Contribute to the creation of high-quality, realistic facial animation for a AAA title. You will be responsible for developing workflows, tools, and processes for facial animation, collaborating with various teams to deliver compelling performances. This role requires proven experience with runtime and offline procedural facial animation, scanned facial assets, and various facial solving solutions. The position offers competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) matching, flexible PTO, supplemental life and disability insurance, and potential equity and profit share. This is a temporary project hire position with a variable duration.

Requirements

• Proven experience working with runtime and offline procedural facial animation and has shipped a game doing so
• Proven experience in working with scanned facial assets
• Ability to create scripts to enhance workflow and increase efficiency
• Experience working with a variety of facial solving solutions
• Full understanding of gameplay character animation systems
• Have knowledge of FACS and facial anatomy
• Demo reel showing a proven understanding of all animation principles
• Experience in creating narrative driven character performances of the highest fidelity utilizing FACS and micro expressions
• Professional working knowledge of Maya
• Experience working with game engines
• Passionate about making games and the enthusiasm to make the best!
• Excellent problem-solving and interpersonal skills

Responsibilities

• Use procedural solutions to create, process, polish and integrate AAA quality facial animations that are believable and engaging
• Assist in establishing the overall gameplay facial animation pipeline, work alongside animation engineering and gameplay animators to develop tools and workflow
• Collaborate with directors and leads to ensure facial in cinematics and gameplay are cohesive
• Ensure that animation flows in a realistic way when delivering dialog with complex expression beats
• Maintain believable performances as it pertains to body and facial combined
• Ensure that facial animation is a combined effort with gameplay systems
• Be proactive with troubleshooting any animation workflow and pipeline issues
• Effectively communicate with artists, animators, engineers, designers and riggers, to give and accept feedback

Preferred Qualifications

• Flexibility in switching tasks to accommodate production priorities
• Ability to appreciate other department's perspectives
• Maintain integrity and confidence in results-oriented times
• Empathic and respected team leader
• Team oriented with a desire to mentor other animators
• Promote inclusivity, diversity and fairness
• Practice patience and be open to giving and receiving feedback

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401(k) matching
• Flexible PTO
• Supplemental life and disability
• Equity
• Profit share