Summary
Ambertail Games is an independent games studio based in the heart of Belfast, Northern Ireland. We're looking for a talented Animator who’ll help bring our debut title ‘Amber Isle’ to life! As a part of our creative team, you'll become a key member in crafting what we hope will be something extraordinary.
Since this is such a key creative role, we’re only seeking applicants based in Northern Ireland at this time, who are capable of working in-house alongside the rest of the creative team!
Working alongside our Creative Director, you’ll be responsible for creating a range of animations, such as character animation, emotes, special effects and object animations.
For the most part, you’ll be responsible for animating our Paleofolk characters - who are all cute, anthropomorphic prehistoric animals! Therefore, we’re seeking applicants with strong character animation skills, both animal and humanoid. You will also be responsible for working with the technical team to ensure that animations are optimised for performance and meet memory constraints.
Our ideal candidate is a self-driven, passionate animator that loves the work that they do. If you're passionate about creating visually stunning animations and bringing characters to life, then this could be the role for you!
Responsibilities
Create high-quality animations for characters and objects using Maya.
Work with the Creative Director and Technical Director to ensure all animations meet the game's aesthetic and performance requirements.
Ensure that all animations are optimized for performance and meet memory constraints.
Collaborate with the rest of the art and technical teams to ensure that animations are integrated seamlessly into the game.
Maintain excellent communication and collaboration with the rest of the team. (We love sharing resources, techniques and ideas so we can all grow and learn together!)
Experience & Skills
Requirements:
A strong understanding of animation principles, such as timing, spacing, weight, and acting.
Strong understanding of character animation, particularly with stylised 3D characters.
Proficiency in using industry-standard animation software, such as Maya or Blender.
Experience working with Unity animation and animator systems.
Experience with rigging and skinning characters and objects.
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot animation-related issues.
Ability to work efficiently and be proactive with time management.
Practical organisation skills and the ability to follow established conventions.
A great team player, willing to work collaboratively and receive feedback or guidance from the rest of the team.
Must be based in Northern Ireland.
Nice to Have:
Significant professional experience as an Animator in games.
Experience with Unity's animation state machines.
Experience with weight painting.
Understanding of the best working practices for animation optimization.
Familiarity with the genre of casual management and life simulator games (Animal Crossing is a great example).
Knowledge and love for all things dinosaur/paleontology would be fantastic!
Life at Ambertail
Ambertail Games prides itself on being an enthusiastic yet small studio, which allows us to invest much more into each team member. We aim to create an open and collaborative environment, and we believe that our team creates the best work when they have a range of perspectives and experiences to draw from. We want everyone on the team to feel that they’ve left their mark on the world of Amber Isle!
We’re advocates for a healthy work-life balance. We are firmly against crunch culture and believe that our team creates their best work when well-rested, relaxed and respected!
This is a full-time freelance contract expected to last 8-12 months, starting in February 2023. You’ll be based either full-time in our Belfast office, or hybrid in-office/remote.
We welcome and encourage applications from qualified candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.
How to Apply
To apply, visit the application form below, selecting the ‘Animator - NI (Jan 2023)’ role.
You will need the following materials on hand:
A copy of your CV/Resume
Your portfolio, demonstrating examples of animation work and the animation pipeline
Optionally, a cover letter detailing your suitability for the role (maximum 1 page).
DEADLINE EXTENDED: Applications close Sunday 26th February at 11pm UK Time.
P.S: If you read the requirements and feel like you're almost there, or maybe you aren’t super confident or are prone to imposter syndrome and a voice is telling you to walk away - please apply anyway. None of us here are perfect geniuses or have it together 100% - we’re all just doing the best job we can, and I’m confident you can do that too.