Cinematic Artist, £130 - £200 per day

Our client, a multi award winning developer based in Surrey, has a hugely exciting opportunity for a Cinematic Artist.

They are looking for experienced game artists / animators who have worked in games teams or animation studios.

You should have:

• Training and experience of creating cinematic sequences for video games.

• Experience using Maya and in house tools for cut scene creation.

More details are available by contacting Dan on 01709 876877, or via email: dan@aswift.com

Senior Animator, £Excellent + Benefits

This is an independent game development company producing highly playable, imaginative games across virtually all platforms. They have developed over 50 successful titles and are recognised as one of the major players in the industry.

They are looking for a highly motivated and talented Lead Animator to work on their next high profile title and become a key member of one of their already established and successful game teams. Under the direction of the Art Manager, the ideal candidate will have the ability to produce high quality animation using both hand keyed animation techniques and motion capture data. Set animation schedules and ensures that all animation tasks are carried out on time and in the correct style.The candidate must have excellent knowledge of the principles of animation and also share the passion and enthusiasm to bring these skills to a 3D game environment. Character rigging skills also an advantage in this role along with the ability to work closely with a multi-faceted game team, ranging from programmers, artists, designers and other animators.


Additional qualities specific to this role include:

• Previous experience in computer games development essential

• A degree in animation/an art background (particularly life drawing) is advantageous

• Have good knowledge of relevant animation packages.

• Proactive attitude

• Good interpersonal skills

• Good team player

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely

• Aspirations to develop people management skills

• A vision for how characters should move and behave

• Work with the Art Manager to define, prioritise and delegate animation tasks.

Creating in-game content, including:-

Animating individual characters and scenic elements within the game

Performing some modeling tasks, as required

Animating filmic introductions, cut scenes and endings for the game

Providing high definition models for concept and marketing purposes

Creating and accentuating personalities via timing and pace

Animator, £Excellent + Benefits

My client, based in the Midlands, requires two Animators to work on a variety of projects.

This is a good opportunity to work for a stable studio, with a friendly team and opportunities for progression.

DUTIES:

To create in game animation content for characters (in particular, looping animations) and set piece animated sequences to the highest possible quality and correct technical specifications.

To create animated sequences for any relevant cut scene elements required to the highest possible quality and correct technical specifications.

To create any animations required for pre-visualisation content at the correct fidelity, both quickly and accurately.

ESSENTIALS:

All animators should have a full, demonstrable understanding of the fundamental principles of animation, including the following:

• Timing

• Weight

• Anticipation

• Pose to Pose

• Appeal/ Character

• Squash and stretch

• Staging

• Follow through

• Slow in and slow out

• Arcs

• Secondary action

• Exaggeration

Must have the necessary skills to provide realistic animations that are based in real world physics or cartoon like animations depending on the needs of the project and/or the direction of the Animation/Art Manager or Lead Animator.

Must be able to define and recognise dynamic poses for characters in animation.

Should have a basic understanding of how to skin and rig a character mesh for animation (any package)

Working knowledge of Maya, Motionbuilder or a similar 3D package.

An understanding of motion/performance capture, lip syncing and facial animation techniques and procedures including relevant applications such as Face FX or Face Robot.

For more information please contact Dan Shiel on 01709 876877 or on dan@aswift.com.

Senior/Lead Technical Artist, £Excellent + Benefits

My client is a successful developer/publisher who require Senior/Lead Technical Artists to work on the multiple AAA titles they have in development.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate a high artistic level in an art discipline such as (Environment, Animation, Character, Vehicles, VFX etc) as well as have a very strong technical ability.

Candidates must have:

Scripting – knowledge of Max script or Mel script ( Max script is preferable but not essential).

Good knowledge of HLSL Shaders, be able to create new Shaders from scratch and have a good understanding of the cost implications of all operations.

Knowledge and experience in creating art pipelines and in defining working practices and standards.

Desirable skills include:

Experience in programming in C# or Python scripting desirable.

Experience with animation pipelines and rigging and skinning techniques.

Knowledge of lighting techniques and different rendering techniques.

More details are available by contacting Dan on 01709 876877, or via email: dan@aswift.com

Character Animator, £DOE + Benefits

This is a fantastic fantastic opportunity for the industries most talented Animators.
 
Requirements:
 
•  Minimum of 3-year degree with an emphasis in character animation or equivalent work experience.
•  Outstanding demo reel demonstrating strong animation ability and good aesthetic eye.
•  Exceptional skill in animating realistic human characters.
•  Thorough understanding and application of classic animation principles (staging, timing, anticipation, follow through, etc.)
•  The ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with a wide variety of project staff.

• Consistently meet project deadlines in a timely manner without compromising artistic integrity.

• Assist in the integration of animation with designers and engineers to create compelling in-game animation.

• Strong interest in video games.

 
Desirable:
 
•  Experience with motion capture and MotionBuilder
•  Professional experience developing a third person action game.
•  Strong traditional animation/art background.
  
All applicants should be fluent in one or more of the major packages with MotionBuilder experience an advantage.

Cinematics Animator, £DOE

My London based client are currently looking to hire a an exceptionally talented Cinematics animator to work on latest next-gen AAA title.

The candidate must have the following qualities:

• The ability to portray realistic motion for a AAA next generation title.

• An excellent working knowledge of the latest versions of 3ds Max and character studio. Motion builder preferable.

• A great understanding of Posing and composition.

• Experience working on Cinematics for other game titles (or similar style projects).

• ‘Unreal’ Game Engine experience.

The candidate will ideally have the following qualities:

• Experience with Motion capture pipelines and process.

• Experience with camera work.

• Experience with staging and scene layout.

• Rigging and skinning skills an advantage.

• Good eye for details.

• Able to work as part of a team.

• Be a keen gamer.

For more details or to apply please respond via email, dan@aswift.com.

Senior Technical Animator, £Excellent Salary + Benefits

Our client is now firmly established as one of the key studios in the UK. They produced an award winning, smash-hit AAA title in 2009, which was both a commercial and a critical success.

They are looking to add a Senior Technical Animator to their staff. They are looking for an exceptionally talented Senior Technical Animator who is ready for the challenge of producing a AAA title on the next generation platforms.

The candidate must have the following qualities:

• A proven history in games production.

• The ability to portray realistic human motion for a AAA next generation title.

• An excellent working knowledge of the latest versions of 3DS Max and Character Studio.

• The ability to rig/skin complex models and animation setups.

• Ability and knowledge of Maxscript.

The candidate will ideally have the following qualities:

• Good eye for detail.

• Strong animation background.

• Able to work as part of a team.

• Be a keen gamer.

• Good communication skills.

Other skills and comments:

• MotionBuilder or working with motion capture data experience is an advantage.

• Unreal Engine 3 experience an advantage.

• Knowledge of Vicon capturing system an advantage.

• Knowledge of C++ and Python.

• Knowledge of cloth, physics and ragdoll setup.

More details are available by contacting Dan 01709 876877 or via email: dan@aswift.com

Animator/Facial Animator, £DOE

My client requires an Animator with focus on Facial Animation.

This is an excellent opportunity to learn in a specialist area of games animation, work on some great projects and experience a new culture.

Requirements

• Experience with 3d animation and human motion in general.

• Experience with facial animation, focus on realistic

style is a bonus

• Solid understanding of how the face moves

• Knowledge of animation using FACS system

• Background from movies, broadcast or games is required

• Knowledge of facial anatomy is a plus

• Good communication skills

• Flexible and able to handle different animation styles

• Should be fluent in English in written and spoken form

More details are available by contacting Dan on 01709 876877, or via email: dan@aswift.com