Job Description
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At Blizzard, we craft genre-defining games and legendary worlds for all to share. Through unparalleled creativity and storytelling, we create immersive universes and iconic characters that are beloved across platforms, borders, backgrounds, and generations – only made possible by building a work environment that nurtures the artistry of game development and fuels the aspirations of our people.
As our next Animation Director, you will craft the animation vision for the game–in line with the overall creative vision–and will rally your animators behind this vision. You will give them the mentorship and context they need to grasp the overall style you’re trying to achieve, and then allow them the freedom to experiment and iterate.
While your animators build a world from the ground up, you’ll keep an eye on form and function from a player’s perspective, ensuring that the look and feel of movement reach their intentions: to support the animation in cinematics, convey the narrative, and create a connection with players, all to support an immersive and engaging experience.
This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, the potential home studio for this position is Irvine, CA.
Responsibilities
Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
- Lead and mentor a team of animators, providing guidance and support to foster their professional growth and build upon their creative potential.
- Collaborate with designers, tech artists, and engineers to integrate animation assets into the engine, and to identify and troubleshoot any technical issues that might arise.
- Partner with engineers and tech artists to help support and develop an effective animation pipeline for prototyping and a rapid iteration mentality for game development.
- Leverage expertise across both team leadership and gameplay animation, ideally with a strong background in stylized key frame animation and a proven track record to deliver exaggerated character animations.
- Apply skills and knowledge of character motion and animation principles throughout the entirety of the creative process, adeptly weaving these skills with game design requirements and technical constraints to improve gameplay depth and ensure seamless visual execution within the game’s overarching vision.
- Maintain a detailed understanding of current and emerging animation technologies, and a commitment to innovation and excellence within your work at Blizzard.
- 15+ years experience in AAA game design, five of which in a Lead or Principal capacity or a combination of education and work experience.
- Extensive knowledge of animation software like Motion Builder, 3DS Max, and Maya.
- An understanding of the technologies available to be used in animation like IK, FK, Motion Matching and Procedural, and the pros and cons of their use.
- Ability to make a vision accessible and to ensure that it is well understood by all.
- Good artistic judgment.
- Ability to provide constructive feedback in an accessible way that leaves space for the creativity of your teams.
- Basic knowledge of game, narrative design, and 3Cs.
- Strong leadership and team management skills paired with the ability to inspire and empower a diverse team of designers and developers.
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills, can convey sophisticated technical concepts to non-technical partners.
- Passion for gaming and a strong understanding of game design principles, player psychology, and user experience fundamentals.
- Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, with a dedication to excellence and continuous improvement.
Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.
At Blizzard Entertainment, we pour our hearts and souls into everything we create. Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, we’ve been creating genre-defining games for millions of players around the world for more than 30 years. We’re on a quest: bring our dreams to life and craft the most epic entertainment experiences…ever. Hard work, iteration and polish go into the Blizzard “secret recipe,” but the most important ingredients come from dedicated people who share our vision. If that sounds like you, join us.
Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ – we’ve got our employees covered!
The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.
We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.
Rewards
We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ – we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:
- Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
- 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
- Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
- Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
- If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.
Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/ .
How to Apply
Apply via: https://careers.blizzard.com/global/en/job/R023314/Animation-Director-Unannounced-Game