Senior Artist / Animator

From the moment we plugged in our first PC in October ’94, Monolith has been obsessed with combining stunning visuals, inventive narratives and cutting-edge technology to bring a distinctive gaming experience to both PC and console.

Monolith Productions seeks a Senior Artist/ Animator for the Monolith Art department. The Senior Animator is responsible for driving and creating character and creature animation of the highest quality. This person will work closely with the Animation Lead along with the Directors of Art to ensure that the aesthetic quality is kept at the highest-bar across all content creation. This person will be well versed in the game engine, art tools, and will be responsible for coordinating with a team of junior artists, and artists, to complete high quality animation content. Additionally, the Senior Animator is responsible for researching, developing, and recommending new art/tech to help push the studio quality bar forward.

• Create industry leading character animation.
• Create industry leading creature animation.
• Help develop tools/processes to aid in system and content creation.
• Direct and facilitate high quality motion capture.

• BA in art or related field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years working as an animator in the entertainment industry with a focus on character and creature animation.
• Technical experience working with game engines, databases and scripting.
• At least 2 shipped AAA titles.
• Experience as a technical artist a plus.
• At least 5+ years experience with industry standard 3-D animation package (3D Studio Max, Motion Builder, and Maya).
• High quality character (biped) and creature animation (quadruped) skills with an ability to create highly realistic AAA quality animation content.
• Solid understanding of facial animation.
• Strong understanding of animation fundamentals with a deep knowledge of the history of animation.
• Strong understanding of Motion Capture process.
• A solid understanding of character rigging. This includes a fundamental understanding of the technical processes involved, functionality and requirements.
• Solid experience and understanding of art pipelines on Xbox One and/or PS4, and an interest in finding ways to evolve and improve the animation pipeline.
• Aptitude and passion for visual storytelling and emotional connection to game characters.
• Ability to learn quickly and adapt to new technology and complex pipelines.
• Solid organization skills with adherence to file structures, naming conventions and other established protocols.
• Excellent ability to self-manage to meet deadlines and work well under pressure.
• Must be able to work well within a team. Willingness to provide and accept direction, and the ability to embrace change. Ability to collaborate productively with others.
• Must be able to buy into the established art vision of the game and ensure this is delivered in its entirety at the end of the project.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.