Associate Animator, Layout

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery... the stuff dreams are made of. Who We Are... When we say, "the stuff dreams are made of," we're not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD's vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what's next... From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive. Avalanche is a Warner Bros. Games studio located in downtown Salt Lake City nestled against the backdrop of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. We've been in the video game business since 1995, creating interactive experiences for fans of the world's largest franchises. Join the team behind the blockbuster open world, action RPG Hogwarts Legacy as we create what's next! Avalanche, a division of WB Games Inc. seeks an Associate Animator with layout experience. Join the team who created Hogwarts Legacy, an open world, action RPG set in the Wizarding World! As an Associate Animator on Avalanche's cinematic team, you'll be at the forefront of creating captivating cinematic content through camera, animation, and implementation. You'll work closely with our multidisciplinary team to craft unforgettable experiences for players worldwide.

• Please note that this is a hybrid role that must be based in Salt Lake City, UT.

Key Responsibilities

• Create quality keyframe animations for characters, creatures, and environmental elements
• Be versatile working with motion capture data, keyframe animation, and in-engine manipulation of animation content
• For cinematic layout on a narrative-driven RPG, you'll block cameras, characters, and environments to shape composition, staging, and pacing for key cinematics and gameplay moments.
• Implement cinematic content into the game
• Collaborate with designers and programmers to implement and refine animations in Unreal Engine 5
• Participate in motion capture sessions and process mocap data for in-game use
• Contribute to the evolution of our animation pipeline and workflow optimizations
• Work closely with art directors to ensure animations align with the game's visual style and narrative goals

Qualifications

• At least 1 year of game animation experience or a combination of experience with a BA in art or related field
• Knowledge of Maya, MotionBuilder, and Unreal Engine 5's animation systems
• Good understanding of human and animal anatomy, locomotion, and performance
• Experience with procedural animation techniques and runtime animation systems
• Skilled at visual storytelling through strong camera work, staging, and blocking to create clear, dynamic scenes that support story and gameplay
• Proficiency in animating both realistic and stylized characters
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Excellent communication skills and a positive, solution-oriented attitude
• Portfolio demonstrating a range of animation styles and technical proficiency
• Experience with implementing cinematic content in Unreal's Sequencer

Nice to Have

• Knowledge of rigging and skinning techniques
• Familiarity with Python or other scripting languages for animation tools
• Background in traditional animation or fine arts

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