About this Position
We are looking for a Lead Cinematic Animator to define and drive the animation quality of our next-generation sports title. If you are passionate about creating lifelike motion, leading a talented team, and bringing cinematic realism to gameplay - we’d love to meet you.
SportSpired Games is an international game studio developing next-generation sports simulators. Our team includes professionals with experience at Wargaming, MY·GAMES, The Walt Disney Company, Ubisoft, 343 Industries, Starbreeze, Sperasoft and EA Sports. We’re building an ambitious AAA title slated for release in 2028-2029.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage a team of animators, assign tasks, and oversee production schedules.
- Mentor and support team members, ensuring motivation, skill growth, and productivity.
- Create high-quality gameplay animations for an action-oriented sports title, delivering realism, fluidity, and expressive movement.
- Ensure all animations align with gameplay mechanics and design requirements.animations align with gameplay mechanics an
- Oversee the recording and integration of Motion Capture data in collaboration with the mocap director.
- Process, clean, and implement captured data into Unreal Engine 5, refining and enhancing animations for cinematic quality.
- Contribute to the development and improvement of the animation pipeline, including optimization of tools and workflows.
- Ensure captured data meets the technical and artistic standards of the project.
- Collaborate with mocap directors, programmers, and designers to ensure seamless integration and consistency of animations.
- Participate in discussions and decision-making processes aimed at improving animation quality and overall gameplay experience.
- Maintain high animation standards through regular testing, feedback analysis, and iterative improvements.
Requirements
- 5+ years of professional experience in the game industry as an animator, including experience leading an animation team.
- Strong knowledge of Unreal Engine 5, including its animation systems and technical constraints.
- Deep understanding of realistic humanoid and facial animation, including movement principles, timing, weight, and emotional expression.
- Hands-on experience with Motion Capture recording, cleaning, and integration into a real-time engine.
- Proven experience creating gameplay animations for action, fighting, or sports games that emphasize dynamic, believable movement.
- Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Maya, MotionBuilder, Blender, or equivalent software.
- Strong understanding of rigging, skeletal animation, and MetaHuman workflows.
- Familiarity with UE5 animation systems (motion matching, animation blueprints, etc.).
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills for working with cross-disciplinary teams.
- Ability to effectively organize, manage, and inspire a team of animators while ensuring timely, high-quality delivery.
