2D Animation Lead/Manager

Jam City is seeking an experienced, Lead Character / VFX Animator to lead an animation team. This team will be responsible for creating content for the Disney Emoji Blitz, mobile game. You will have the opportunity to work with the full spectrum of Disney IP, and help tell their stories in our game. We’re looking for a passionate and talented animator who can bring our animations to life with their creative vision and technical expertise. Our ideal candidate has a deep understanding of the animation process, from pre-production to post-production, someone who is comfortable working within tight deadlines and directing the work of others. If you’re excited by the idea of joining an innovative, dynamic team and helping to create exciting experiences for our players, then this could be the role for you.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead a growing team of animators based in Montevideo and Buenos Aires
• Lead by example and provide mentorship to other content team members
• Work closely with the lead animator and the art director of our Los Angeles office to define direction, methods, and approaches to solving creative animation challenges
• Work with production and project managers to accurately scope and size level of effort and deliverables
• Ensure animation/storyboard assets are delivered and shipped successfully and on time
• Communicate updated and creative goals
• Create high-quality, 2D character and effects animations for the Emoji Blitz mobile game.
• Create storyboards planning out the animation to be done
• Collaborate with artists, game designers, and engineers to define and improve our animation pipelines
• Ability to work with and oversee fully remote teams

QUALIFICATIONS

• Animation degree or equivalent work experience
• 5+ years of professional animation experience
• 2+ years of of managerial experience
• A strong portfolio/demo-reel showcasing an understanding of timing, momentum, effects, weight, and anticipation. This includes a solid grasp of the ’12 Principles of Animation’.
• Extensive experience animating in Unity using keyframes and utilizing the graph editor for polish passes.
• Proven track record of creating compelling and beautiful animations in the face of artistic, technical, and gameplay challenges or limitations
• Has a clear understanding of animation game beats and timing.
• Broad animation skills with the ability to execute various performance styles
• Extensive experience with Unity’s particle system as well as particle animation optimization
• Solid understanding of drawing and visual design principles and techniques regarding 2D, 3D, layout, color theory, and lighting
• Experience storyboarding.
• Bilingual: Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present feedback and ideas in a clear, concise, and professional manner in both Spanish and English.
• Affinity for Disney/Pixar/Lucas is a plusPassion for video games a must!
• Able to multi-task like a pro
• Sense of humor and a positive, enthusiastic attitude
• Ability to take direction, and able to iterate animations/VFX when necessary
• Self-starter, reliable, and passionate about their work
• Eye for detail with a clear understanding of the big picture
• Team player who understands the value of regular and effective communication