Animator - 6 month contract

It’s a really exciting time to be at Space Ape Games. We’ve created a fast-paced environment that promotes genuine autonomy and we have projects at all stages of the development cycle. We launched our hit music game, Beatstar, in 2021 and we’re following its success with Countrystar less than two years later. We also officially launched our first puzzle game in July, Chrome Valley Customs, and we’re preparing to scale this game to global success. On top of all this, we’re running several mature live games and working on some exciting new projects behind the scenes!

As an Animator at Space Ape Games you will play a crucial role in bringing characters and environments to life. In fact it won’t only be characters, it could be weapons, machinery, even buildings; if it can move it’s fair game! You will be responsible for the full process from creating pre-vis prototypes through to the final stage of implementing animations. You will work closely with engineers to make sure your assets are working in game as you intended. At Space Ape Games we have staff who are good at multitasking. We don’t always have dedicated TAs so we expect our animators to be able to contribute to the rigging of their characters.

At Space Ape Games we don’t believe in unnecessary bureaucracy, so no complex approval systems and hierarchies. Our art team is extremely passionate and highly driven, who believe that by working as a team the best work is created, if you think you would thrive in this atmosphere then you might just be the Animator we are looking for.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with programmers and designers to ensure animations align with technical and game design requirements effectively.
• Interpret and incorporate feedback from various disciplines to create engaging animations.
• Utilise JIRA to manage, monitor, and update daily task progress.
• Assist in optimisation and debugging processes to address issues promptly.
• Work with the Animation Director and Art Director to help set and push the animation quality bar and express storytelling through in-game animations
• Actively participate in team art discussions, critiques, and evaluations.
• Coordinating with production to ensure timely completion of animation tasks.
• Create and refine high-quality keyframes and implement them in the game.

Requirements

• Good understanding of animation principles

• Proficiency in a 3D animation software, preferably Maya
• Demonstrated experience in developing in-game animation cycles and systems
• Bonus: Familiarity with rigging and technical animation basics
• Bonus: Basic understanding of Polygonal modelling
• Bonus: Familiarity with the Esoteric Spine animation package
• Bonus: Knowledge of Unity/Unreal game engines
• Bonus: Experience in crafting story-driven animations and marketing cutscenes

Why Space Ape is right for you

• Be a part of one of several small empowered teams who inspire and challenge one another in the pursuit of our mission
• Autonomy to make your own impact with the support to help it happen
• An award winning studio that has been crowned one of the best places to work, for the last 6 years in a row!
• Help run and create games which bring joy to millions of players all over the world
• 5* Glassdoor rating - Check out our reviews
• Entered a long-term strategic partnership with Supercell in 2017
• Competitive salary & stock options

About Space Ape

At Space Ape we pride ourselves on our passion and the trust we place in our people. We look for passionate, productive, team players who are relentless in their pursuit of our mission. There’s no bureaucracy here, we just get things done. Space Ape’s mission is to make the highest quality and most successful mobile games in the world. Founded in 2012 we’ve since launched seven games that have been installed by over 150 million people and generated over $425m revenue.

We are part of the Supercell family, giving access to some of the most talented game makers on the planet.

Our studio is currently 130 strong and built around the belief that small empowered teams make the best games. This philosophy enables us to innovate, move faster and have the creative ownership required to make the greatest games on mobile.