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Senior Story Animator

Why Naughty Dog?

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. We’ve been busy at the Kennel, most recently releasing The Last of Us Part I, a complete and faithful remake of the original game, rebuilt from the ground up and fully optimized for the PlayStation 5 and currently in development for PC. As a part of the Naughty Dog legacy, you’ll be continuing the development of extraordinary and enduring experiences for a broad, global range of audiences.

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome a diverse group of candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.

Responsibilities:

• Work with Design, Programing and Editorial to implement and iterate on interactive gameplay moments from previs to polished animation
• Create character motions through a blend of key-frame animation and motion capture
• Learn and utilize custom tools
• Brainstorm and prototype new interactive gameplay moments
• Be involved in motion capture shoots, from planning to game engine integration
• Assemble and implement mocap
• Collaborate with and mentor fellow animators

Requirements & Skills:

• Proactive team player with the ability to grasp new technologies
• A creative, innovative problem solver who is organized and an excellent communicator
• Moderate scripting comprehension
• Proficient in Maya with an excellent understanding of layers, time editor, and mocap editing
• Experience working with basic gameplay systems and game engines
• Experience developing narrative performance and/or interactive animations
• Extensive experience animating realistic humans, including facial animation
• Deep understanding of acting principles and basic camera staging
• Self-driven and thrives with minimal direction
• Comfortable collaborating with multiple departments
• Desired but not required: experience working with actors

As a part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates will be expected to provide a portfolio or demo reel of their work and may be asked to complete an animation test.

Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression, and gender reassignment), race (including color, nationality, ethnic, national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.

We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees, and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.

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