Principal Animator
@ People Can Fly Studio

Hybrid
$120,000
Hybrid
Full Time
Posted 4 days ago

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XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX******* @peoplecanfly.com
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Job Details

About People Can Fly Studio

People Can Fly is a leading independent AAA game development studio with an international team. Founded in 2002 and known for titles like Painkiller, Bulletstorm, Gears of War: Judgment, and Outriders, the studio continues to push the boundaries of game development using Unreal Engine and other cutting edge tools.

Current Projects

The creative team is developing exciting titles including Gears of War: E-Day, Project Echo for KRAFTON, and Lost Rift. The studio is exploring new platforms and VR experiences.

Role Overview: Principal Animator

The main goal of the Principal Animator is to create both realistic and stylized motion for in-game characters (humanoid, creature, or machine). The role involves collaboration across Level Design, Game Design, VFX, Animation Programming, and Tech Animation.

Duties & Responsibilities

  • Follow and influence the established vision of the game’s story and gameplay.
  • Create high-quality animations using hand key techniques and motion capture data.
  • Develop animations that enhance gameplay and visual storytelling.
  • Implement and iterate on animation assets in-game.
  • Collaborate with diverse teams to create dynamic player-centric experiences.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve animation issues with all departments.
  • Conduct R&D to improve pipelines and workflows, including bug fixing and case study documentation.
  • Support recruitment projects and assist with onboarding new hires as needed.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have strong mentoring skills, an excellent grasp of animation principles (timing, weight, and staging), and a deep understanding of character anatomy. You should bring new industry standards to the project and be capable of translating game narratives into believable, dynamic animations. Solid knowledge of Unreal Engine or similar platforms is required, along with proficiency in MAYA and Unreal.

Desired Experience and Skills

  • 8+ years of professional industry experience.
  • Experience with AAA game titles.
  • Additional artistic skills such as storyboarding, figure study, and 2D animation.
  • Technical rigging, MotionBuilder proficiency, and facial animation skills.
  • Ability to represent the studio at conferences.

Benefits

Benefits include a comprehensive benefit package with full insurance, dental coverage, RRSP matching, paid time off, virtual health and mental well-being sessions, and opportunities for personal development in a global creative team.

Key skills/competency

  • Animation
  • Unreal Engine
  • MAYA
  • Motion Capture
  • Character Anatomy
  • R&D
  • Mentoring
  • Collaboration
  • Problem Solving
  • Creativity
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How to Get Hired at People Can Fly Studio

🎯 Tips for Getting Hired

  • Research People Can Fly Studio: Understand their projects and international presence.
  • Customize your resume: Highlight AAA game animation experience.
  • Showcase portfolio: Demonstrate hand key and motion capture skills.
  • Prepare for interviews: Practice technical and behavioral questions.
  • Align with company values: Emphasize creativity and collaboration.

📝 Interview Preparation Advice

Technical Preparation

Review MAYA and Unreal Engine basics.
Practice hand key and motion capture methods.
Study animation troubleshooting techniques.
Familiarize with R&D pipeline improvements.

Behavioral Questions

Describe a challenging project teamwork moment.
Explain mentoring experiences in previous roles.
Detail collaboration with technical teams effectively.
Share approaches to problem-solving under pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions