Company: Guerrilla

Job Overview Animation job at Guerrilla :: Feature Details Company Name Guerrilla (A Sony Interactive Entertainment Studio) Job Title Senior Gameplay Character Animator Location Amsterdam, Netherlands (In-studio with Relocation Support) Employment Type Full-time, Permanent Estimated Salary Range €75,000 – €105,000 (Based on experience & seniority) Core Software Autodesk Maya, Proprietary Game Engines Primary Focus Stylized, Hand-Keyed Action Animation Experience Required 7+ Years in Professional Game Animation Benefits Relocation/Immigration Assistance, SIE Benefits Package The Guerrilla Animation Job Experience When you accept an animation job at Guerrilla, you aren’t just joining a production line; you are becoming part of a legacy of visual excellence. Our Gameplay Animation Team is a specialized unit focused on the intersection of player feel and aesthetic beauty. We believe that gameplay is a conversation between the player and the character, and animation is the language they use to communicate. The Mission: Stylized Excellence The industry often leans toward hyper-realism, but at Guerrilla, we are currently focusing on a project that demands a highly skilled, stylized approach. This means we need animators who understand the “exaggerated reality” of classic animation principles—squash, stretch, and clear silhouettes—and can translate them into a modern, 3D gameplay environment. This animation job is perfect for those who find joy in the “keyframe” approach, where every frame is a deliberate artistic choice. Collaborative Ecosystem No animator is an island. At Guerrilla, you will work in tight-knit “Strike Teams.” Your daily collaborators will include: Technical Animators: Who provide the rigs and tools to make your artistic visions possible. Combat Designers: Who define the “why” and “when” of a movement, while you define the “how.” VFX Artists: Who add the elemental flair that punctuates your keyframes. Direction: To ensure every movement aligns with the overarching narrative and tonal goals of the project. Deep Dive: What You Will Do This animation job carries significant weight and responsibility. As a Senior Animator, your influence will be felt across the entire project. 1. High-Impact Content Creation You will be responsible for creating compelling, entertaining, and visually striking hand-keyed gameplay animations. This isn’t limited to a single category; you will touch every facet of the character’s life: Locomotion: Making walking, running, and pivoting feel like an extension of the character’s personality. Combat: Crafting the weight behind a swing and the visceral reaction of a hit. Traversal: Ensuring that jumping, climbing, and sliding feel fluid and responsive to player input. Interactive Cinematics: Bridging the gap between player-controlled moments and storytelling beats. 2. Personality through Motion We don’t just want characters that move; we want characters that live. You will develop stylized animations that portray a wide range of personalities. Whether a character is cowardly, heroic, lumbering, or lightning-fast, their personality should be evident even if they are just standing still in an idle pose. 3. Full Lifecycle Ownership In this animation job, you aren’t just a “task-doer.” You are an owner. You will guide your animations from the initial concept and block-out phase to final in-game integration. This involves constant iteration based on feedback from peers and leads to ensure the highest possible quality. 4. Mentorship and Team Growth As a Senior at Guerrilla, part of your legacy will be the growth of those around you. You will mentor and inspire the wider animation team, sharing your years of “tribal knowledge” about hand-keying and gameplay systems to help junior and mid-level animators elevate their craft. Who You Are: Qualifications and Skills Securing a high-level animation job at a studio like Guerrilla requires a specific pedigree of experience and a passion for the medium. The Professional Foundation Experience: You possess 7+ years of relevant experience in the game industry. You have seen projects through from pre-production to ship. The Keyframe Master: Your portfolio is built on a foundation of hand-keyed work. You can demonstrate an elite understanding of timing, spacing, and weight without relying on motion capture data. Technical Prowess: You are proficient in Maya and have a proven track record of integrating your work into game engines. You understand how animation networks (state machines) function and how to troubleshoot them. The Creative Mindset Responsive Design: You understand that in an animation job focused on gameplay, “snappiness” is king. You know how to make a character feel responsive to a button press without sacrificing the beauty of the motion. Communication: You are an effective communicator who can explain complex animation concepts to non-animators, such as programmers or producers. Proactivity: You don’t wait to be told what is broken. You seek out ways to improve the character’s “game feel” and take the initiative to implement those changes. The “Plusses”: Setting Yourself Apart While the core requirements are vital, we are particularly interested in candidates who bring: Action/Combat Background: Experience specifically in third-person action titles. Pipeline Knowledge: Familiarity with industry-standard tools like JIRA, ShotGrid, and Perforce. Diverse Perspectives: Guerrilla is an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that a team with varied backgrounds produces more creative and resonant games. Your unique life experience is a value-add to our culture. Life in Amsterdam and at Guerrilla Taking an animation job at Guerrilla means relocating to one of the world’s most beautiful and walkable cities. Relocation and Support We understand that moving is a major life event. To support the right candidate, Guerrilla offers: Visa Sponsorship: We handle the legal paperwork to get you and your family to the Netherlands. Relocation Package: Financial and logistical assistance to help you settle into your new home. Dutch Culture: Amsterdam is a global hub with excellent healthcare, education, and a work-life balance that is the envy of the industry. The Sony Advantage As a first-party Sony studio, we offer the stability and benefits of a global giant while maintaining the creative soul of an independent developer. You will have access to cutting-edge proprietary technology and a network of sister studios (like Naughty Dog, Santa Monica Studio, and Insomniac) to exchange knowledge and techniques. How to Apply If you are ready to claim this animation job as your own, we want … Read more