3D Senior Animator | Lunar Animation Studios
Lunar Animation Studios is seeking a highly accomplished, versatile Senior Animator to join our team in Sheffield. This role is designed for an expert storyteller who possesses flawless animation fundamentals, a masterful grasp of mechanics, and the creative agility to deliver world-class movement across a wide array of stylistic genres. As a Senior Animator, you will step away from basic implementation to take absolute creative ownership over highly complex shots and narrative sequences. You will translate abstract directional notes into evocative visual choices, work pro-actively across departments to navigate technical challenges, and ensure your assigned sequences meet premium industry benchmarks. The ideal candidate functions as a foundational pillar within the studio environment—collaborating tightly with production teams, driving technical pipeline enhancements, and serving as an anchor of quality for the department. Job Overview : Senior Animator Role Component Details Job Title Senior Animator Studio Lunar Animation Studios Location Sheffield, UK Core Software Autodesk Maya Experience Level 5+ Years of professional production experience Core Discipline Character, Creature, and Vehicle Keyframe Animation Key Objectives High-end sequence ownership, camera previsualization, pipeline support Key Responsibilities as Senior Animator High-End Asset Creation & Cinematography Premium Asset Authoring: Produce complex, story-driven character, creature, and mechanical keyframe animations that maximize emotional resonance and physicality. Sequence Choreography: Plan, structure, and execute demanding action set-pieces and nuance-heavy dramatic performances from initial concept to completion. Previsualization & Composition: Execute cinematic camera layouts and comprehensive previsualization (Previs) to establish baseline narrative pacing and lens selections. Performance Referencing: Record, study, and direct physical reference choreography to ground character performances in realistic biomechanics. Production Delivery & Technical Support Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner directly with Directors, Supervisors, and downstream departments to execute the artistic vision. Shot Finalization: Oversee the technical integrity of your assignments, managing scene caching, geometry cleanup, and comprehensive shot finalization workflows. Pipeline Advocacy: Actively identify workflow bottlenecks and offer practical solutions to iterate upon internal tools, animation presets, and global studio pipelines. Skills & Requirements for Senior Animator Minimum Qualifications (Required) Autodesk Maya Expertise: Advanced technical proficiency in Maya, supported by an elite professional showreel demonstrating immaculate mastery over weight, timing, rhythm, posing, and performance logic. Anatomical & Physical Literacy: Deep, natural understanding of human and animal anatomy, structural physics, and center-of-mass mechanics. Cinematic Vision: Strong foundational background in cinematography, screen direction, composition, and visual storytelling rules. Professional Tenure: 5+ years of documented production history delivering high-end commercial, film, television, or game assets. Soft Skills: Exceptional communication skills with a proven track record of interpreting complex feedback, iterating quickly under tight deadlines, and collaborating smoothly within cross-discipline teams. Desirable Qualifications (Nice to Have) Direct experience mentoring, guiding, and training junior to mid-level animation talent. Deep technical animation backgrounds, including scripting capabilities (Python/MEL) or rigging infrastructure knowledge. Broad stylistic versatility spanning hyper-real hyper-detailed workflows down to snappy, cartoony, or abstract movement languages. A relevant academic degree, certification, or specialized industry training qualification. Portfolio Requirements Applicants must submit a curated portfolio link that explicitly demonstrates: High-end character and creature keyframe performances. Production-proven sequence construction, ideally showing stages from early previsualization/blocking to final polished renders. Advanced mechanical or vehicle motion displaying a clean grasp of weight and momentum. Key Factors Impacting the Offer The “Desirable” Skill Premium: If you can jump into scene-caching, solve complex Maya rigging bottlenecks, or mentor junior artists without relying heavily on Technical Directors, you will slide toward the top end of the bracket. Stylistic Versatility: Demonstrating in your portfolio that you can seamlessly pivot from hyper-realistic creature physics to highly stylized, cartoony character work adds significant negotiation leverage. Work Model Flexibility: If you are local and able to work on-site in the Sheffield studio environment, it often streamlines the onboarding process compared to a fully remote or international setup, which can influence final compensation packages. Application Process Interested candidates should apply through the studio’s online application form. Your application must include a tailored cover letter explaining your alignment with our senior-level criteria, an up-to-date CV, and an accessible link to your digital portfolio or showreel. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted directly by a Lunar Animation Studios representative to schedule formal interviews.