DNEG is seeking a skilled and experienced Animator to join our team in Sydney. In this role, you will be responsible for creating believable, emotionally engaging, and physically accurate animation for high-end VFX feature films.
Working closely with the Head of Animation, Animation Supervisors, and your fellow Animators, you will bring complex assets like creatures, digi-doubles, and characters to life with stunning realism and artistry.
This position requires creative excellence alongside a strong technical understanding of the production pipeline, emphasizing collaboration, problem-solving, and the ability to maintain world-class standards under tight deadlines.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Key Responsibilities
- Produce exceptional, high-end VFX animation, including hero creatures, digi-doubles, and complex performance work.
- Work closely with Supervisors and Leads to ensure consistency of performance, style, and motion across sequences.
- Mentor less experienced artists by providing constructive feedback to junior and mid-level animators.
- Troubleshoot and resolve technical or creative issues within assigned shots.
- Collaborate with the Rigging, Layout, and Creature departments to optimize workflow and enhance animation quality.
- Contribute to the refinement of tools, processes, and methodologies within the animation pipeline.
- Work efficiently to meet production deadlines while maintaining high-quality output.
Must Have Qualifications
- 5+ years of professional CG animation experience in high-end live-action VFX feature films.
- Proven ability to animate realistic and physically grounded performances for creatures, digi-doubles, and characters.
- Thorough knowledge of Autodesk Maya.
- Strong foundational understanding of 3D form, weight, anatomy, timing, and performance.
- Ability to solve visual and analytical problems in 3D space and interpret complex layouts.
- Experience mentoring or supporting junior artists.
- Demonstrated ability to anticipate and resolve potential technical or creative issues.
- A Showreel showcasing a variety of hero-level, detailed animation work across multiple shot types (e.g., flying, bipedal, creature, vehicle, and motion capture-based performances).
Nice to Have
- Experience contributing to pipeline improvements or developing animation tools using Python or MEL.
- Previous experience in a lead or key sequence role.
About You
- Deep understanding of the principles of animation.
- Excellent teamwork and communication skills.
- Collaborative and adaptable with a proactive, problem-solving mindset.
- Strong attention to detail and a passion for creating lifelike performances.
- Open, approachable, and committed to supporting a positive team culture.
