Job in London : The multi-Oscar-winning Film & Episodic Studio at Framestore is seeking an exceptionally talented and visionary Senior Animator to join our world-class creative team in London. Framestore stands at the pinnacle of the visual effects industry, collaborating with the world’s greatest contemporary storytellers, directors, and producers across the entirety of the filmmaking lifecycle.
From initial pre-visualization through to the final render, our teams design, plan, and execute breathtaking imagery that consistently sets new benchmarks for cinematic excellence.
Framestore is a studio where bleeding-edge technology meets uncompromised artistic talent. Driven by creativity and inspired by the future of moving images, we set out every single day to reframe what is possible in cinema. As a Senior Animator, you will be a cornerstone of this mission, injecting soul, authentic weight, and unforgettable personality into photorealistic creatures and complex digital characters for major Hollywood blockbusters and high-end episodic series.
Framestore Job in London Overview
| Category | Specification / Detail |
| Company Name | Framestore |
| Job Title | Senior Animator |
| Department | Film & Episodic Animation |
| Job Type | Permanent / Full-Time |
| Work Model | Hybrid (Combining in-studio collaboration with remote flexibility) |
| Location | London, Greater London, United Kingdom |
| Salary Range | Competitive / Commensurate with senior-level VFX experience (Disclosed upon application) |
| Core Software | Autodesk Maya |
| Primary Focus | Photorealistic Creature Performance & Character Animation |
| Application Process | Manual Review (No AI screening tools utilized) |
| Direct Application Email | recruiters@framestore.com |
| Subject Line Requirement | Senior Animator – London |
| Application Deadline | 21st June 2026 |
| Studio Accessibility | Fully accessible facility (Step-free entry, accessible facilities, quiet spaces) |
Position Summary & Core Objectives
This Senior 3D Animator opening represents an existing, vital position within our established animation department. In this role, you will transition straight into the heart of high-profile, story-driven productions. You will be relied upon as a key creative force capable of handling the most demanding shots on a show, ranging from highly nuanced, emotional facial acting to explosive, high-action combat sequences.
The ideal candidate possesses an unparalleled passion for mastering complex anatomy and thrives on the technical and artistic challenge of making mythical beasts—whether they walk, fly, swim, or breathe fire—feel entirely grounded in reality. You will work within a sophisticated, distributed production pipeline, serving as a pillar of reliability for your Animation Lead and Supervisor while actively elevating the artistic output of the entire team.
Detailed Responsibilities as 3D Animator
1. Premium Animation Production
- Performance Crafting: Generate world-class keyframe animation for primary and secondary characters, ensuring that every element within the frame possesses organic motion, subtext, and an authentic soul.
- Creature Mechanics: Develop breathtaking creature performances, masterfully translating real-world animal behaviors and locomotion principles into fantasy or prehistoric archetypes.
- Story & Pacing Alignment: Collaborate iteratively with the Animation Lead and Animation Supervisor to ensure your shots perfectly support the director’s narrative vision, editorial pacing, and overarching cinematic style.
2. Pipeline Collaboration & Rig Refinement
- Rigging Feedback Loops: Partner closely with our Rigging and Technical Animation departments, offering precise, constructive feedback on puppet setups, skin deformation, and facial articulation.
- Workflow Optimization: Work alongside the Pipeline team to identify bottlenecks in asset transfer, test new internal tools, and build smoother, faster workflows for the wider animation team.
- Technical Compliance: Ensure all completed animation data cleanly integrates back into the studio’s proprietary pipeline without syntax errors or data degradation.
3. Leadership, Mentorship & Ownership
- Junior Artist Mentorship: Actively support, guide, and mentor mid-level and junior animators. Share your technical tricks, critique their body mechanics constructively, and foster an environment of continuous learning.
- Schedule & Deadline Ownership: Maintain flawless transparency regarding your production schedules. Accurately estimate the time required to complete complex shots and consistently hit milestone deadlines.
- Constructive Feedback Integration: Approach supervisor notes, director changes, and technical feedback with an open, solution-oriented mindset, executing revisions rapidly and calmly as deadlines approach.
Required Skills & Experience for 3D Animator
While Framestore look for artists with a comprehensive understanding of the craft, your practical portfolio and demonstratable production history remain the most critical benchmarks.
- VFX Industry Track Record: Significant, proven experience working as an animator on large-scale, photorealistic live-action feature films or premium episodic visual effects projects.
- Showreel Excellence: A world-class animation showreel that explicitly highlights your mastery over photorealistic creature mechanics, quadrupedal/bipedal locomotion, and subtle, dramatic facial acting.
- Software Mastery: Expert-level production knowledge of Autodesk Maya within a professional studio environment.
- Physical Kinematics: A flawless natural grasp of physical motion, inertia, weight, balance, drag, and spatial awareness in a 3D environment.
- Anatomical Expertise: A profound foundational understanding of both human and animal anatomy, which must serve as the backbone for how you construct fantasy muscle structures and complex locomotion.
- Pipeline & Data Literacy: Strong comprehension of modern character rigs, deformation pipelines, and data transfer protocols between various production and simulation tools.
- Professional Communication: Clear, constructive, and emotionally intelligent communication skills. A genuinely collaborative approach to working across highly distributed, multicultural pipeline teams.
Desired Pluses (Bonus Qualifications)
Do you possess skills that go beyond traditional keyframe animation? We highly value well-rounded artists who bring unique technical or traditional backgrounds to the table:
- Motion Capture Competency: Practical experience working with, cleaning up, or creatively editing motion capture (mocap) and performance capture data.
- Traditional Fine Arts: A traditional artistic background rooted in sketching, life drawing, sculpting, or classic 2D hand-drawn animation principles.
- Technical Scripting: A working knowledge of 3D modeling workflows or basic programming languages (such as Python or MEL) to build personal scripts and streamline repetitive animation tasks.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Flexibility “What if I don’t have every skill listed?”
Please do not let a checklist hold you back. The requirements detailed above serve as guidelines, not rigid, unyielding rules. You do not have to satisfy every single qualification to be a great fit for Framestore. If your core skills are transferable, your eye for motion is sharp, and you feel a deep resonance with the role, we strongly encourage you to apply. Submitting your application gives our recruitment team the opportunity to consider you not just for this specific role, but for various upcoming projects and alternative positions suited to your unique strengths. job in London.
Commitment to Inclusion
Framestore is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that employs extraordinary talent across all genders, races, nationalities, religions, ages, abilities, and sexual preferences. We aim to actively encourage, protect, and support all of our current and future employees to achieve their maximum creative potential. No individual applying to Framestore will ever receive less favorable treatment on any protected demographic basis.
Our London studio facility is meticulously designed to be fully inclusive and accessible to all. The workspace features:
- Complete step-free entry and smooth transit corridors throughout the facility.
- Fully accessible toilets and facilities equipped on every single floor.
- Dedicated quiet spaces and low-sensory environments for colleagues who require rest or focused isolation during the workday.
If you require any specific adjustments, physical accommodations, or bespoke support during the interview or application process, please let us know. We are more than happy to tailor the process to accommodate your personal needs.
Application Requirements & Instructions
To ensure your application is processed efficiently by our human recruitment team (remember, we never use automated AI screening algorithms), please execute the following steps:
1. Prepare your Materials: Update your CV/Resume to highlight your specific photorealistic film credits and technical tool proficiencies.
2. Polishing your Reel: Ensure your showreel link is active, password-free (or password provided), and directly presents your creature and character work. Include a clear breakdown sheet explaining your specific contributions to each shot.
3. Submission Channels: You may apply by completing the linked online application form on our career portal, or by directly emailing your resume and portfolio link to recruiters@framestore.com.
Subject Line Formatting: If applying via email, you must use the exact subject line: Senior Animator – London to avoid processing delays.
All submissions must be completed prior to the end of the day on 21st June 2026. We look forward to reviewing your craft!
