Job Type: Contract

🐾 Animator (Creature & Gameplay Focus) – Contract Steamroller Animation Bringing Extraordinary Creatures to Life in Game Worlds About Steamroller Animation At Steamroller Animation, we are dedicated to crafting immersive worlds inhabited by extraordinary, lifelike beings. We value observation, research, and storytelling through movement. We are a team passionate about our craft, committed to a collaborative environment where animators can bring unique anatomy, personality, and purpose to every creature, defining how they move, feel, and connect within the game world. The Opportunity: Animator (Creature & Gameplay Focus) We are seeking a seasoned Gameplay Animator who specializes in creature animation. You will be responsible for defining the movement of our fantastical beings, translating subtle biological twitches and thunderous combat strikes into high-quality, believable, and responsive gameplay performances. Your work will directly enhance player immersion and interaction. Detail Information Employment Type Contract (1099) Location Remote (Must be U.S.-based only and eligible to work in the U.S.) Key Responsibilities (What You’ll Do) Focus Area Core Tasks Creature Animation Animate high-quality creature and gameplay performances that maximize believability, responsiveness, and player immersion. Authenticity & Research Use reference and deep research (including real-world animal studies and biomechanical analysis) to ground fantastical movement in authenticity and naturalism. Collaboration & Design Work closely with Animation Directors, Leads, and Designers to develop motion that perfectly supports gameplay mechanics and creative intent. Execution Execute a wide range of animation tasks, including both keyframe and motion-capture work for in-game actions and cinematics. Pipeline & Tools Utilize Autodesk Maya and other production tools to meet both technical and artistic standards for gameplay implementation. Feedback & Review Implement feedback from leads with a focus on maintaining animation quality and consistency. Participate actively in dailies and reviews. Qualifications & Expertise Required Qualifications Category Details Experience Minimum of 5+ years of professional experience in gameplay animation for AAA, AA, or high-quality indie titles. Creature Specialization Demonstrated expertise in creature animation, with a strong grasp of animal and fantasy anatomy, weight, and movement principles. Animation Principles Deep understanding of core animation principles and how they specifically enhance interactivity and player feedback. Technical Skills Proficiency in Autodesk Maya (required). Proven ability to use reference and research to inform animation performance and realism. Collaboration Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a cross-disciplinary production environment. Location Must be based in the United States and eligible to work within the country. Latest Jobs

Animation Supervisor (FACS & Motion Capture) – Contract Steamroller Animation Lead the Future of Digital Performance About Steamroller Animation At Steamroller Animation, we’re passionate about our craft and committed to working on the coolest projects. We cultivate a welcoming, growth-oriented culture where collaboration and creative excellence thrive. Join our fun-loving bunch and advance your career by contributing to groundbreaking work. The Opportunity: Animation Supervisor (FACS & Motion Capture) We are seeking an experienced and visionary Animation Supervisor to spearhead the Facial and Motion Capture teams. This critical contract role involves bringing a hyper-realistic virtual performer to life for an ambitious live musical experience. You will be the driving force in uniting facial expressions (FACS), body movement, and emotional authenticity into a cohesive, lifelike digital performance, guiding both creative and technical direction. Detail Information Position Type Contract Location Remote (British Columbia preferred due to tax credit requirements; Open Globally) Start Date TBC February/March 2026 Key Leadership Responsibilities (What You’ll Do) Focus Area Core Responsibilities Creative Leadership Define artistic direction and quality standards for facial and motion capture, ensuring emotionally compelling and lifelike performances. Team Management Supervise, mentor, and inspire a team of FACS and Mocap Cleanup Animators, providing clear technical and creative guidance. Integration & Review Review and refine animation to achieve seamless, high-quality integration between facial solving, body motion, and overall performance intent. Pipeline Development Partner with Rigging, Performance Capture, and Engineering teams to improve animation tools, pipelines, and workflows. Cross-Collaboration Act as the primary Animation representative, communicating team progress and needs effectively in cross-departmental and partner-facing meetings. Workflow Efficiency Conduct dailies and reviews, delivering concise, actionable feedback. Anticipate and resolve creative/technical challenges to ensure efficient production flow and timely delivery. Qualifications & Expertise Required Qualifications Category Details Experience Minimum of 8 years of professional animation experience in film, games, or real-time production. Supervisory History Proven supervisory or lead experience managing animation teams, specifically across both facial and motion capture workflows. Facial Expertise Expert understanding of FACS, facial anatomy, and performance-driven facial animation. Body Mechanics Deep knowledge of body mechanics, weight, timing, and naturalistic human movement. Software Skills Proficiency in Autodesk Maya. Experience with MotionBuilder is highly valued. Pipeline Knowledge Experience integrating mocap data and facial solving into cinematic or real-time pipelines. Familiarity with Unreal Engine and Sequencer workflows. Leadership Traits Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Strong ability to manage priorities and delegate effectively. Preferred (But Not Required) Qualifications Qualification Value Add Advanced Capture Experience working with 4D capture, high-fidelity scanned assets, or virtual production pipelines. Project Type Background in musical, live, or performance-based animation projects. Mentorship Demonstrated success in mentoring or training animation teams. Innovation Strong interest in pushing the boundaries of digital performance and real-time storytelling. We look forward to reviewing your application and seeing how your expertise can elevate the performance standards at Steamroller Animation.

Mocap Cleanup Animator – Contract Role Steamroller Animation (Remote, British Columbia) About Steamroller Animation We are a passionate, fun-loving team dedicated to working on the coolest projects. We foster a welcoming culture focused on growth, learning, and advancement. Join us if you thrive in a collaborative and supportive atmosphere! Role Summary We are looking for a highly skilled Motion Capture Cleanup Animator to refine and enhance the full-body performance of a hyper-realistic virtual performer for a live musical experience. The ideal candidate possesses an expert understanding of body mechanics and mocap workflows to ensure the digital performance—mirroring the exact likeness of a public figure—is natural and authentic. Detail Information Position Type Contract Location Remote (Must be located in British Columbia) Start Date TBC February/March 2026 Mocap Cleanup Animator – Contract Role Steamroller Animation (Remote, British Columbia) About Steamroller Animation We are a passionate, fun-loving team dedicated to working on the coolest projects. We foster a welcoming culture focused on growth, learning, and advancement. Join us if you thrive in a collaborative and supportive atmosphere! Role Summary We are looking for a highly skilled Motion Capture Cleanup Animator to refine and enhance the full-body performance of a hyper-realistic virtual performer for a live musical experience. The ideal candidate possesses an expert understanding of body mechanics and mocap workflows to ensure the digital performance—mirroring the exact likeness of a public figure—is natural and authentic. Detail Information Position Type Contract Location Remote (Must be located in British Columbia) Start Date TBC February/March 2026 Key Responsibilities (What You’ll Do) Focus Area Core Tasks Motion Data Refinement Clean, retarget, and polish complex body motion capture data for a hyper-realistic digital character. Performance Fidelity Maintain and enhance the physicality, timing, and weight of captured movements to align with the creative vision. Technical Execution Apply motion data to 3D models using Maya or MotionBuilder. Troubleshoot and resolve mocap issues (artifacts, misalignments, inconsistencies). Collaboration & Pipeline Ensure seamless integration of body motion with facial animation. Collaborate with Rigging, Engineering, and Performance Capture teams to refine tools and pipelines. Reviews & Feedback Participate in dailies and reviews, professionally implementing feedback to meet artistic and technical standards. Additional Duties Contribute to previs, layout, and final shot animation as needed. Qualifications & Requirements Required Requirement Type Details Experience Minimum of 3 years of production experience in film, games, or performance capture environments. Mocap Expertise Proven experience with motion capture animation cleanup for realistic human movement. Animation Principles Strong understanding of timing, weight, balance, and body mechanics. Software Skills Proficiency in Autodesk Maya. Familiarity with mocap retargeting/cleanup pipelines. Workflow Experience integrating mocap data with cinematic or real-time production workflows. Soft Skills Excellent communication, collaborative problem-solving, and ability to deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines. Location Must be located in British Columbia. Preferred (Not Required) Qualification Advantage Real-Time Engine Experience working in Unreal Engine or other real-time environments. Production Context Background in live or virtual production settings. Artistic Skill Strong understanding of character acting and performance interpretation.