Website Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)
Are you a master of the digital lens looking for a career-defining role with a salary of £65,000 – £85,000+ GBP? Do you possess the rare ability to blend high-octane action with nuanced character performance? Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)—the home of wizards, dragons, and the world’s most iconic superheroes—is seeking a Senior Cinematic Animator to join our elite Cinematic Team in London.
This is more than a Warner Bros. Discovery job; it is an invitation to work within the “stuff dreams are made of.” You will be the architect of mood, tone, and life, bringing our legendary IPs to the living rooms of millions through immersive, real-time in-engine cinematics. If you are a pioneer in Unreal Engine 5 and a veteran of AAA storytelling, we want you to help us create what’s next.
Job Overview
Company Name: Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) – A global entertainment leader and home to iconic brands like DC, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones.
Position Title: Senior Cinematic Animator – A key role responsible for the mood, tone, and life of real-time in-engine cinematics.
Primary Location: London, United Kingdom – Based in a world-class creative hub with access to industry-leading talent.
Salary Range: £65,000 – £85,000 GBP (Estimated annual compensation based on London senior benchmarks and AAA experience).
Employment Type: Full-Time position offering career-defining opportunities and thoughtfully curated benefits.
Work Model: Hybrid – A flexible balance of remote work and in-office collaboration to support team synergy and work-life balance.
Core Technology Stack:
Unreal Engine 5: Expert-level use of Sequencer and MetaHuman technology for real-time storytelling.
Maya & Motion Builder: Primary tools for character animation, body mechanics, and motion capture data manipulation.
Experience Level: Senior – Requires a proven track record, including having shipped at least one AAA video game title.
Key Responsibilities:
Developing industry-leading scenes from pre-visualization to final in-engine playback.
Integrating motion capture data, keyframe animation, and camera composition to drive narrative sequences.
Collaborating with the Cinematic Director to maintain visual excellence and consistency across WB branded IPs.
Defining best practices and advancing the cinematic pipeline while respecting technical constraints and budgets.
Required Skills: Strong animation foundations (body mechanics, facial, and timing) and a keen eye for cinematic language (composition, lighting, and editing).
Why Choose Warner Bros. Discovery Jobs?
Warner Bros. Discovery stands as a global leader in entertainment, connecting the world’s most talented creators with the most beloved brands. Joining the Cinematic Team in London places you at the epicenter of a “technology trailblazer” environment.
The WBD Advantage:
Iconic IP Portfolio: Work on world-renowned brands that define global pop culture.
Hybrid Flexibility: A thoughtfully curated work model that respects your work-life balance while fostering in-office collaboration.
Inclusion & Culture: Be part of a workforce that celebrates diverse perspectives and supports employees to grow into their best selves.
Cutting-Edge Tools: Direct access to the latest MetaHuman and UE5 pipelines, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in real-time rendering.
Detailed Job Responsibilities
In this role, you are a storyteller first. You will be responsible for the entire cinematic lifecycle, from the raw motion capture stage to the final, polished in-engine playback.
1. Narrative Sequence Development
Cinematic Vision: Create industry-leading scenes that drive the game’s narrative through expert cinematography, composition, layout, and editing.
Visual Voice: Ensure that every cinematic sequence aligns with the project’s specific “visual voice,” maintaining consistency in mood and tone throughout the game.
End-to-End Pipeline: Take cinematic scenes from the pre-visualization (pre-viz) phase all the way to final, high-quality implementation in the engine.
2. Performance & Technical Animation
Mocap Mastery: Work extensively with performance capture data, cleaning and enhancing it to ensure character performances feel grounded and emotionally resonant.
Keyframe Expertise: Combine mocap with hand-keyed animation for facial expressions, body mechanics, and complex prop interactions.
Engine Integration: Deep-dive into Unreal Engine 5, utilizing Sequencer and MetaHuman technology to manipulate animation content for perfect real-time playback.
3. Leadership & Process Innovation
Pipeline Best Practices: Assist in defining the processes that improve studio workflows, establishing a high standard of visual excellence that colleagues can follow.
Cross-Disciplinary Synergy: Collaborate with Design, Narrative, Tech-Anim, and Programming teams to ensure cinematic visions stay within technical budgets without compromising on quality.
Director Collaboration: Work closely with the Cinematic Director to ensure scene direction is current, relevant, and reaches the desired emotional “hit.”
Requirements for the Senior Cinematic Animator Job
We are looking for a veteran who has navigated the complexities of large-scale game development and understands the weight of a major brand.
Industry Track Record: You must have shipped at least one major AAA video game title.
Technical Mastery: High proficiency with Maya and Motion Builder.
Unreal Engine 5 Expert: Extensive knowledge of the Unreal 5 toolset, specifically Sequencer and MetaHumans, is highly desired.
Animation Foundations: A profound understanding of body mechanics, facial animation, timing, and weight.
Cinematic Language: A keen eye for camera movement, lenses, composition, and the “rules” of film editing.
Professional Mindset: Excellent organizational skills, a positive attitude, and the ability to deliver tasks on schedule within a console/PC production pipeline.
Application Requirements
To stand out for Warner Bros. Discovery jobs, your application must include:
A World-Class Demo Reel: Showcase your ability to handle cinematic storytelling, camera work, and high-fidelity character performance.
Narrative Focus: Highlight scenes where your animation specifically supported or enhanced the story.
Technical Breakdown: Briefly explain your role in the pipeline (e.g., “Mocap cleanup,” “UE5 Sequencer setup,” “Camera Layout”).
To apply for this job please visit careers.wbd.com.