Job Details at a Glance:
| Detail | Information |
| Location | Leamington Spa, Warwickshire |
| Work Model | Hybrid Remote (Contract Position) |
| Studio | Playground Games (First-Party Xbox Game Studio) |
| Project | Fable (Action RPG Reboot) |
| Experience Required | 5+ years in animation; track record on ≥2 published titles |
| Key Skill Focus | Motion Capture Cleanup, Realistic Facial/Body Performance |
| Relocation | Assistance Available |
As a first-party Xbox Game Studio, Playground Games is passionate about making genre-defining games that are accessible, beautiful, and, most of all, fun. We are excited to be rebooting the much-loved Fable franchise and are expanding our talented team to create a new classic in the action RPG genre.
We are looking for an expert, highly experienced Senior Cinematic Animator to join our team in Leamington Spa on a contract basis.
The Role: Senior Cinematic Animator
You will work closely with our Cinematics team to produce top-tier cutscenes and bespoke animation content. You will drive creative vision from pre-visualization through final polish, enhance narrative through cinematic storytelling, and ensure your animations are seamlessly integrated within our proprietary engine.
We are looking for an animator who is passionate about storytelling, excels at conveying emotion through performance, and has a deep understanding of both facial and body performance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Capture, solve, retarget, and polish both facial and full-body mocap data for cutscenes, ensuring high-quality, believable performances.
- Iterate rapidly on cinematic layout to enhance visual storytelling, refine pacing, and support narrative impact.
- Implement cinematics into our proprietary engine, ensuring seamless integration with gameplay and overall flow.
- Work closely with the Lead, Director, and the wider cinematic team to incorporate feedback and align animations with the overall creative vision.
What You’ll Bring
- Experience: Five or more years in animation, with a proven track record on at least two published AAA titles.
- Portfolio: An impressive animation portfolio showcasing high-quality, realistic facial and body animations across multiple projects. (A link to your portfolio or attachment with your CV is required for consideration.)
- Technical Proficiency: Proficient in body, facial, and camera animation, motion capture clean-up, and industry-standard animation software.
- Creative Mindset: A genuine enthusiasm for video games, narrative, and the creative process.
Highly Desirable Skills (Pluses)
- Extensive experience with hand-keyed animation.
- Experience in cinematography, editing, or game engine implementation.
Perks & Logistics
- Location: Contract position at our state-of-the-art facilities in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
- Work Model: Hybrid Remote working model.
- Relocation: Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.
- Culture: We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion across all protected characteristics. We strive to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of our team.
