DIGIC Pictures is seeking a highly skilled, elite Senior Game Cinematic Animator to join our world-renowned team. In this role, you will be instrumental in crafting high-impact trailers, cinematic cutscenes, and breathtaking visual effects for the world’s most anticipated AAA video games and films. This premium position bridges the gap between classical artistry and cutting-edge production, requiring a profound understanding of body mechanics, motion-capture refinement, and facial performance finaling.
As the industry shifts rapidly toward real-time development pipelines, extensive technical proficiency within Unreal Engine is a mandatory prerequisite for this role. Operating under a highly flexible hiring framework, DIGIC Pictures welcomes both full-time internal employees looking to relocate or work hybrid in Budapest, Hungary, as well as elite long-term Freelance contractors operating remotely within European time zones.
If you have 5+ years of cinematic experience, a passion for real-time technology, and a desire to mentor the next generation of animators while working on world-class IPs, we want to hear from you.
Job Overview : Cinematic Animator
| Key Metric | Specification & Details |
| Hiring Company | DIGIC Studios (DIGIC Pictures) |
| Job Title | Senior Game Cinematic Animator |
| Employment Type | Full-Time Employee OR Long-Term Freelance Contractor |
| Location (Employee) | Budapest, Hungary (On-site / Hybrid options available) |
| Location (Freelancer) | Remote (Strictly restricted to European Time Zones for pipeline sync) |
| Minimum Experience | 5–6+ Years of high-end production experience in Game Cinematics |
| Core Software | Autodesk Maya, Unreal Engine (Crucial/Key Requirement) |
| Secondary Software | MotionBuilder, ShotGrid / internal production tools (Pluses) |
| Primary Medium | High-fidelity Motion Capture (Mocap) refinement & Facial Performance Finaling |
| Language Requirement | Intermediate or higher English language proficiency |
| Freelancer Legal Status | Must be registered as a Sole Proprietor, Entrepreneur, or Self-Employed |
| Core Compensation | Staff: €3,500 – €5,200/mo gross | Freelance: €35 – €55/hr B2B rate |
Role Overview & Strategic Impact
At DIGIC Pictures, the Senior Game Cinematic Animator is a key creative driver responsible for translating directorial vision into breathtaking, lifelike digital performances. You will work on globally recognized intellectual properties, crafting high-fidelity animations that bridge the gap between cinema and interactive media.
In this position, you will operate at the cutting edge of real-time cinematic technology. The industry is moving rapidly toward engine-integrated workflows, and your expertise in Unreal Engine and Autodesk Maya will be leveraged to craft high-impact sequences that run smoothly within modern real-time pipelines. You will take raw, high-fidelity motion capture (mocap) data and performance-capture facial footage, polishing and elevating it to a level of realism and emotional depth that meets DIGIC Pictures world-class standards.
Furthermore, your independent problem-solving capabilities and structural mindset will enable you to navigate custom rigging setups, solve technical pipeline constraints, and streamline workflows for the entire animation division.
Key Responsibilities as Cinematic Animator
As a Senior Cinematic Animator, your time will be split between hands-on high-end production asset creation, technical troubleshooting, and leadership/mentorship responsibilities.
1. High-Fidelity Cinematic Animation Production
- Mocap Integration & Cleanup: Import, refine, and polish raw motion capture data into seamless, emotionally resonant cinematic performances, maintaining physical weight, balance, and kinetic realism.
- Facial Finaling: Take charge of complex, performance-capture-driven facial animations. You will execute precise facial finaling, ensuring that micro-expressions, lip-syncing, and eye tracking perfectly convey the intended emotional weight of characters.
- Artistic Character Work: Apply an advanced understanding of classical animation principles (timing, staging, exaggeration, appeal) to stylized and hyper-realistic humanoids, monsters, and mechanical props alike.
2. Technical Pipeline Integration & Problem Solving
- Unreal Engine Implementation: Integrate animated sequences smoothly into Unreal Engine, working directly within Sequencer and setting up necessary blueprints or state configurations to achieve optimal real-time rendering results.
- Rig Rigidity Workarounds: Quickly master complex, project-specific custom rigs. You must demonstrate the technical agility to work around the inherent limitations of skeletal rigs without compromising artistic output.
- Pipeline Adherence: Strictly follow DIGIC’s established production pipeline from input (assets/mocap) to output (final render/engine submission), maintaining clean naming conventions and organized file structures.
3. Leadership, Mentorship, and Knowledge Sharing
- Junior Guidance: Actively mentor junior and mid-level animators. Provide constructive professional critiques, help them troubleshoot software errors, and assist them in elevating their artistic eye.
- Workflow Optimization: Dedicate time to testing new software tools, plugins, and internal studio scripts. Suggest concrete pipeline improvements directly to Animation Leads and Technical Directors.
- Internal Training: Prepare and participate in internal knowledge-sharing sessions, masterclasses, and presentations to help keep DIGIC’s animation division at the forefront of the industry.
Required Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise
Candidates must fulfill a rigorous set of professional qualifications and behavioral attributes to be considered for this senior position.
Professional Qualifications
- Proven Production Tenure: A minimum of 5–6 years of verifiable production experience specifically focused on high-end game cinematics, premium VFX, or feature-length 3D animation.
- Unreal Engine Command: Extensive, hands-on experience utilizing Unreal Engine in a professional cinematic capacity. Understanding real-time pipelines is fundamental to this role’s success.
- Maya Mastery: Expert proficiency in Autodesk Maya for layout, character posing, editing keys, and curve manipulation.
- Mocap & Facial Expertise: A proven portfolio showcasing a deep mastery of motion capture editing, body mechanics optimization, and advanced facial finaling.
- Linguistic Skills: Intermediate or higher English language proficiency. You must be able to clearly articulate technical bugs, follow directorial feedback, and write concise reports in English.
Soft Skills & Professional Mindset
- Autonomy and Reliability: An independent, highly efficient working style. You are expected to manage your schedule meticulously and hit strict production deadlines with minimal supervision.
- Proactive Communicator: A team-oriented mindset. You must be comfortable flagging blockers, asking clarifying questions early, and using internal production tracking tools (such as ShotGrid) transparently.
- Commitment to Growth: A proactive attitude toward continuous learning, adapting to evolving real-time engine tools, and sharing that knowledge openly with the wider team.
Desirable Skills (Nice-to-Haves)
While not strictly mandatory, candidates possessing the following attributes will be given high priority during the selection process:
- Multi-Tool Proficiency: Direct production experience using secondary animation software, specifically Autodesk MotionBuilder for intensive mocap editing.
- Real-Time Technical Training: Past experience conducting technical training, writing pipeline documentation, or acting as an animation team lead.
- International Freelance Background: Prior experience navigating the specific communication dynamics and file-sharing infrastructure of an international remote freelance workflow.
What We Offer
DIGIC Studios provides an inspiring, world-class professional environment where your work will directly shape the visual identity of the gaming industry’s most anticipated titles.
- Prestige Projects: The opportunity to work on iconic, high-budget game cinematics, AAA trailers, and award-winning cutscenes.
- Flexible Engagement Models: Choose between a stable, full-time local employment opportunity in the beautiful city of Budapest, Hungary, or a premium B2B freelance contract that allows you to work remotely from the comfort of your home within any European time zone.
- Inspiring Studio Culture: Join a deeply supportive, highly experienced, and open-minded team of global creatives who value craftsmanship, mutual respect, and long-term career progression.
Crucial Compliance Information for Freelancers
Important Freelance Requirement: Please note that due to strict legal and financial regulations in the European region, DIGIC Pictures can only sign contracts with freelance professionals who are officially registered as a Sole Proprietor, Independent Entrepreneur, or a legally recognized
Self-Employed business entity. We cannot issue contracts to unregistered individuals or private hobbyist entities. You must possess a valid business tax identification number within your local European jurisdiction to clear our onboarding process.
Equal Opportunity Statement DIGIC Pictures is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and creative working ecosystem. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment or contract opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, or disability status.
