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Animator

Blind Squirrel Games
Apply on company site
Auckland, New Zealandfull-time, temporaryPosted 1w ago

About the role

Animators at Blind Squirrel Games bring characters to life through movement, performance, and interaction, shaping gameplay experience and storytelling. Full-time, temporary Animator positions based in Auckland, New Zealand with onsite requirements at the studio.

Responsibilities

  • Create high-quality character animations using Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max that meet established artistic and technical requirements.
  • Apply animation principles, including weight, timing, spacing, and posing, to deliver believable performances that support gameplay and storytelling.
  • Integrate, clean up, and refine motion capture data using MotionBuilder, preserving performance quality while addressing artifacts and technical requirements.
  • Support motion capture planning and sessions, including performance direction and supervision where appropriate to your experience and project responsibilities.
  • Collaborate with artists, designers, and programmers to ensure animations support character design, gameplay mechanics, and engine requirements.
  • Work with programmers to integrate animation features and functionality into the game engine.
  • Identify and help resolve animation challenges involving character rigs, technical limitations, and performance constraints.
  • Follow established production pipelines and deliver animation assets according to project schedules and specifications.
  • Maintain organized animation assets using version control systems such as Perforce.
  • Communicate progress, dependencies, and potential obstacles clearly to leads and project stakeholders.
  • Contribute ideas that strengthen character movement, expression, and interaction while supporting the project’s creative direction.
  • Participate in team meetings, animation reviews, and collaborative problem-solving discussions.
  • Incorporate feedback thoughtfully and efficiently while maintaining animation quality and consistency.
  • Adjust priorities, techniques, and animation approaches as project needs evolve.
  • Document relevant workflows, techniques, and best practices to support knowledge sharing and consistent production.
  • Continue developing your skills and adapting to new tools, technologies, and animation practices.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
  • A minimum of two years of industry experience in game development specializing in animation.
  • At least one shipped title as an animator.
  • A portfolio or demo reel demonstrating strong animation fundamentals, character performance, visual judgment, and technical understanding.
  • Proficiency in at least one major 3D animation application, such as Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max.
  • A strong understanding of keyframe animation principles and techniques.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across disciplines.
  • Attention to detail and the ability to manage assignments, meet deadlines, and respond constructively to feedback.

Skills

Required:Animation software (Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max)
Nice to have:Motion captureMotionBuilderPerforceGame engine integration
Last updated Oct 14, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Blind Squirrel Games

We Help You Tell Big Tails

Global game development studio specializing in co-development, full builds, ports, and remasters for mobile, console, and PC. Trusted by publishers for 15+ years. Unity, Unreal, multiplayer, live ops.

game developmentco-developmentportsremastersmobileconsolePCUnity
Company profileWebsite

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