CHARACTER ANIMATOR SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS

Updated: Nov 12, 2024 - With a background in visual arts, including graphic design and cartooning, the Character Animator excels in rigging and has contributed to at least one shipped title. Proficient in Maya, this job possesses a deep understanding of human anatomy and animation principles, essential for creating lifelike animations of humans and creatures. This role demands excellent communication skills and a collaborative spirit, ensuring effective teamwork throughout the animation pipeline.

Essential Hard and Soft Skills for a Standout Character Animator Resume
  • 3D Modeling
  • Rigging
  • Texturing
  • Motion Capture Editing
  • Keyframe Animation
  • Software Proficiency
  • Character Design
  • UV Mapping
  • Lighting Techniques
  • Rendering
  • Creativity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Time Management
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Adaptability
  • Problem-Solving
  • Patience
  • Critical Thinking
  • Continuous Learning

Summary of Character Animator Knowledge and Qualifications on Resume

1. BA in Animation with 3 years of Experience

  • Experience with character animation in Maya/MotionBuilder
  • Experience with Unity or fast learner with a basic background
  • Experience with motion capturing (especially cleaning of maps)
  • Problem-solving-oriented, proactive and self-organized
  • Strong communication skills with external team members
  • Organizational talent, conscientiousness and quality awareness
  • Education in the field of 3D artist, animation and/or software development
  • Knowledge with Unity (primarily animations and character pipeline)
  • Knowledge in using Motion Capturing, iClone and/or DAZ 3D Studio

2. BA in Computer Graphics with 5 years of Experience

  • Working experience in character animation production. 
  • Be passionate about gaming in general 
  • Have a basic understanding of the mobile gaming industry. 
  • Good knowledge of human/animal animation production, movement and motion. 
  • Creative and imaginative, able to animate natural motion and facial expressions
  • Understanding of the ways to complement gameplay with good animation design. 
  • Proficient with Unity3D or UE4 and skeletal animation.
  • Proven working experience with MoCap
  • Game lover, team player, enthusiastic and proactive in work and life.

3. BA in Visual Arts with 2 years of Experience

  • Experience as an Animator in games, films or related industries.
  • Provide online portfolio showcasing high-quality, life-like animations of characters and objects.
  • Strong understanding of animation principles such as timing, weight, appeal, overlap, secondary actions, etc.
  • Highly skilled in the art of cinematography, camera composition, and staging for immersive simulations.
  • Experience with Unreal’s Sequencer for the creation of cinematics and scripted events.
  • Experience with Maya for animation, rigging, skin weighting and mocap cleanup/retargeting.
  • Experience using facial animation capture software such as FaceFX, Faceware, or Live Link.
  • Extensive knowledge of Unreal’s animation tools including Control Rig, Skeleton Editor, Skeletal Mesh Editor, Animation Editor, Physics Editor, and the Animation Blueprint system for building animation trees, state machines, blend spaces, offsets, dynamics, etc.

4. BA in Digital Media with 6 years of Experience

  • Credit as an Animator on at least one shipped product using Unreal Engine.
  • The ability to take creative direction and implement feedback.
  • Experience working in an iterative, agile environment.
  • Good communication, organizational, time management and interpersonal skills.
  • Motivated, self-directed, and personable with strong verbal communication skills.
  • Experience using Perforce for source control and JIRA for task management.
  • Strong work ethic that strives for continuous process improvement and production efficiency.
  • Ability to work in a dynamic cross-functional environment in a 100% teleworking environment.
  • Passionate interest in MetaHumans as the future of real-time character development.

5. BA in Game Design with 1 year of Experience

  • Proven working experience as a character animator. 
  • The ability to do 3D, frame-by-frame animation or motion graphics.
  • Online portfolios and/or work samples are required for consideration.
  • The ability to translate briefs and copy into flawless pieces of work.
  • Experienced working in Adobe After Effects, Photoshop and CutOut (Flash and ToonBoom)
  • The ability to deliver tight work, even under tight deadlines.
  • The ability to work independently and excel as part of a team
  • Skillfully sharing the progress, problems and pitfalls with the team alongside the favorite GIFs.
  • Be a team player, skilled in communicating problems and progress, and practice working together with juniors and seniors alike.

6. BA in Multimedia Arts with 4 years of Experience

  • Background in visual arts with specialization in graphic design, commercial art, graphic communications or cartooning
  • Working experience rigging characters, or at least 1 shipped title
  • A strong understanding of human anatomy, clothing, weight, and silhouette concerning character rigging
  • A strong understanding of body mechanics, and animation principals
  • The willingness to adapt and iterate on tasks
  • Strong written and oral communication
  • Be creative thinking and problem-solving
  • Animation and Rigging working experience in Maya
  • Understanding of the animation pipeline from the conceptual phase to deployment
  • Excellent hand-key animation skills for both humans and creatures
  • Experience with key-frame animation
  • Excellent communication skills and proven ability to work well within a small team
Relevant Information
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