Super Spline Studios hiring Lead 3D Games Animator

Super Spline Studios is seeking an experienced Lead 3D Games Animator to join its animation leadership team. This position is responsible for supervising character animation production across gameplay systems, cinematics, and mechanics while mentoring internal and external animators.

The selected candidate will guide animation quality standards, collaborate closely with cross discipline teams, coordinate schedules, and ensure that animation assets integrate smoothly into real time engines.

This role requires strong artistic direction capability combined with pipeline awareness and production leadership skills.

Job Overview

Company Name: Super Spline Studios

Job Title: Lead 3D Games Animator

Employment Type: Permanent / Full Time

Work Mode: Remote (Europe) or Hybrid (Leamington Spa, UK studio)

Location Options: Europe Remote or Leamington Spa Office (United Kingdom)

Experience Required: Minimum 7+ years in game animation

Department: Animation / Gameplay / Cinematics

Tools Required: Autodesk Maya, Unity, Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5)

Leadership Level: Lead / Senior

Schedule: 4 day work week

Salary Range: Competitive (based on experience and location)

Industry: Video Game Development / Animation Co Development

Super Spline Studios is a specialized animation co development partner supporting game studios with high quality character animation, technical animation workflows, and cinematic production across multiple platforms.

The studio follows a people first production philosophy, offering structured career progression, training subsidies, profit share initiatives, and a permanent four day work week policy designed to improve work life balance without reducing compensation.

This opportunity is ideal for experienced animation professionals looking to transition into a leadership focused gameplay animation role within a collaborative and technically advanced production environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead animation production across gameplay and cinematic sequences.
• Maintain consistent animation quality standards across projects.
• Provide creative direction for character personality, movement style, and performance delivery.
• Ensure animation assets support gameplay readability and responsiveness.
• Mentor junior and mid level animators.
• Coordinate workload distribution across animation teams.
• Support external animation partners and freelancers.
• Provide feedback reviews and performance guidance.
• Foster collaboration between animation, rigging, design, and engineering teams.
• Create animation schedules aligned with project milestones.
• Support delivery planning and timeline tracking.
• Communicate progress updates with internal leadership and clients.
• Manage animation priorities across multiple concurrent projects.
• Implement animations directly into game engines.
• Work with animation state machines and runtime behavior systems.
• Coordinate motion capture planning and shoot direction when required.
• Support technical animation workflows, including rigging and skinning integration.
• Plan animation scheduling and milestone planning.
• Track production and report progress.
• Collaborate with designers and programmers to refine animation polish.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years professional animation experience in video games.
• Experience leading animation teams on shipped titles.
• Previous freelance or co development experience considered advantageous.
• Proven ability to manage animation schedules and production deliverables.
• Strong creative animation capability across multiple styles and gameplay contexts.
• Problem solving capability across pipeline challenges.
• Confidence mentoring internal and external team members.
• Ownership of production responsibilities.
• Ability to provide constructive creative feedback.
• Collaborative mindset and supportive leadership approach.
• Adaptability to new tools and workflows.
• Excellent communication with clients and internal teams.
• High creative standards under production timelines.

Technical Skills

• Gameplay animation systems.
• Animation state machines.
• Motion capture workflows.
• Rigging and skinning fundamentals.
• Proficiency in Autodesk Maya, Unity, Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5).

Workshop & Development Opportunities

Super Spline Studios supports professional development through structured progression planning.

Workplace Environment and Benefits

Super Spline Studios offers a flexible production environment designed to support long term creative careers in game animation.

• 4 Day Work Week - Permanent reduced week structure without reduced salary.
• Remote Flexibility - Work remotely from within Europe or collaborate on site at the Leamington Spa studio.
• Flexible Hours - Schedules support productivity across time zones and working styles.
• Variety of Project Types - Gameplay animation, cinematic animation, character performance animation, stylized productions, realistic productions, mechanics driven animation systems.
• Positive Production Culture - Strict policy against overtime crunch and support sustainable creative workflows.

Who Is This Role For?

• Enjoy mentoring animation teams.
• Understand real time gameplay animation pipelines.
• Communicate effectively with clients and internal teams.
• Adapt quickly to new tools and workflows.
• Thrive in collaborative cross discipline environments.
• Maintain high creative standards under production timelines.
• A passion for gameplay animation and character performance design is essential.

Application Process

1. A concise introductory email.
2. Updated resume or CV.
3. Professional animation showreel demonstrating gameplay animation leadership.
4. Subject line: "Lead Animator".
5. Send applications to: .
6. Due to application volume, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.