Santa Monica jobs - 3D Animator at Absurd Ventures

Our studio is a collective of storytellers and innovators dedicated to pushing the boundaries of interactive entertainment. Whether in the creative hub of San Rafael or the bustling coastal center of Santa Monica , our team is united by a single goal: creating believable, breathtaking worlds. We are currently expanding our animation department and seeking a Senior Animator to define the movement and soul of our next major title.

For those seeking Santa Monica jobs that offer both technical challenges and creative freedom, this role provides the opportunity to work at the forefront of the industry, utilizing state-of-the-art Motion Capture and Keyframe techniques to bring complex characters to life.

3D Animator Job Overview

Details

Absurd Ventures (Featured Partner)

Full-Time, Regular

Santa Monica, CA or San Rafael, CA (On-Site)

$120,000 – $150,000 (Annual)

Maya, Unreal Engine, MotionBuilder

Keyframe & MoCap Character/Creature Animation

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) Matching, & Equity

Core Responsibilities :

High-Fidelity Animation & Performance

As a Senior Animator, you are the final word on the “feel” of our characters. You will be responsible for creating high-quality keyframe and motion capture animations that set the standard for the entire game world.

• Cinematic & Gameplay: Transition seamlessly between subtle, narrative-driven character acting and high-intensity combat or traversal mechanics.

• Creature Excellence: Apply a deep understanding of anatomy and physics to create convincing movement for non-human entities and enemies.

• Integration Mastery: Ensure all animations integrate flawlessly into gameplay and AI systems, working in lockstep with designers to ensure “feel” and “responsiveness” are never sacrificed for “vividness.”

Technical Systems & Pipeline Innovation

Our animation philosophy relies on a blend of artistic intuition and technical logic. You will play a pivotal role in how our movement is “cooked” into the final experience.

• System Architecture: Collaborate with technical animators to develop and refine animation state machines, blend trees, and procedural animation solutions (such as IK and physical blending).

• Workflow Optimization: Help define and iterate on animation pipelines to maximize the team’s efficiency without compromising on the quality of the final output.

• In-Engine Implementation: Take ownership of your assets within Unreal Engine , ensuring that what looks great in Maya translates perfectly to the runtime environment.

Leadership & Cross-Discipline Collaboration

In a senior capacity, your value is measured not just by your own frames, but by the elevation of the team around you.

• Mentorship: Support and guide junior animators, sharing best practices in motion dynamics, cleanup, and implementation.

• Interdisciplinary Partnership: Work closely with engineers and designers to troubleshoot implementation issues and ensure that animation-driven gameplay mechanics are robust and scalable.

• Iterative Feedback: Lead the review process, providing actionable feedback during playtests to ensure the animation reinforces the core gameplay loop.

Core Qualifications :

Technical Expertise

• Industry Tenure: 5+ years of professional experience in game animation, with at least one shipped AAA title.

• DCC Proficiency: Advanced mastery of Autodesk Maya . You should be comfortable with complex rigs and have an eye for optimizing the graph editor.

• Engine Knowledge: Deep experience with modern game engine animation systems (Unreal Engine preferred), specifically with state machines and animation blueprints.

• MoCap Workflow: Comprehensive understanding of the motion capture pipeline, including data cleanup, retargeting, and performance enhancement.

Artistic Foundation

• Principles of Motion: An expert grasp of weight, silhouette, anticipation, and follow-through.

• Storytelling through Movement: The ability to convey a character’s personality, history, and internal state through their physical presence.

• Detailed Portfolio: A professional-grade reel that showcases a range of high-quality character and creature work in a game-ready context.

The “Plus” Factor (Desired Skills)

• MotionBuilder: Advanced skills in MoCap manipulation and rapid prototyping.

• Procedural Logic: Experience with runtime animation techniques or procedural layering.

• Scripting: Proficiency in Python, MEL, or Blueprints to automate tasks or create custom animation tools.

• Specialized Combat: Experience in martial arts, weapon choreography, or creature-specific locomotion.

• Team Leadership: Previous experience leading small strike teams or specialized feature pods.

Why Consider Santa Monica Jobs at Our Studio?

Santa Monica is more than just a location; it is a global hub for the game development community. Joining our team here means placing yourself at the center of the industry’s most innovative landscape. We provide a workplace that values the human behind the keyboard, offering:

• Stable Growth: A full-time role with a competitive base pay of $120,000 to $150,000 , with actual compensation tailored to your specific expertise and market location.

• Holistic Support: A benefits package that includes top-tier medical coverage, parental leave, and generous 401(k) matching.

• Creative Legacy: The opportunity to have a direct, visible impact on the player experience in a world-class production environment.

If you are ready to bring your expertise to the best Santa Monica jobs in animation, we invite you to submit your portfolio and join us in defining the next generation of play.

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