Lead CG Animator

Job Description

The Mill is a global creative partner for agencies, production companies and brands, working across all media channels and platforms.

We are trusted specialists in visual effects, creative technologies and content production Our projects include the creation of digital products and virtual experiences, as well as world class visual effects and video production.

We are a vibrant network of talented artists, producers, directors and creative technologists from multinational backgrounds. We nurture innovation, flexibility and diverse ideas across our studios in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Shanghai, Seoul and Bangalore. We are all united by one single ambition: To create extraordinary and memorable work that captivates and excites audiences.

We are The Mill. We create the extraordinary.

Our global Visual Effects team combines talent with technology, artistry with rigor, the familiar with the fantastic. Our work can be inspiring or invisible, but always unforgettable. From the language of colour to the hand drawn and photo-real, we bring ideas to life through the use of movement, storytelling and timing.

A Lead Animator brings the skills of storytelling through passion for animation. Working with directors and clients to achieve their vision and managing a team of artists to execute the work is the main overview of the role. A Lead Animator can inspire teams and produce fantastic animation through a highly collaborative work environment. You'll be eager to try out new production techniques and provide ideas, feedback, and efficiencies to various workflows and pipeline. You'll have excellent communication skills and the ability to work autonomously, both giving and receiving direction. On large-scale projects, you'll need to be able to collaborate with remote artists, provide notes and feedback, and perform hero-level animation duties. You should be able to work in a vast amount of animation styles, ranging from photoreal to heavily stylized, with creatures, humans, vehicles, cameras and more.

Responsibilities
• Working closely with CG Leads/Directors/Clients to achieve the desired animation styles, timing and overall storytelling on projects
• Lead animation teams on Live Action and full CG projects, often working with remote artists
• Help create or suggest tools that should be implemented to speed up workflows
• Provide feedback to the Asset & Rigging teams when there are issues with what you are provided
• Processing Motion capture data, lip sync execution with advanced facial rigs
• Produce high caliber keyframe animation from scratch
• Build and maintain high moral throughout your team
• Ensure you and your team are working to the correct deadlines and delivering on time within a high pressure environment

Qualifications
• Previous experience in CG Animation for advertising, feature film or animation production
• A strong understanding of animating cameras and other non-character objects
• Vast knowledge of Maya and it's animation toolset
• Strong understanding of a VFX/CG animation production pipeline
• Strong understanding of the principles of animation, with a keen eye for character pose, staging, composition.
• Excellent communication skills and English conversational skills to enable you to lead others and work well with the full pipeline of Artists, Leads and Directors
• Ability to troubleshoot and solve problems independently
• Good organisation and communication skills
• A thorough knowledge and understanding of basic real world physics and their application for animation
• Python and tool creation is a plus but not required

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-gmmmjx-18-119-118-97-42 in your application.