Senior Cinematic Animator Job at CD Projekt RED in Boston

As a Senior Cinematic Animator at CD Projekt RED, you'll be responsible for creating stunning character animations that support the storytelling in our games, particularly in Project Orion. You'll collaborate closely with various team members, ensuring animations align with the game's artistic direction and enhance player immersion. Other key duties include estimating project timelines, prototyping animations, building the animation pipeline in Unreal Engine 5, and delivering high-quality animation assets. Your role will be pivotal in shaping the narrative experience of the game.

To qualify for the Senior Cinematic Animator position at CD Projekt RED, candidates should demonstrate a passion for gaming and animation, with experience on at least two AAA titles. You must possess an animation reel that showcases your senior-level skills and contributions. Familiarity with animation principles, camera movement, and character performance are essential. Proficiency in Unreal Engine, Motion Builder, or Maya, along with a collaborative spirit and willingness to mentor less experienced teammates, are also critical for success in this role.

The work environment for a Senior Cinematic Animator at CD Projekt RED in Boston is dynamic and highly collaborative. The office promotes a positive culture where creativity flourishes, and diverse ideas are celebrated. With a dog-friendly policy, you'll enjoy a warm atmosphere while engaging with talented professionals from various backgrounds. The option for hybrid working allows flexibility as you contribute to exciting projects like Project Orion, enhancing both work-life balance and team collaboration.

In the role of Senior Cinematic Animator at CD Projekt RED, your contributions to the storytelling process are vital. You'll work closely with the Cinematic Director and Animation Lead to create compelling narrative moments through high-quality animations. By crafting animations that convey emotion and meaning, you'll help shape the player's experience, making the stories we tell feel immersive and engaging. Your creative input in prototyping and validating concepts will also ensure that the game remains cohesive and impactful from beginning to end.

CD Projekt RED provides a range of generous benefits designed to support the well-being and professional growth of Senior Cinematic Animators. These include comprehensive medical healthcare, generous paid leave, a casual dress code, a 401K plan with employer matching, and gym membership reimbursement. Additionally, the company emphasizes continuous learning opportunities through training sessions and internal workshops, fostering an environment where you can develop your skills and advance your career.

When discussing your animation process for narrative scenes during an interview, ensure you break it down clearly. Explain how you begin with understanding the story and character motivations, followed by developing initial concepts and drafts. Share how you utilize tools like Unreal Engine for prototyping and how you incorporate feedback from collaborators. Highlight the importance of aligning your animations with the project's artistic direction to create a cohesive narrative experience.

In your response, emphasize that collaboration is at the heart of animation. Discuss how you regularly engage with team members, including designers and directors, to exchange ideas and ensure everyone's vision aligns. Highlight occasions where collective brainstorming led to innovative solutions or where you mentored junior animators to uplift the team as a whole. This shows that you value teamwork and understand its importance in achieving project success.

When asked about feedback, explain that you view it as a crucial part of the creative process. Share your openness to constructive criticism, highlighting instances where feedback has improved your work. Discuss your ability to balance receiving feedback and providing it to others, showcasing that you are not only able to adapt but also support the growth of your team.

When discussing challenges, narrate specific instances where you encountered obstacles, such as tight deadlines or technical issues. Emphasize your problem-solving skills and your proactive approach to finding solutions. For example, you might illustrate how you prioritized tasks or leveraged new tools to maintain quality and meet deadlines. This demonstrates resilience and a results-oriented mindset.

In answering this question, provide details about your experience with motion capture, including any projects where you directed or worked with captured performances. Discuss how understanding the nuances of motion capture informs your animation work, enhancing the realism of the character movements you create. Stress the importance of capturing genuine emotions in performance as this directly impacts the player's experience.

When discussing the animation pipeline, describe your familiarity with various stages, from concepting and prototyping to final production. Highlight your experience in building animation pipelines in software like Unreal Engine, explaining your role as a key stakeholder in that process. Providing insights into how you collaborate with other disciplines to ensure smooth integration of animations with game mechanics will demonstrate your comprehensive understanding of the workflow.

Share your proactive approach to staying informed about industry trends, whether it's through participating in online forums, following leading animation blogs, engaging in workshops, or attending conferences. Mention any specific tools or techniques you've recently learned and how you've applied them in your work. This shows your commitment to continuous improvement and adapting to new technologies.

When discussing your inspirations, reflect on various sources that fuel your creativity, such as films, games, or even personal experiences. Share how these influences impact your animation style and the stories you aim to tell in your work. Your passion for storytelling and conveying emotions will resonate with interviewers, showing them that you are dedicated to your craft.

Prepare for this question by thoroughly familiarizing yourself with your animation reel and identifying key projects. Walk interviewers through specific pieces, explaining your role in each project, the techniques used, and the overall impact of your work on the game. This will provide clear evidence of your skills and demonstrate how your contributions align with the requirements of the Senior Cinematic Animator position at CD Projekt RED.

In your response, outline your strategies for creating dynamic poses, such as studying reference footage and practicing gesture drawing. Discuss how you focus on the character's emotional state during animation, ensuring movements appear natural and compelling. Mention any tools you utilize, like motion capture or animation software, to achieve this, and highlight the importance of balancing realism with creativity.