Principal Gameplay Animator - Remote/Hybrid

As a Principal Gameplay Animator at PlayStation, you will build high-quality gameplay animation assets and systems, craft believable animations, oversee animation systems, and collaborate with various teams to ensure seamless integration of animation workflows. Your role will be pivotal in delivering immersive character animations that enhance storytelling and player experience.

To qualify for the Principal Gameplay Animator role at PlayStation, you should have experience as a Principal Animator on at least one PC or console title. Familiarity with motion matching, state machines, and a solid understanding of keyframe and motion capture animation principles are essential. Proficiency in tools like Maya and Motion Builder is also required.

PlayStation offers a hybrid working model for the Principal Gameplay Animator position, allowing you to work remotely or in-office flexibly within the UK. This model supports a balanced work-life dynamic, providing you the freedom to engage creatively in an environment that best suits your needs.

Desired skills for the Principal Gameplay Animator position at PlayStation include experience animating creatures or animals, Python scripting, and facial animation. Additionally, experience in rigging, previs, and motion capture planning is beneficial. These skills will help you contribute effectively to the animation team.

As a Principal Gameplay Animator at PlayStation, you'll enjoy a range of benefits including a discretionary bonus opportunity, private medical insurance, a dental scheme, 25 days of holiday per year, and access to cycle storage and showers. These benefits are designed to support both your professional and personal well-being.

When answering this question, highlight specific experiences where you applied animation principles in your projects. Discuss keyframe and motion capture techniques you’ve utilized, and how your understanding of dynamics and emotional expressions enhanced character animations.

It's important to detail your proficiency with industry-standard tools like Maya and Motion Builder. Discuss any relevant projects where you've effectively utilized these tools to achieve high-quality animation and how you’ve adapted to new software as needed.

Emphasize your teamwork skills and experiences where you effectively communicated with different departments such as design and programming. Describe how you help align your animation work with their needs and how you ensure seamless integration across the project.

Explain your methodology in crafting realistic animations. Discuss your observation of human behavior, the techniques you employ for both keyframe and motion capture animations, and how you ensure emotional depth in character movements.

Share your detailed experience with motion capture, including planning, directing sessions, and reviewing data. Discuss any specific projects where you’ve successfully integrated motion capture data into gameplay animation and the challenges you overcame.

Discuss your openness to constructive criticism and how you incorporate feedback into your work. Provide examples of past experiences where you adapted your animations based on team input to enhance the final output.

Mention key factors such as user experience, gameplay mechanics, and character interactions. Explain your thought process and any standards you follow to create a robust animation system that meets project goals.

Share how you collaborate with narrative designers and use story elements to inform your animations. Discuss your approach to character movement that enhances the emotional impact and storytelling within gameplay.

Select a project that highlights your problem-solving skills. Discuss the challenges you faced, how you approached them creatively, and the techniques you used to overcome these hurdles to deliver a successful animation.

Discuss your sources of inspiration, which could include films, video games, art, and nature. Highlight how you incorporate these inspirations into your animation work to create unique and engaging character performances.