Studio: Warner Bros. Discovery
Job Opening: Lead Artist, Facial Animation
Location: Kirkland, WA, USA
Type: Full-Time
Responsibilities:
The Face Animation Art Lead will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Face Pipeline while working closely with Directors, Art Leadership and other key stakeholders in the continued development and improvements of the facial animation pipeline to ensure that the team has a scalable and efficient toolset. This role is responsible for researching, recommending, and developing new technologies to push the quality bar of facial animation content forward. Candidate will have a deep understanding of facial performance, animation principles, face pipelines and associated art tools. The Lead will help build the face team, give feedback, and work with production to coordinate schedules and manage direct reports.
Qualifications & Skills:
- 8+ years working as an animator in the entertainment industry with a focus on facial animation.
- Strong understanding of facial anatomy.
- Experience working in modern facial animation pipelines.
- Deep understanding of FACS based animation analysis and implementation (e.g. Faceware).
- Experience working in industry standard 3D software packages (e.g. Maya) and creating blendshape based facial systems and animations.
- Deep knowledge of facial topology, anatomy and rigging solutions to best support both automated and individually authored performances.
- Ability to direct and focus on the “details that matter” in emotional performances.
- Portfolio/website/reel demonstrating fundamental foundational art skills, design sensibilities, and attention to detail.
- 2 shipped AAA titles.
- Experience in a Lead or equivalent position preferred
- Understanding of facial likeness capture and scan processes including light stage, photogrammetry, HMC and hybrid approaches preferred
- Experience in motion and performance capture facial animation pipelines preferred
- Experience using audio analysis software for facial animation generation preferred
