Character Performance Animator

About NetEase Games

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of performance animation for key story sequences and interactive cinematics, overseeing facial performances, dialogue scenes, and action-driven performances to ensure emotional authenticity and cinematic quality.
• Collaborate closely with Art, Design, and Engineering teams to establish and maintain production pipelines and quality standards for performance animation, ensuring consistency in character emotions and visual storytelling.
• Define production guidelines and animation standards for facial performances, dialogue scenes, and character acting, driving scalable and efficient content creation workflows while continuously improving quality and productivity.
• Leverage experience from the film and game industries to optimize motion capture and keyframe animation pipelines, solve technical challenges, and enhance the overall quality and expressiveness of character performances.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or above in Animation, Film, Directing, Digital Media Arts, or related disciplines preferred.
• 3+ years of experience as an Animation Director, Action Director, Performance Animator, or related role in the film or game industry. Candidates must provide portfolio examples demonstrating both action-oriented and subtle dramatic performances.
• Deep understanding of cinematic language, character acting, and emotional storytelling. Ability to independently deliver high-quality performances ranging from facial animation and dialogue scenes to action-driven sequences.
• Proficiency in motion capture data processing, keyframe animation, and in-engine performance integration. Ability to solve technical challenges throughout the animation production pipeline.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with Art, Design, and Engineering teams to drive production standards and pipeline execution.
• Strong industrialized production mindset. Experience establishing animation standards, optimizing workflows, and improving team-wide delivery quality is highly preferred.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced production environment. Prior experience in film production studios or cinematic teams is a plus.