The Imaginarium Studios works across Films, TV (streaming and live), and Video Games delivering facial animation in a range of detail, levels and quality. We work closely with post-production houses to ensure a smooth handoff of facial animation that meets the needs of the client's internal pipelines. Based in Ealing Studios, IMS also has an office and team based at Trilith Studios, Atlanta, USA.

THE ROLE

The Facial Animation Lead will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Face Pipeline while working closely with the facial animation team on work QC and dailies, professional development as well as working with the Virtual Production team on 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 ensuring facial animation delivery to clients is in the scope of the project, overseeing researching, recommending, and developing new software/technologies/processes to push the quality bar of facial animation as well as ensure ever-increasing efficiencies within the facial animation team.

Candidates 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. The role will also have some client-facing responsibilities requiring the ability to work with major clients in determining pipeline adaptations to better integrate with their workflows.

REQUIREMENTS

5+ years working as an animator in the entertainment industry with a focus on facial animation with experience as LEAD or Supervisor.

Experience with motion and performance capture facial animation pipelines.

Work with Exec team on time estimates and client demos & calls.

Strong understanding of facial anatomy.

Experience working in modern facial animation pipelines & equipment

Confident with FACS-based animation analysis and implementation (e.g. Faceware).

Experience with industry-standard software packages, Maya and creating blendshape based facial systems and animations.

Understanding of Motion Builder and other Autodesk software solutions

Experience with facial topology, anatomy and rigging solutions to best support both automated and individually authored performances.

Ability to create guides to assist the animation team to deliver emotional performances on client-supplied rigs.

Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Portfolio/website/reel demonstrating fundamental foundational art skills, design sensibilities, and attention to detail.

Passport suitable for US travel

ADVANTAGEOUS

Experience in a Lead or equivalent position.

Understanding of facial likeness capture and scan processes including light stage, photogrammetry, HMC and hybrid approaches.

Understanding of audio analysis software for facial animation generation.

Understanding of facial likeness capture and scan processes including light stage, photogrammetry, HMC and hybrid approaches.

Experience developing blend shape instances or attribute libraries to support targeted performances across a range of humanoid facial variants.

Experience with rigging solutions to best support both automated and individually authored performances.

Management experience such as direct report career development and project/production/team scheduling.

KEY ROLE GOALS

Lead and grow a facial animation team

Work on a broad range of projects across Film, TV, Videogames

Help develop toolsets for use across media sectors