Senior Gameplay Animator Job at Giant Skull in Los Angeles

Overview

Join to apply for the Senior Gameplay Animator role at Giant Skull.

Giant Skull is an independent game studio on a mission to craft unforgettable single-player, gameplay-driven action-adventures. We are working on a new game set in the Dungeons and Dragons universe. We value collaboration and autonomy; every team member can influence the game, studio, and team. If you’re ready to join a studio where every voice shapes the adventure, we’d love to create something extraordinary together.

The Role

As a Senior Animator, you will create high-quality, expressive animations that bring our characters to life through movement. You’ll collaborate across disciplines to ensure animations integrate with design, engineering, and animation systems, balancing clarity, responsiveness, and personality. Your primary focus will be locomotion and gameplay, with flexibility to contribute to other animation needs based on interests and team priorities.

Impact and Ownership

• You will create high-quality locomotion and gameplay animations — run, sprint, jump, land, idle, and more — that are grounded, fluid, and satisfying to play
• You will use both keyframe animation and motion capture, applying strong animation principles with timing, weight, and character performance
• You will collaborate with designers and engineers to prototype, implement, and refine animations in-engine, focusing on responsiveness and gameplay feel
• You will contribute to locomotion systems (e.g., state machines, motion matching, blend spaces) and help ensure smooth transitions and consistent player control
• You will partner with other animators and cross-discipline teammates from concept to polish, upholding quality, consistency, and performance across movement-related animation. You may also contribute beyond locomotion to other gameplay, traversal, or cinematic animation opportunities based on interest and team priorities
• Your impact will be felt across the game and our creative processes and collaborative culture

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in real-time 3D animation, with at least one shipped title showcasing high-quality in-game animation
• Strong keyframe skills and deep understanding of body mechanics, timing, weight, and movement for human or humanoid characters
• Experience working with motion capture data and ability to clean, refine, and enhance mocap for clarity and polish
• Experience delivering animation that aligns with gameplay needs and supports player control and readability
• Comfort working in real-time game engines, ideally Unreal, with familiarity in locomotion systems and integrating animation using state machines, blend spaces, and/or motion matching
• Team-focused and collaborative; works well across disciplines and proactively seeks alignment
• Thoughtful problem solver, open to feedback, and eager to contribute ideas that elevate quality and player experience
• Experience contributing to animation tools, workflows, or documentation; mentoring other animators (formal or informal) is a plus

Why Join Giant Skull

• Collaborate with a passionate team of AAA veterans from studios like Epic, Respawn, Rocksteady, Riot, and more
• Enjoy a development process that balances teamwork with a high degree of individual autonomy
• Competitive compensation plus opportunities for bonuses, retirement plan matching, and comprehensive benefits
• Remote or hybrid options, open PTO, and support for work-life balance
• Opportunity to shape not only the game but the foundation of our studio culture and best practices
• Inclusive workplace where every team member is valued and respected

Compensation

For this position, target base salary range is 115k to 175k. Range may expand based on experience and location. Salary is part of a broader compensation package including bonuses, retirement plan matching, and comprehensive benefits. More details will be shared during the interview process.