Outsource Animation Supervisor - World of Warcraft

Blizzard Entertainment® is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software. After establishing the Blizzard Entertainment label in 1994, the company quickly became one of the most popular and well-respected makers of computer games. By focusing on creating well-designed, highly enjoyable entertainment experiences, Blizzard Entertainment has maintained an unparalleled reputation for quality since its inception.

Blizzard is looking for a highly motivated and talented animator to join the World of Warcraft team in Irvine, California. This position requires hands on direction, management, and engine integration of a wide range of character animation assets. The ideal candidate would have a high degree of animation skill with an affinity towards production management. The role requires strong animation direction and leadership skills to be able to manage and provide detailed feedback to external art vendors. They must also be an experienced and flexible artist, able to put final touches on any piece, and then be able implement those assets into the game engine. They will coordinate with team leads to build relationships, track assets, and help identify art needs. They’ll be required to provide daily feedback for both human and non-humanoid characters. A solid grasp of the principles of body movement, anticipation, overshoot, follow-through, squash and stretch, forward and inverse kinematics, and other facets of both 2D and 3D animation is essential. The animation supervisor must be well-versed in related tools -- 3DS Max, Maya, etc.

* Work closely with animation lead and production to ensure all assets have required information in a timely manner, prior to being sent to external teams. * Interface with external teams; provide daily direction via documentation and sketching over incoming content. * Implement final assets into game engine and make any fixes that are needed.

REQUIREMENTS * A minimum of 3 years’ CG key frame animation experience in games, television or film * 1 shipped project working as an outsource animation supervisor or equivalent experience * Self-driven, good communicator and a great team-player * A passion for video games, especially Blizzard Entertainment products * Bachelor’s Degree in Animation, Art, related field, equivalent online art education in animation or equivalent work experience PLUSES * Understand the visual style of World of Warcraft * Extensively played World of Warcraft