Principal Animation Artist - Unpublished R&D Product

Riot Games was established in 2006 by entrepreneurial gamers who believe that player-focused game development can result in great games. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to critical and player acclaim. As the most played video game in the world, over 100 million play every month. Players form the foundation of our community and it’s for them that we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

We’re looking for humble but ambitious, razor-sharp professionals who can teach us a thing or two. We promise to return the favor. Like us, you take play seriously; you’re passionate about games. We embrace those who see things differently, aren’t afraid to experiment, and who have a healthy disregard for constraints.

That's where you come in.

As a Principal Animation Artist at Riot you will define craft standards, coach the animation team and influence other disciplines, including VFX artists, character artists, and rigging technical artists. You will help direct the animation experience and communicate that vision to team members.  A great reel will showcase a diverse selection of character-driven and interactive animation, and a strong foundation in the principles of animation, including weight, anticipation, and impact. Your craft expertise will breathe life into iconic and beloved characters for players.

As an Principal Animation Artist on our Unpublished R&D Product you will be responsible for all aspects of player-facing animation systems and character performance from early ideation to final shipping quality release. Your critical eye for quality and appeal will help strengthen our animation style. Your past experience as an animator will enable you to translate the gameplay and thematics of League of Legends Champions into the game medium.

Responsibilities:

• Set an animation vision based on the game design that embodies the creative direction.
• Develop and refine Animation Style and Process Guides.
• Work with the cross-functional teams to create memorable and expressive character moments.
• Understand League of Legends characters and recognize opportunities to enhance champion expression.
• Meet project deadlines in a timely manner without compromising artistic integrity.
• Consistently communicate with the team by giving and receiving feedback, directing next steps, and providing clear goals and outcomes to your team.
• Guide and give feedback to animation outsourcing partners.

Required Qualifications:

• 8+ years of professional experience working in Maya
• Proficient in using Unreal Engine.
• Excellent execution skills, capable of actively cooperating with project milestones.
• Complete project experience, with at least one launched game project experience.
• Familiar with the League of Legends IP and art style.
• Fluent in Mandarin Chinese

Desired Qualifications:.

• Experience collaborating with design partners on player-facing systems.
• Passionate for interactive entertainment  and focused on player experience.
• Strong understanding of character performance within interactive environments.
• Strong pre-vis and storytelling animation skills.
• Fluent in English

As a part of the application process, you will be expected to provide a portfolio or demo reel of their work and may be asked to complete an art test.

Don’t forget to include a resume and cover letter. We receive a lot of applications, but we’ll notice a fun, well-written intro that shows us you take play seriously.