Fix Animator for Mocap Pipeline

Animator is needed in Los Angeles, United States.

6+ month project. Are you interested in joining a young, dynamic, experimental animation team writing new rules for how to combine traditional 3D cartoon elements with the VFX pipeline of summer blockbusters?

Ideally, you are located in Los Angeles and willing to work in studio as needed in Santa Monica, adhering to current Covid guidelines - but we are open to other working arrangements.

ABOUT US:
Haibu, LLC is a multiplatform, family-friendly media franchise centered on Haibu, a special girl who can talk to animals. Haibu encourages kids to see life through her eyes, to unlock their ability to care about animals and improve the world around them.

Our content studio renders animation in real-time from mocap and face-cap data in Unreal Engine. Our goal is to optimize the efficiency of producing narrative animation for TV and mobile.

We are a startup company expanding our core team. We are searching for dynamic, motivated creative talent with an enthusiasm to work across projects and platforms. We are young, fast and hungry, and everyone on the founding team wears multiple hats. At this stage, we are interested in generalists, NOT specialists - folks who know or are hungry to learn more about every step of the process.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure 3D animation assets are modeled and rigged for optimal performance in a real-time mocap workflow using Vicon cameras, Motion Builder, Dynamixyz, Unreal Engine and iPhone for face-cap
• Spot-check/quality-control character models and rigs delivered by outside vendors to be used in both Unreal Engine and Maya
• Correct character rigs as necessary
• Create character rigs as necessary
• Spot-check/quality-control 3D environments in Unreal Engine
• Interface directly with vendors to ensure notes on art assets are being implemented optimally
• Occasionally create finished keyframe animations for promotional purposes

REQUIREMENTS:

• Available on short notice for quick turnaround tasks and problem-solving
• 3 years professional experience on an animation team (or devastatingly good portfolio + intelligent, collaborative attitude)
• Proficiency in, at minimum, Maya, MotionBuilder and Unreal Engine creating 3D animation
• Experience rigging and/or cleaning up 3D characters in a motion-capture animation pipeline
• Experience with face capture rigging and workflow
• Animation generalist with ability and enthusiasm for every step of the animation process; comfortable in a non-siloed workflow
• Strong, opinionated artistic eye; can work efficiently while ensuring superlative aesthetics
• Analytical thinker with an ability to identify and solve problems in an evolving workflow
• Easy-going collaborator eager to own your piece of the work in a fast-paced startup environment where all fellow employees wear multiple hats
• Legally eligible to work in the United States

Are you looking to pay or is this a collaboration?
Pay to hire someone

Is this ongoing work or a one off job?
Ongoing work

How would you prefer to pay?
Day rate

What’s your day rate budget range? (USD)
$250-500 (Industry average)

Do you have an estimate of the job or project length?
A few months

Are you a company or individual hiring?
Company

When do you want to have the freelancer secured by?
ASAP

What is most important for this job?
Quality

What length of animation is required?
5+ minutes

Do you need sound in addition to the animation itself?
Not applicable

Do you have a script or storyboard for the animation?
Storyboard

Where did you find Twine?
Google