30 Lead Animator jobs in the United Kingdom

Our client, a highly acclaimed digital media studio, is seeking a talented and experienced Lead Animator to spearhead their animation projects in a fully remote capacity. This is a critical leadership role, responsible for guiding a team of animators and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, visually stunning animated content. The Lead Animator will oversee the entire animation pipeline, from initial storyboarding and character design to final rendering and compositing. You will set the artistic direction, provide creative feedback, and mentor junior animators to foster their professional growth. A deep understanding of animation principles, character performance, and storytelling is essential. The successful candidate will have extensive experience with industry-standard 3D animation software (e.g., Maya, Blender) and a strong portfolio showcasing a range of animation styles and techniques. Collaboration with directors, art directors, and other production staff will be key to bringing projects to life. Our client is dedicated to producing cutting-edge visual content and is looking for a visionary artist who can inspire and motivate their team. Given the remote nature of this position, excellent communication, organizational skills, and the ability to manage projects effectively without direct supervision are paramount. You will be expected to participate actively in virtual team meetings, provide clear direction, and maintain high standards of animation quality. A passion for visual storytelling and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of animation are highly valued.
Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in 3D animation production, with at least 2 years in a lead or supervisory role.
• Exceptional portfolio demonstrating strong animation skills, character performance, and visual storytelling.
• Proficiency in Maya, Blender, or similar 3D animation software.
• Experience with rigging, texturing, lighting, and rendering.
• Understanding of the full animation pipeline.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and team management skills.
• Ability to provide constructive feedback and mentorship.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a remote team environment.
• Familiarity with compositing software (e.g., After Effects) is a plus.

Join an award-winning studio and bring your animation expertise to groundbreaking projects.

Our client, an innovative and award-winning independent game studio, is seeking a highly skilled and visionary Remote Lead Animator to spearhead their animation team. This is a fully remote position, offering the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge projects from anywhere. You will be instrumental in defining the animation style and pipeline, guiding a team of talented animators, and ensuring the highest quality of character and environmental animation. We are looking for a creative powerhouse with exceptional technical skills, strong leadership qualities, and a deep understanding of animation principles across various styles.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of animators throughout the entire animation production pipeline.
• Establish and maintain the animation style guide and quality standards for projects.
• Direct and review animation work, providing constructive feedback to ensure artistic and technical excellence.
• Collaborate closely with game designers, artists, and engineers to integrate animation seamlessly into the game.
• Develop and refine animation tools, workflows, and pipelines to improve efficiency and quality.
• Create benchmark animations and provide technical guidance on character rigs, skinning, and animation systems.
• Troubleshoot and solve complex animation-related problems.
• Contribute to the overall game design and narrative through impactful animation.
• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in game animation.
• Manage the animation team's schedule and deliverables, ensuring timely completion of tasks.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience as a Lead Animator or Senior Animator in the video game industry, with a strong portfolio showcasing high-quality animation work.
• Expertise in 3D animation software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max) and game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Deep understanding of animation principles, character performance, and storytelling.
• Experience with rigging, skinning, and animation tool development is highly advantageous.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to provide clear and effective feedback to team members.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
• Experience working in a remote team environment is a significant plus.
• Passion for video games and a keen eye for detail and artistic quality.
• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

This role is perfect for a seasoned animator who thrives in a remote setting and is eager to make a significant impact on exciting new game titles. If you are ready to lead and inspire, apply now.

Our client is looking for a talented and visionary Lead Animator to join their dynamic, fully remote game development studio. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the visual storytelling and character performance of our upcoming titles. You will lead a team of animators, define the animation style and pipeline, and ensure the delivery of high-quality, impactful animations that bring our game worlds to life. As the Lead Animator, you will collaborate closely with art directors, game designers, and engineers to achieve the creative vision.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of animators, providing clear direction, feedback, and fostering a collaborative environment.
• Define and maintain the animation style guide and pipeline for projects, ensuring consistency and quality.
• Create high-quality character and environment animations, including keyframed animation, motion capture cleanup, and procedural animation techniques.
• Collaborate with the art and design teams to define animation requirements and ensure they align with gameplay mechanics and narrative.
• Implement and refine animation systems within the game engine (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Oversee the motion capture process, from planning and shooting to editing and integration.
• Establish and enforce animation best practices and technical standards.
• Review animation assets from the team, providing constructive feedback and ensuring they meet project goals.
• Troubleshoot animation-related issues and develop solutions.
• Stay current with industry trends, tools, and techniques in game animation and provide innovative ideas.
• Contribute to the overall creative direction and vision of the game's visual presentation.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience as a Senior or Lead Animator in the video game industry, with shipped titles under your belt.
• A strong portfolio showcasing exceptional animation skills, character performance, and visual storytelling.
• Proficiency in industry-standard animation software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Blender).
• Experience with game engines such as Unreal Engine or Unity, including animation systems and implementation.
• Solid understanding of animation principles, rigging, skinning, and PBR workflows.
• Experience leading and managing animation teams.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to provide clear and constructive feedback.
• Experience with motion capture workflows is highly desirable.
• This is a fully remote position, so candidates must be self-motivated, highly organized, and possess excellent communication skills for remote collaboration. Our client is based near Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK , but this role is open to talent across the UK.

Our client, a visionary studio renowned for its groundbreaking work in interactive entertainment and digital storytelling, is seeking a highly talented and experienced Lead Animator to spearhead their 3D character animation team. This is a remote, contract-based position, offering the unique opportunity to contribute your creative vision and technical expertise from anywhere in the UK. You will be responsible for defining and delivering the highest quality character animation for upcoming projects, ensuring emotional depth, technical excellence, and stylistic consistency.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of talented 3D character animators, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment.
• Set the animation quality bar and style guide for characters, ensuring consistency and excellence across all assets.
• Oversee the animation pipeline, from initial blocking and polish to final delivery, identifying and resolving technical or creative challenges.
• Collaborate closely with character artists, riggers, game designers, and directors to achieve the desired character performance and narrative goals.
• Provide constructive feedback and guidance to animators, helping them to refine their skills and meet project deadlines.
• Develop and implement efficient animation workflows and tools to enhance productivity and quality.
• Directly contribute to key animation sequences, showcasing exceptional skill in performance, timing, and weight.
• Stay current with industry trends, new technologies, and best practices in 3D character animation and real-time engines.
• Ensure that animations are optimized for performance within the target game engine or rendering pipeline.
• Champion the artistic vision and storytelling requirements of the project through compelling character performances.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience as a Lead Animator or Senior Animator on multiple AAA or high-profile interactive projects.
• A strong portfolio showcasing exceptional 3D character animation, demonstrating a deep understanding of body mechanics, acting, lip-sync, and facial animation.
• Expertise in industry-standard animation software such as Maya, 3ds Max, or similar.
• Experience with game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity is highly advantageous.
• Demonstrated leadership ability, with experience managing and mentoring animation teams.
• Excellent understanding of the animation pipeline and its various stages.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a remote, collaborative environment and manage competing priorities.
• A keen eye for detail and a passion for creating believable and engaging character performances.
• Ability to provide clear and actionable feedback to animators.

This is an exciting chance to shape the future of character animation in a creative and forward-thinking studio, working remotely on projects that will captivate audiences worldwide.

Our client, a cutting-edge digital studio, is seeking a highly skilled and passionate Lead Animator (3D Character) to join their creative team in the vibrant city of Liverpool, Merseyside, UK . This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the visual narrative and bring characters to life for an exciting new slate of interactive projects. As the Lead Animator, you will guide a team of talented artists, ensuring the highest standards of animation quality and stylistic consistency across all assets. You will be instrumental in the development pipeline, from initial concept and motion studies to final polish, working closely with directors, art leads, and technical teams.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee and mentor a team of 3D character animators, providing clear direction, constructive feedback, and fostering a collaborative environment.
• Develop and implement animation pipelines, workflows, and best practices to ensure efficiency and quality.
• Create high-quality character animations, including keyframe animation, motion capture cleanup, and procedural animation, for game characters, cinematics, and other interactive media.
• Collaborate with character designers and art directors to establish and maintain the visual style and personality of characters.
• Work with technical directors and engineers to implement animation systems, troubleshoot issues, and optimize performance.
• Contribute to the technical development of animation tools and plugins to improve workflow and efficiency.
• Perform rigorous quality assurance on all animations, ensuring they meet technical requirements and artistic vision.
• Stay abreast of the latest industry trends, technologies, and techniques in 3D character animation.
• Present work to stakeholders and articulate creative decisions effectively.
• Manage animation schedules and contribute to project planning and resource allocation.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience as a Lead Animator or Senior Animator in the games or VFX industry, with a strong portfolio showcasing exceptional 3D character animation skills.
• Proficiency in industry-standard animation software such as Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max.
• Solid understanding of animation principles, anatomy, rigging, and character performance.
• Experience with motion capture technology and data cleanup.
• Familiarity with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and their animation systems.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and guide a team.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to challenges.
• A keen eye for detail, timing, and cinematic storytelling.
• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.

This role offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and the chance to work on groundbreaking projects in a dynamic and supportive work environment. If you are a seasoned animation professional ready to take on a leadership role and inspire a team to create unforgettable characters, we encourage you to apply.

Our client, a highly respected game development studio, is looking for an exceptionally talented Senior Lead Animator to join their creative team. This is a fully remote position, allowing you to contribute your artistic vision and technical expertise from anywhere. You will be responsible for guiding the animation team, establishing animation quality standards, and executing high-fidelity character and environmental animations for cutting-edge video games. This role requires a blend of artistic mastery, technical proficiency, and strong leadership skills. You will collaborate closely with game designers, art directors, and programmers to bring game worlds and characters to life with compelling movement and personality. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of animation principles, expertise in industry-standard software, and a proven ability to mentor and inspire other animators.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and mentor a team of animators, providing artistic direction and technical guidance.
• Establish and maintain high-quality animation standards and workflows for the project.
• Create exceptional keyframe animations for characters, creatures, and in-game objects, focusing on performance, emotion, and gameplay clarity.
• Collaborate with the art and design teams to define character movement and behavior.
• Develop and implement animation systems, including rigging pipelines and motion capture integration.
• Review animation work from team members, providing constructive feedback to ensure quality and consistency.
• Troubleshoot animation-related technical issues and optimize animations for performance.
• Contribute to the overall artistic vision and direction of the game.
• Manage animation tasks and timelines, ensuring efficient delivery within project milestones.
• Stay current with the latest animation techniques, tools, and industry trends.

Qualifications:

• A strong portfolio showcasing exceptional character and gameplay animation skills.
• 5+ years of professional animation experience in the video game industry, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior role.
• Proficiency in industry-standard animation software such as Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max.
• Solid understanding of animation principles, cinematography, and storytelling.
• Experience with game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Knowledge of rigging, skinning, and character setup.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a remote team environment.
• Passion for video games and a keen eye for detail.
• Experience with motion capture cleanup and integration is a plus.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a creative and driven animator to make a significant impact on exciting game projects. Join our innovative studio and showcase your talents from **Coventry, West Midlands, UK**, or wherever you call home.

Our client, a prestigious animation studio, is seeking a highly talented and experienced Lead Animator to join their vibrant team in Leeds, West Yorkshire . This role offers a hybrid working model, combining essential studio collaboration with the flexibility of remote work. As a Lead Animator, you will oversee and guide a team of animators, ensuring the highest quality of character performance and storytelling in feature film projects. You will be responsible for setting the animation style, providing creative direction, and fostering a collaborative and inspiring environment. This is a leadership position for a seasoned animator with a passion for bringing characters to life and a proven ability to inspire and manage a team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, mentor, and motivate a team of animators throughout the production pipeline.
• Set and maintain the animation quality and performance standards for assigned projects.
• Provide clear and constructive feedback on animation sequences to team members.
• Collaborate with Directors, Storyboard Artists, and Art Directors to interpret and execute the creative vision.
• Develop and refine character performances, ensuring emotional depth and believability.
• Oversee the animation blocking, polishing, and final delivery stages.
• Troubleshoot animation challenges and develop creative solutions.
• Ensure timely delivery of animation shots according to the production schedule.
• Participate in character design reviews and provide input on rigging requirements.
• Contribute to the development of animation techniques and workflows.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in character animation for feature films or high-end CG productions.
• Proven experience in a Lead Animator or Supervising Animator role.
• Exceptional understanding of animation principles, cinematography, and storytelling.
• Proficiency in industry-standard animation software (e.g., Maya, Blender).
• Strong ability to sculpt compelling performances and convey emotion through character movement.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to provide clear, constructive, and actionable feedback.
• Experience working within a hybrid production environment, adapting to both studio and remote collaboration.
• A strong eye for detail and a passion for achieving excellence in animation.
• A portfolio showcasing outstanding character animation work and leadership examples.

This hybrid role is based at our state-of-the-art studio in Leeds . If you are a visionary Lead Animator ready to inspire a team and contribute to groundbreaking animated features, we encourage you to apply.

**_Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery. the stuff dreams are made of._**
**Who We Are.**
When we say, "the stuff dreams are made of," we're not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD's vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the _storytellers_ bringing our characters to life, the _creators_ bringing them to your living rooms and the _dreamers_ creating what's next.
From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.
Rocksteady Studios is an award-winning, critically acclaimed video game developer. Founded in 2004, we are home to the widely celebrated Batman: Arkham series of games. Our philosophy for game development is all about treating people well to create quality entertainment that stands the test of time. We're a one-project studio that built our success by combining genre-defining gameplay and character-driven cinematic narrative with AAA production values. Born in the heart of London, our multicultural team takes inspiration from the culture and history of our home in one of the most diverse cities in the world.
Rocksteady Studios is a member of the Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
family, and the developer of the award-winning Batman: Arkham series of
games. Our philosophy for game development is all about treating people well to create quality entertainment that stands the test of time.
We're a studio that built our success by combining genre-defining gameplay and
character-driven cinematic narrative with AAA production values.
Born in the heart of London, our multicultural team takes inspiration from the
culture and history of our home in one of the most diverse cities in the world.
**Your New Role.**
Rocksteady is looking for a Lead Technical Animator to join our dedicated and
collaborative team working on AAA titles.
The role involves leading, supporting and developing our team of friendly and
passionate technical animators. You'll also be applying your technical expertise
directly by creating rigs, developing pipelines and collaborating with art and
animation teams to solve all kinds of problems.
Working closely with a plethora of leads and directors - you'll be developing
outstanding art assets with brilliant deformation alongside making easy to use
tools for gaining efficiency and quality.
**Your Role Accountabilities.**
+ Supervise/create high quality character, body and facial rigs.
+ Collaborate with the art and animation teams to assist on technical
challenges and improve pipelines and processes.
+ Integrate, research and develop new technologies and tools to advance quality, efficiency and adaptability of animation, rigging and art pipelines.
+ Create schedules/roadmaps alongside the production team.
+ Leading and supporting the technical animation team through hiring, mentoring and running 121s/appraisals.
+ Create and manage documentation for tools and processes within animation and asset processes in the studio.
**Qualifications & Experience.**
+ Applicable understanding of anatomy and body mechanics.
+ Relevant rigging/technical animation experience.
+ Strong working knowledge of Python in Maya and coding standards and practices.
+ Engine animation experience (Unity/Unreal).
**Bonus Points:**
+ Experience with gameplay technical animation - such as state machines, cloth, physics and ragdoll setups - particularly in Unreal.
+ Experience with Jira and/or Shotgrid.
+ Experience with Motionbuilder, motionbuilder API and mocap processes.
+ Experience with facial rigging.
+ Programming knowledge such as C++/Maya API & Plugin Writing.
+ Interest and experience with machine learning.
+ Knowledge of vector maths, linear algebra and matrices.
Hybrid Working - This role is advertised as a Hybrid work model, that combines remote and in-office work, following our current company policy and to be agreed with your Line Manager. Subject to any applicable laws, WBD / your Line Manager reserves the right to change this working agreement where this is essential to business needs and upon reasonable notice to you.
**How We Get Things Done.**
This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.
**Championing Inclusion at WBD**
Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or any other category protected by law.
If you're a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page ( for instructions to submit your request.

Our client is seeking a highly talented and creative Lead Digital Animator to join their dynamic team in **Cardiff, Wales, UK**. This role is pivotal in shaping the visual storytelling and aesthetic of our cutting-edge projects. You will be responsible for overseeing the animation pipeline, guiding a team of talented animators, and ensuring the highest quality of animation output. Your expertise will be crucial in bringing characters, environments, and motion graphics to life with fluidity, personality, and technical precision. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of animation principles, software proficiency, and a strong artistic sensibility. You'll collaborate closely with directors, art leads, and other departments to interpret creative briefs and translate them into compelling animated sequences. This is an exciting opportunity to leave your mark on visually driven projects and contribute to a collaborative and innovative studio environment. The role requires a minimum of 5 years of professional animation experience, with at least 2 years in a leadership or senior capacity. Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Maya, Blender, Adobe After Effects, and Cinema 4D is essential. A strong portfolio showcasing a wide range of animation styles and techniques is mandatory. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are necessary for effective team leadership and cross-departmental collaboration. You should be adept at providing constructive feedback, mentoring junior animators, and fostering a positive and productive work atmosphere. Familiarity with rigging, texturing, and rendering processes is highly beneficial. We are looking for someone who is passionate about animation, driven by innovation, and committed to pushing creative boundaries. The position involves a hybrid work model, offering a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and mentor a team of digital animators, ensuring high-quality output and adherence to project deadlines.
• Develop and implement animation strategies and workflows.
• Create high-quality 3D animations for characters, environments, and visual effects.
• Collaborate with directors and art leads to achieve the desired artistic vision.
• Review and provide feedback on animation work from team members.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues within the animation pipeline.
• Stay current with industry trends, software updates, and new animation techniques.
• Contribute to the development of pre-production materials such as storyboards and animatics.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience as a Lead Animator or Senior Animator in a professional studio.
• Exceptional portfolio demonstrating artistic skill and technical proficiency in animation.
• Expertise in 3D animation software (e.g., Maya, Blender, 3ds Max).
• Proficiency in compositing and motion graphics software (e.g., After Effects).
• Strong understanding of animation principles, character performance, and storytelling.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.