Electronic Arts Inc. is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. EA delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and tablets.
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Role Overview
Gameplay Animators are responsible for portraying movement and behavior by owning their animations all the way into game. Gameplay Animators must be able to create emotionally believable characters that allow game players to interact with the game, whether photorealistic or stylized, in a realistic and believable fashion. Think of a game like Madden NFL Football, for example. When the game player intercepts a pass and scores a touchdown, they expect the animated action to be a realistic representation of the action they'd see in real life.
EA Gameplay Animators use specialized software packages, including MotionBuilder and EA’s proprietary animation engine ANT, to create the animations for in-game behaviors as well as setting up the blending, tagging, state transitions, compression, expressions, etc. for those animations to work in game. Gameplay animators need a strong understanding of classic animation principles such as staging, squash and stretch, timing, anticipation, follow through, exaggeration, etc., as well as excellent problem-solving skills. Gameplay Animators will work with designers and on their own to create new control schemes and gameplay mechanics in the ANT animation engine.
What skills does EA look for?
EA looks for Gameplay Animators who demonstrate a strong proficiency in animation packages including MotionBuilder and game/animation engines like Unity, Unreal, and Lumberyard; they possess an ability to learn very quickly and work with proprietary animation run-time integration tools; they have an ability to animate the human form, giving the character weight, personality, mood, and believability; they are comfortable animating in realistic and stylized motion; and they can demonstrate a strong understanding of classic animation principles and fundamentals.
Gameplay Animators must be able to work as part a team and on their own, taking responsibility for organizing their work within the production schedule, managing files, and meeting deadlines. It's essential to have an understanding of the production process and the ability to communicate effectively with other disciplines. Knowledge of programming is desirable.
Game animation must be simple and expressive. The Gameplay Animator should know how to reveal attitude, emotions, and mood through a character's movement and behavior, and be able to create memorable characters that will appeal to players. Gameplay Animators are also responsible for how animations feel from a gameplay standpoint, animation must look good and play well in the game. At EA, Gameplay Animators usually possess a degree in Computer Animation.
EA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, age, sexual orientation, marital status, protected veteran status, medical condition or disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
About EA
At Electronic Arts, we exist to Inspire the World to Play. We create extraordinary new game experiences for our millions of players everywhere by bringing together talented people that combine creativity, innovation, and passion. We know that our strength lies in the diversity of our people. We immerse our employees into an inclusive culture, and provide opportunities for learning and leading that allow them to do the most impactful and rewarding work of their careers. We put our people first. We provide comprehensive benefit packages with a focus on health and wellbeing to support your needs and help you balance your career and personal life. We provide access to dynamic and collaborative work environments, opportunities to connect and contribute through our Employee Resource Groups, and support for a balanced life with paid time off and new parent leave, plus free video games and so much more! Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Electronic Arts also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.