Cinematic Animator (AAA Games)

About Ascendion :

Ascendion is a full-service digital engineering solutions company. We make and manage software platforms and products that power growth and deliver captivating experiences to consumers and employees. Our engineering, cloud, data, experience design, and talent solution capabilities accelerate transformation and impact for enterprise clients. Headquartered in New Jersey, our workforce of 6,000+ Ascenders delivers solutions from around the globe. Ascendion is built differently to engineer the next.

Ascendion | Engineering to elevate life

We have a culture built on opportunity, inclusion, and a spirit of partnership. Come, change the world with us:

• Build the coolest tech for world’s leading brands
• Solve complex problems – and learn new skills
• Experience the power of transforming digital engineering for Fortune 500 clients
• Master your craft with leading training programs and hands-on experience

Experience a community of change makers!

Join a culture of high-performing innovators with endless ideas and a passion for tech. Our culture is the fabric of our company, and it is what makes us unique and diverse. The way we share ideas, learning, experiences, successes, and joy allows everyone to be their best at Ascendion.

About the Role:

Job Title: Cinematic Animator (AAA Games)

Job Description:

Responsibilities:

• Create character/creature motions through a blend of key-frame animation and motion capture.
• Collaborate with the Lead Cinematic Animator to implement the overall creative direction of our product.
• Deliver high-quality body and facial animation assets with speed, precision, and attention to detail.
• Contribute to animation tests, previs, layout, and final shot animation.
• Assist with motion capture shoots and help define technical and creative requirements.
• Actively communicate progress and potential issues, flagging risks ahead of deadlines.

Requirements:

• 3–7+ years of experience creating high-quality character and creature animation.
• Strong proficiency in both key-frame and motion capture animation.
• Proven experience animating realistic humans, with an emphasis on expressive and accurate facial animation.
• Prior experience working with FACS-based rigs for facial animation is a must.
• A strong grasp of body mechanics, timing, weight, and shot composition to deliver believable character performances.
• A solid understanding of cinematic camera work, especially handheld styles used in storytelling and visual exploration.
• Experience using Maya (preferred); MotionBuilder is a plus.
• Familiarity with Unreal Engine, Sequencer, and its interface, with a willingness to problem-solve creatively within the engine environment.
• Ability to work quickly and adaptively, maintaining high quality under tight timelines.
• Proactive communication skills with a team-focused mindset.
• Technical understanding of animation tools, pipelines, and systems is a plus.
• Self-motivated, organized, and able to contribute creatively and technically.
• Demo reels that demonstrate experience in the above areas are highly preferred.

Location: Vancouver, BC (Hybrid)

Salary Range: The salary for this position is between CAD 115,000-CAD 135,000 Annually. Factors which may affect pay within this range may include geography/market, skills, education, experience, and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

Want to change the world? Let us know.

Tell us about your experiences, education, and ambitions. Bring your knowledge, unique viewpoint, and creativity to the table. Let’s talk!