Senior 3D Animator

About BUCK:

BUCK is a talent-driven, global creative company with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Sydney, London and Amsterdam. Since 2004 we have been building a home for the world’s most talented dreamers, makers, and doers in a collaborative, ego-free culture that breeds partnership and creative ambition. At our core, we exist to find creative opportunities in every challenge, not just to think, but to make, and ultimately put extraordinary things into the world that inspire people.

Job Description:

The 3D department is a team of highly creative and technical artists working in a collaborative environment. We value the importance of in-person collaboration as a cornerstone of building positive culture, fostering growth, and driving success for individuals, the department, and BUCK as a whole.

In 2025, the guidance for in-office work is 1–3 days per week, with exceptions considered on a case-by-case basis.

Responsibilities:

• Create compelling character performances that are well acted and mechanically sound

• Animate objects in believable and appealing ways

• Work in a variety of animation styles (cartoony, realistic, etc.)

• Compose, previsualize shots and edit sequences to effectively tell a story

• Hand off shots to the lighting team per department guidelines

• Manage your workload to consistently meet deadlines

• Work in an organized manner respecting established workflows to allow for inter-department collaboration

• Communicate effectively and work with animation leads, CG leads, riggers, creative directors, and producers on a given project

• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior animators, fostering skill development and team growth

• Take a leadership role in troubleshooting animation challenges and ensuring the quality of the final output

• Lead the creation of high-quality character performances and animation for complex sequences

• Drive the development of new workflows, tools, and techniques to enhance animation quality and efficiency

• Actively share animation techniques, insights, and best practices with the team to elevate department standards

• Investigate new workflows, tools, and efficiencies within the department

• Troubleshoot technical issues with your own work and assist teammates when needed

• Continuously update your skill set and learn new tools to meet the evolving needs of the department, clients, and market

• Share knowledge and insights with the department and the wider BUCK team, promoting the department’s culture of collaboration and growth

• Proactively offer assistance and support to the department and your peers, actively seeking opportunities to contribute

Requirements:

• 5+ years professional experience working as an animator in commercials and/or feature films

• Mastery of the principles of animation, acting, and mechanics of movement

• In-depth knowledge of Autodesk Maya’s animation toolset and workflow

• Ability and willingness to learn new techniques and plugins

• Strong organizational and communication skills

• Patient and focused temperament under pressure

• Strong organizational skills and discipline in tracking your own work

• Meticulous attention to detail.

• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to engage in self-directed learning

• Ability to lead animation tasks and take initiative in creative problem-solving

• Ability to troubleshoot complex animation scenes and streamline workflows

• Receptiveness to feedback and instruction from supervisors and leads.

• Solid understanding of the 3D pipeline and flexibility to adapt to different roles based on the project requirements.

• Willingness to adapt and learn new tools and techniques to stay current with industry trends and project requirements.

• Enthusiasm for sharing knowledge and collaborating with team members to cultivate a supportive and innovative work environment.

Software Requirements:

• Expert-level proficiency of Maya for animation

• Additional software knowledge (beneficial but not required)

  • 3D Generalist Skills in Houdini and C4D

  • Nuke

  • Python Scripting

  • Relevant pioneering tech and software (ie. AI image/video/asset generation)