[Hiring] Motion Capture Animator @Side

Role Description

As a Motion Capture Animator, you will be responsible for:

• Data Cleaning & Tracking:
  • Identify, label, and track raw point-cloud data from studio shoots, manually fixing marker swaps or mislabeled tracking points.
  • Reconstruct missing data points caused by actor occlusions using interpolation, smoothing algorithms, or reference footage.
  • Remove jitter, spikes, and artifacts from raw tracking curves while preserving the subtle nuances and weight of the original performance.
• Skeletal Solving & Retargeting:
  • Solve processed marker data onto 3D character rigs, ensuring the performance translates accurately despite proportional differences between the actor and the 3D model.
  • Correct structural clipping, stabilize feet to eliminate floor-sliding, and fix basic posture/interaction anomalies.
  • Sync cleaned data with reference video to ensure the digital character perfectly retains the actor's emotional intent, timing, and weight distribution.
• Pipeline & Organization:
  • Meet strict production deadlines to ensure a steady stream of clean data is handed off to the character animation and cinematic layout teams.
  • Fix all structural issues introduced during retargeting, including hand/foot sliding, floor penetration, clipping, and unnatural joint stretching.
  • Apply traditional keyframe animation layers to amplify poses, sharpen timing, fix off-balance center-of-gravity issues, and push the performance to match stylized or cinematic art directions.
  • Adjust animation curves to ensure flawless contact and interaction with virtual props, weapons, vehicles, and uneven terrain geometry.

Qualifications

• Advanced proficiency in data-cleanup and retargeting software, such as Autodesk MotionBuilder and Vicon Shogun Post.
• Solid understanding of Autodesk Maya and how animation curves function within engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• A deep understanding of human anatomy, weight distribution, and realistic movement to accurately infer missing data.
• 3–5 years of experience in cleanup and tracking within video games production.

Requirements

• Exceptional patience and attention to detail for handling repetitive, meticulous vector data manipulation.
• Ability to visually reconstruct complex movements when large chunks of camera data are missing.
• Highly organized workflow to efficiently handle large volumes of performance files under tight schedule constraints.
• Advanced proficiency in traditional 3D keyframe animation, with a deep understanding of animation curves, graph editors, Euler angles, and gimbal lock resolution.
• Solid command of weight, anticipation, staging, arcs, and secondary action to naturally enhance captured data without making it look "floaty" or robotic.
• Deep understanding of Forward Kinematics (FK) and Inverse Kinematics (IK) systems, and how character rigs behave when handling external constraints.
• Ability to interpret a director’s creative notes and translate performance critiques into technical animation adjustments.
• Knowing exactly when to preserve the organic nuance of the actor's performance and when to overwrite it with keyframes for the sake of gameplay responsiveness or cinematic clarity.

Company Description

Side (formerly PTW) is a global video game development and services provider, offering technical and creative solutions to many of the largest developers and studios around the world. Founded in 2009 and drawing on 30+ years' experience from our parent company in Japan, Side has since grown to become a global force with 20 studios in 14 countries across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia.

• Industry-leading services include game development, art production, audio production, quality assurance, localization, localization QA, player support, community management, and datasets.

Help us bring stories to the world! Join a global team of passionate gamers and contribute to delivering unforgettable game experiences.