Animator (Contract)
at EA
Los Angeles, CA
ENTERTAINING IS OUR PASSION
We’re EA—the world’s largest video game publisher. You’re probably familiar with many of our titles—Madden, FIFA, The Sims, Need for Speed, Dead Space, Battlefield, and Star Wars, to name but a few. But maybe you don’t know how we’re committed to creating games for every platform—from social to mobile to console—to give our consumers that Anytime, Anywhere access they demand. What does that mean for you? It means more opportunities to unleash your creative genius, be inspired by those leading their fields, and ignite your path in any direction you choose.
Creating visually stunning, immersive games is an art that takes a tremendous amount of skill and talent. EA artists are responsible for creating the visual elements of a game, such as characters, scenery, objects, vehicles, surface textures, clothing, and even user interface components. Other Artists bring the game to life with Animation, Lighting and Visual effects and draw the gamer into an immersive experience where they can suspend disbelief and emotionally connect with the game and enjoy the ride. Some games go for a look that’s as realistic as possible, while others aim for a more stylized or fantastical look. In the end, the look of a game is one of the most significant factors contributing to the overall success of the game.
Role Overview
Animators are responsible for portraying movement and behavior. Most often their skill is used to give life to game characters and creatures, but sometimes animations are also applied to objects, scenery, vegetation, environmental effects, and other objects. 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 Animators use specialized software packages, including Maya and Max, to create the animations for both in-game behavior as well as and predefined sequences (or cut scenes). Animators need a strong understanding of classic animation principles such as staging, squash and stretch, timing, anticipation, follow through, exaggeration, arcs, etc., as well as an intrinsic ability for storytelling.
What skills does EA look for??
EA looks for Animators who demonstrate a strong proficiency in animation packages including Maya; they possess an ability to learn and work with proprietary animation run-time integration tools; they are knowledgeable in the technical aspects of rigging and skinning characters for animation; 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.
Animators must be able to work as part a team and also 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. Some knowledge of programming is desirable.
Game animation must be simple and expressive. The 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. It's essential to have knowledge of the timing and appearance of human and animal movement as well as facial expressions. At EA, Animators usually possess a degree in Fine Arts or Computer Animation.
We’re EA—the world’s largest video game publisher. You’re probably familiar with many of our titles—Madden, FIFA, The Sims, Need for Speed, Dead Space, Battlefield, and Star Wars, to name but a few. But maybe you don’t know how we’re committed to creating games for every platform—from social to mobile to console—to give our consumers that Anytime, Anywhere access they demand. What does that mean for you? It means more opportunities to unleash your creative genius, be inspired by those leading their fields, and ignite your path in any direction you choose.
Creating visually stunning, immersive games is an art that takes a tremendous amount of skill and talent. EA artists are responsible for creating the visual elements of a game, such as characters, scenery, objects, vehicles, surface textures, clothing, and even user interface components. Other Artists bring the game to life with Animation, Lighting and Visual effects and draw the gamer into an immersive experience where they can suspend disbelief and emotionally connect with the game and enjoy the ride. Some games go for a look that’s as realistic as possible, while others aim for a more stylized or fantastical look. In the end, the look of a game is one of the most significant factors contributing to the overall success of the game.
Role Overview
Animators are responsible for portraying movement and behavior. Most often their skill is used to give life to game characters and creatures, but sometimes animations are also applied to objects, scenery, vegetation, environmental effects, and other objects. 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 Animators use specialized software packages, including Maya and Max, to create the animations for both in-game behavior as well as and predefined sequences (or cut scenes). Animators need a strong understanding of classic animation principles such as staging, squash and stretch, timing, anticipation, follow through, exaggeration, arcs, etc., as well as an intrinsic ability for storytelling.
What skills does EA look for??
EA looks for Animators who demonstrate a strong proficiency in animation packages including Maya; they possess an ability to learn and work with proprietary animation run-time integration tools; they are knowledgeable in the technical aspects of rigging and skinning characters for animation; 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.
Animators must be able to work as part a team and also 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. Some knowledge of programming is desirable.
Game animation must be simple and expressive. The 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. It's essential to have knowledge of the timing and appearance of human and animal movement as well as facial expressions. At EA, Animators usually possess a degree in Fine Arts or Computer Animation.