Cinematic Animator

The Company

Torn Banner Studios is a Toronto, Canada-based independent game development studio founded in 2010. We first made our mark with Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, a multi-million copy selling title that redefined melee combat in gaming. Since then, we’ve continued to grow and innovate, releasing Chivalry 2 and, most recently, No More Room in Hell 2, currently in Early Access. Today, our team of around 100 developers is dedicated to creating unique, challenging, and fun gaming experiences.

The Role

Torn Banner is looking for a Cinematic Animator to join us in crafting emotionally impactful, action driven and dramatic scenes for In-game cinematics and marketing trailers. As a key member of the Cinematics team you will drive the animation cinematic pipeline, collaborate with brand and animation teams and bring our characters to life.

Note: While this role can be carried out remotely, candidates are required to be current Ontario residents or willing to relocate to Ontario.

Responsibilities

• Create high quality animations for cinematics and marketing material.
• Innovate our cinematic animation pipeline.
• Accomplish realistic results that create memorable scenes and impactful moments in trailers.
• Collaborating in a multi-disciplinary team, participating in team reviews and creative discussions
• Design and polish character performances for both pre-rendered and real-time cinematics.
• Ensure cinematic content aligns with the visual style, tone, and creative vision of the project.
• Create and maintain animation documentation, workflows, and best practices for the cinematic team.
• Integrate and troubleshoot animation assets within Unreal Engine, ensuring seamless implementation.
• Work with motion capture data, including cleanup, retargeting, editing, and performance enhancement.
• Partner with Technical Animators to improve cinematic tools, rigs, and animation pipelines.
• Manage end-to-end motion capture workflows, from shoot planning through final animation polish.
• Mentor junior animators and contribute to team knowledge sharing initiatives.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of professional animation experience
• Working experience in Maya and Motion Builder
• Experience in Unreal or similar game engines.
• Animation reel demonstrating a relevant and high-level animation skillset.
• A strong focus on facial animations and creating realistic human animation sets.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and team involvement
• High degree of self-motivation and initiative-taking
• An understanding and passion for video games
• The drive and the ability to take on research and self-education

Bonus

• Experience working with Unreal Engine 5.
• Experience working in UE5 Sequencer and building out cinematic workflows.
• Experience creating In-game Scripted Sequences.
• Experience developing AAA titles on multiple platforms
• Professional experience developing animations for fighting/action games
• Motion capture cinematic workflows experience (acting, directing, working with relevant systems such Xsens, Vicon, Opti track.)

Benefits & Perks

• 6.5 weeks paid vacation
• Eligible for Employee Stock Options Plan
• Flexible schedule and work location, with your choice of remote, hybrid, or on-site.
• Healthcare & benefits plan, for you and your family
• 100% parental leave top-up for 16 weeks, for Canadian employees.

To see our team, our office and what we do as a company visit

We are Torn Banner Studios .

Torn Banner Studios welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Compensation

• The pay range for this role is $90,000- $130,000 CAD per year. The range for this role represents candidates across a wide range of skills and experience for the position. Increased salaries may be achievable for those who have achieved mastery and deep industry knowledge over time. Your specific offer will rely on your unique experience and alignment to our team's needs for the position.

Transparency on use of AI and position vacancy

• Our recruitment process does not use artificial intelligence to automatically screen, assess, or select applicants. All decisions on progressing, rejecting, and offering candidates are made by human reviewers.
• One AI–enabled tool that may be used during the interview process is that of interview recording, transcription, and summarizing. Again, this would not make decisions, but simply make reviewing the notes easier. We will always ask for the candidates approval before using such a tool.
• In compliance with Ontario regulations, the advertised posting is for a currently vacant position.