# Motion Capture (Mocap) Animator

**Company:** [Side](https://jobs.workable.com/companies/ryEW8icxs3mdwJYB31Ab5U.md)
**Location:** Remote
**Workplace:** remote
**Employment type:** Contract
**Department:** Art Production

[Apply for this job](https://jobs.workable.com/view/743a2d58-442c-46dd-acfb-8267a141483b)

## Description

![](https://workablehr.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/photos/302673/b4278d0ded10265affb06ed198a7366f.png)

**Position: Motion Capture Animator**

**Work structure: Remote, within 6 hours time zone difference to Poland**

**Contract duration: 9-12 months**

**Start date: As soon as possible**

At Side, we partner with some of the world's leading developers and publishers to solve complex production challenges and help bring exceptional games to life. From concept through live operations, our co-development teams work as trusted extensions of our clients' studios, contributing expertise across design, engineering, art, audio, QA, and production.[](https://apply.workable.com/sideinc/j/3A830A7E4F/)[](https://www.side.com/about/careers/)

**What you will be doing:**

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 (e.g., when a limb is hidden from cameras) 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 (limbs passing through clothing/body), 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.

## Requirements

**What we are looking for:**

Technical Skills & Experience 

-   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. 
-   Experience: 3–5 years of experience in a cleanup, tracking within video games production. 

Soft Skills & Core Competencies 

-   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.

## Benefits

**About Side**   
_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._ 

_Our 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._

_Experience our side of life. For more information, visit_