Updated April 2026

Character Animator
Resume Example

A production-focused resume format for character animators that showcases shot counts, shipped titles, and animation quality metrics. Built for game, film, and TV studios.

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ATS Score
88
Excellent
Keywords · Impact · Format
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Nico Ferreira

Montreal, QC  |  [email protected]  |  (555) 824-6193  |  linkedin.com/in/nicoferreira
Summary

Character animator with 7 years of experience in keyframe animation, motion capture cleanup, and cinematic sequences for AAA games and animated features. Animated 500+ shots across 4 shipped game titles and 2 feature films. Expert in Maya and MotionBuilder with deep understanding of body mechanics, acting, and facial performance.

Technical Skills
Animation: Keyframe Animation, Motion Capture Cleanup, Facial Animation, Lip Sync, Walk Cycles
Software: Maya, MotionBuilder, Unreal Engine 5, Blender, Animate CC
Techniques: Body Mechanics, Weight and Timing, Acting for Animation, Pose-to-Pose, Straight Ahead
Pipeline: Perforce, Shotgun, Jira, FBX Export, Animation Layers, Blend Trees
Experience
Character Animator - Titan Interactive Aug 2021 – Present
  • Animated 300+ character shots including hero cinematics and gameplay sequences across 2 AAA titles with 5M combined unit sales
  • Cleaned and refined 150 motion capture performances in MotionBuilder, reducing retake requests by 35% compared to previous pipeline
  • Created a facial animation rig preset library of 25 expressions, cutting facial animation setup time by 40% for the team of 8 animators
  • Delivered 12 cinematic sequences totaling 18 minutes of in-game cutscenes, meeting all milestone deadlines across a 2-year production
Junior Character Animator - Lumina Animation Mar 2018 – Jul 2021
  • Animated 200+ shots across 2 animated feature films, averaging 4 seconds per shot with a 90% first-pass director approval rate
  • Created 60 character walk and run cycles for 15 unique characters, ensuring consistent weight and timing across the cast
  • Participated in 200+ dailies sessions over 3 years, incorporating director feedback within 24 hours on 95% of assignments
  • Blocked and polished 40 action sequences, coordinating with the layout and effects teams to ensure camera and FX alignment
Education
B.F.A. Character Animation - Sheridan College 2018
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Why This Resume Works

1
Shot counts with shipped credits

500+ shots across 6 released projects proves sustained production output over years.

2
Director approval rates included

90% first-pass approval demonstrates quality that reduces costly revision cycles.

3
Pipeline improvement contributions

Facial rig presets cutting setup time by 40% shows technical leadership beyond shot work.

Section-by-Section Breakdown

Summary

Lead with total shot count and shipped title credits. Animation hiring is credits-driven.

Skills

Separate animation techniques from software and pipeline tools. Show both keyframe and mocap ability.

Experience

Count shots animated, approval rates, and shipped projects. Include cinematic minutes delivered.

Education

Sheridan, CalArts, and Gobelins are premier animation schools. List them even for senior roles.

Key Skills for Character Animator Resumes

Based on analysis of thousands of job postings, these are the most frequently required skills:

Maya MotionBuilder Unreal Engine 5 Keyframe Animation Motion Capture Cleanup Facial Animation Lip Sync Body Mechanics Acting for Animation Walk Cycles Cinematic Animation Blend Trees Perforce Shotgun Animation Layers

Common Mistakes on Character Animator Resumes

  • ⚠No shipped project credits - Name every released game, film, or series. Unshipped work is harder for studios to verify and value.
  • ⚠Ignoring motion capture skills - Most studios use mocap alongside keyframe. Show cleanup and refinement experience.
  • ⚠Missing approval or revision metrics - First-pass approval rates and revision counts show quality. Studios track these internally.
  • ⚠Only listing personal animation tests - Professional production work under constraints is more valuable than personal projects. Lead with it.
  • ⚠No team or pipeline context - Studios need animators who fit pipelines. Show team sizes, tools used, and cross-department work.

How to Write a Character Animator Resume That Gets Interviews

Design resumes need to balance visual sense with business impact. Hiring managers look for your design tools, process methodology, and evidence that your work drove measurable outcomes.

1
Include a portfolio link prominently

Your portfolio is your strongest asset. Place the URL near your name and contact information. A resume without a portfolio link for a design role is incomplete.

2
Name your design tools

Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, Framer, InVision, or Principle are ATS keywords. Specify which tools you use daily vs occasionally.

3
Show user-centered process

Mention user research, usability testing, wireframing, prototyping, and design system work. Process-driven designers are more valuable than pixel pushers.

4
Quantify design impact

Conversion rate improvements, task completion rates, user satisfaction scores, or accessibility compliance levels prove your design decisions work.

Once your character animator resume is drafted, score your resume to catch keyword gaps before submitting.

Related Guides

→ Best Skills to Put on a Resume → How to Quantify Your Resume Bullet Points → The Complete ATS-Friendly Resume Guide → 150+ Resume Synonym Guides

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