Lead 3D Animator
A5 Labs
contract
Posted on:
Location Type: Remote
Location: Remote • 🇯🇵 Japan
Visit company websiteJob Level
Senior
Tech Stack
Unity
About the role
- Lead and mentor the 3D animation team, providing clear artistic and technical feedback.
- Define quality standards, style guidelines, and animation benchmarks.
- Review and approve character and prop animations for timing, weight, clarity, and expression.
- Create high-quality keyframe animations for humanoids, creatures, props, gameplay actions, and short narrative moments.
- Ensure animations support gameplay readability and align with the project’s stylized look.
- Build functional control rigs in the chosen DCC (Maya or Blender) for characters and props.
- Ensure rigs provide clean deformation, intuitive controls, and meet gameplay/production needs.
- Export and integrate animations into Unity.
- Work with Animator Controller, blend trees, Timeline, animation events, and runtime adjustments.
- Collaborate with tech artists and engineers to ensure correct implementation in the engine.
- Maintain and optimize the animation workflow (blocking → polish → export → integration).
- Define naming conventions, asset structure, and documentation.
- Identify and introduce tools or scripts that improve productivity and consistency.
Requirements
- 5+ years of experience in 3D animation for games or real-time applications, including 2+ years in a senior or lead role.
- Strong mastery of keyframe animation: posing, timing, arcs, weight, and performance.
- Proficiency in Maya or Blender, including the ability to create your own rigs for animation purposes.
- Solid understanding of Unity’s animation systems and integration workflows.
- Experience working in collaborative, cross-disciplinary production environments.
Benefits
- Hardware allowance: $2,000 upfront + $1,000 annually.
- Unlimited PTO (typically 22–30 days per year).
- $2,000/year learning & development support.
- Flexible hours and remote work options.
- Optional relocation to Japan; business travel may be required.
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
3D animationkeyframe animationriggingcharacter animationprop animationgameplay actionsanimation benchmarksanimation workflowstimingweight
Soft skills
leadershipmentoringcollaborationartistic feedbacktechnical feedbackcommunicationorganizationproblem-solvingcreativityattention to detail