Character & Animation Artist

About the Studio

We are building the next generation of gameplay-driven interactive entertainment. Our studio focuses on acquiring and evolving legacy gaming IP that helped define entire eras of players. We seek out franchises with proven impact and passionate communities, and bring them forward using modern technology, deeper gameplay systems, and a player-first design philosophy.

Our current project centers around a well-known legacy sports IP that previously sold millions of copies. Our goal is not simply to recreate what existed before, but to evolve it — pushing gameplay systems, design, and competitive depth to a new level. We believe the best games emerge when technical excellence, physics engines, and player-first design intersect.

The Role

We are looking for a Character & Animation Artist who can own the visual and kinetic identity of our players from the ground up. This is not a role for someone who wants to hand off their models and move on — you will own your characters all the way through animation, making sure every swing, every reaction, and every over-the-top moment feels exactly right.

The characters in this game are the game. Their personality, their weight, their timing — players will feel every frame you create.

Responsibilities

• Model, texture, and rig a roster of expressive, personality-driven player characters
• Own the full animation pipeline from concept through in-engine implementation
• Create animations that balance physical authenticity with arcade exaggeration — hits should feel big, celebrations should feel earned
• Collaborate closely with gameplay engineers to ensure animations serve the feel of the mechanics, not just the look
• Work with the Technical Artist to build and maintain clean, performant character pipelines in Unreal Engine
• Iterate quickly based on playtesting feedback — if a punch doesn't feel right, you fix it

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio demonstrating both character modeling and animation at a professional level
• Experience creating game-ready characters in Unreal Engine
• Deep understanding of animation principles as they apply to game feel — timing, weight, anticipation, follow-through
• Proficiency in Maya or equivalent DCC tools
• Ability to work in an exaggerated, stylized aesthetic without losing physical believability
• Experience rigging characters for real-time performance

Bonus Experience

• Experience animating sports or combat characters
• Familiarity with Unreal's animation Blueprint system and Control Rig
• Experience working on arcade or physics-heavy titles
• A genuine love for the kinds of games where the animations make you laugh and wince at the same time

Why Join Us

The studio produces owner-created games built by people who care deeply about the craft. Decisions are made by creators, not layers of corporate management. You will work directly with the people defining the creative vision of this project — and your work will be seen, felt, and remembered by a passionate player community that has been waiting for this game for a long time.

If the idea of making a character's home run strut feel as satisfying as the home run itself excites you, we want to talk.