Lead 3D Animator for real-time games in the iGaming space, responsible for high-quality keyframe animation, technical integration, and team leadership.
Key Highlights
Technical Skills Required
Benefits & Perks
Job Description
Lead 3D Animator (Props&Characters)- A5 Labs
Location: Remote / Hybrid / On-site (Relocation to Japan, Osaka)
Team: Art & Design
Reports To: Art Director
Position Summary:
A5 Labs is looking for an experienced Lead 3D Animator to drive the creation of stylized
character and prop animations for real-time games in the iGaming space. This role focuses
on high-quality keyframe animation, technical integration(Unity 3D), and leading the 3D
animation team. All animation work is done in industry-standard DCC tools (Maya or
Blender), with export and integration into Unity.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership & Direction
● 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.
3D Animation Production
● 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.
Rigging & Technical Skills
● 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.
Unity Integration
● 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.
Pipeline & Workflow
● 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:
Must-Have
● 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.
Nice-to-Have
● Experience with motion capture cleanup.
● Familiarity with Unity’s Animation Rigging package (IK, constraints).
● Understanding of gameplay logic, camera behavior, or simple cinematic techniques.
● Background in stylized, mobile, or casual game animation.
What You'll Gain
● Creative authority over animation style and execution in a live, fast-paced production setting.
● A leadership role on a multidisciplinary team pushing the boundaries of stylized real-time content.
● Opportunities to build and evolve a high-performing animation pipeline from the ground up.
● A collaborative space to mentor others and refine your animation vision across projects.
● Hardware Allowance: $2,000 upfront to set up your ideal workspace, plus \$1,000 annually thereafter.
● Paid Time Off: Our unlimited leave policy supports flexibility and well-being. Team members typically take 22–30 days off per year.
● Learning & Development: $2,000/year to support your professional growth - we cover 50% of eligible learning expenses.
● Remote Work & Flexible Hours. Relocation to Japan as an option / Business trips to Japan might be required.