Lead 3D Animator (Remote)

<div><strong>Lead 3D Animator (Characters &amp; Props for Games)</strong></div><div><br></div><div><strong>A5 Labs</strong></div><div><br><strong>Location</strong>: Remote / Hybrid / On-site (Osaka, Japan – optional relocation)<br><strong>Team</strong>: Art &amp; Design — 3D Animation<br><strong>Reports To</strong>: Art Director-----Position Summary</div><div><br></div><div>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, 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.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>Key Responsibilities:</strong></div><div><br></div><div><strong>Leadership &amp; Direction</strong></div><div><br></div><div>● Lead and mentor the 3D animation team, providing clear artistic and technical feedback.<br>● Define quality standards, style guidelines, and animation benchmarks.<br>● Review and approve character and prop animations for timing, weight, clarity, and expression.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>3D Animation Production</strong></div><div><br>● Create high-quality keyframe animations for humanoids, creatures, props, gameplay actions, and short narrative moments.<br>● Ensure animations support gameplay readability and align with the project’s stylized look.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>Rigging &amp; Technical Skills</strong></div><div><br>● Build functional control rigs in the chosen DCC (Maya or Blender) for characters and props.<br>● Ensure rigs provide clean deformation, intuitive controls, and meet gameplay/production needs.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>Unity Integration</strong></div><div><br>● Export and integrate animations into Unity.<br>● Work with Animator Controller, blend trees, Timeline, animation events, and runtime adjustments.<br>● Collaborate with tech artists and engineers to ensure correct implementation in the engine.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>Pipeline &amp; Workflow</strong></div><div><br>● Maintain and optimize the animation workflow (blocking → polish → export → integration).<br>● Define naming conventions, asset structure, and documentation.<br>● Identify and introduce tools or scripts that improve productivity and consistency.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>Requirements:</strong></div><div><br></div><div><strong>Must-Have</strong><br>● 5+ years of experience in 3D animation for games or real-time applications, including 2+ years in a senior or lead role.<br>● Strong mastery of keyframe animation: posing, timing, arcs, weight, and performance.<br>● Proficiency in Maya or Blender, including the ability to create your own rigs for animation purposes.<br>● Solid understanding of Unity’s animation systems and integration workflows.<br>● Experience working in collaborative, cross-disciplinary production environments.</div><div><br><strong>Nice-to-Have</strong></div><div><br>● Experience with motion capture cleanup.<br>● Familiarity with Unity’s Animation Rigging package (IK, constraints).<br>● Understanding of gameplay logic, camera behavior, or simple cinematic techniques.<br>● Background in stylized, mobile, or casual game animation.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>What You'll Gain</strong></div><div><strong><br></strong>● Creative influence over the 3D animation vision and direction.<br>● Opportunity to shape and evolve the animation pipeline.<br>● Collaboration with a multidisciplinary team building stylized real-time experiences.<br>● Hardware allowance: $2,000 upfront + $1,000 annually.<br>● Unlimited PTO (typically 22–30 days per year).<br>● $2,000/year learning &amp; development support.<br>● Flexible hours and remote work options.<br>● Optional relocation to Japan; business travel may be required.</div>