2D Animator

As a 2D Animator, you'll be a pivotal creative force, reporting directly to the Lead 2D Animator. You'll be instrumental in bringing our mobile games to life by designing, creating, and implementing high-quality 2D animations and cycles for characters, in-game elements, and effects. Your work will define the posing, timing, pacing, and emotional content, ensuring animations meet specific game requirements and contribute significantly to the overall player experience. Beyond execution, you'll engage in specialized activities within the 2D animation pipeline for assigned game content, ensuring the artistic vision and technical standards are met. This role is crucial in delivering the dynamic visual appeal and engaging storytelling that defines our titles. You'll also contribute to improving our 2D animation frameworks and workflows, while effectively using development software and tools. You'll primarily work within the Animation Department, collaborating closely with various teams to ensure seamless integration of animation into our projects, and contributing to broader discussions on game development.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-quality 2D character and effects animations for our mobile games, ensuring they align with the project's artistic vision.
• Work closely with the art and animation leadership to understand and contribute to defining animation direction, methods, and approaches for creative solutions.
• Assist in planning animation sequences by contributing to or creating basic storyboards.
• Collaborate with artists, game designers, and engineers to support and improve our animation pipelines and workflows.
• Work with production and project managers to accurately estimate the level of effort required for assigned animation tasks and deliverables.
• Participate in animation reviews, actively receiving and incorporating feedback to refine and enhance animation quality.
• Maintain organized animation files and adhere to established asset management procedures.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Advanced proficiency in 2D animation and artistic skills, including expert command of timing, staging, and posing for game animation.
• Proven ability to create compelling and beautiful animations despite artistic, technical, or gameplay challenges and limitations.
• Clear understanding of animation game beats and timing specific to interactive experiences.
• Broad animation skills with the versatility to execute various performance styles.
• Deep understanding and practical experience with the 2D animation pipeline.
• Highly proficient with 2D animation tools such as Illustrator, Flash (or Adobe Animate), Photoshop, and Unity.
• Experience with Unity’s particle system and knowledge of particle animation optimization.
• Solid understanding of drawing and visual design principles, including 2D, 3D, layout, color theory, and lighting.
• Experience with storyboarding.
• Strong English written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present feedback and ideas clearly and professionally.
• Ability to take direction and iterate on animations/VFX as needed.
• Self-starter, reliable, and passionate about their work, with an eye for detail and an understanding of the bigger picture.
• Strong communication skills to effectively collaborate within the animation pipeline and with cross-functional teams.
• Able to multitask effectively.
• Passion for video games is a must!

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3 to 6 years of progressively complex professional animation experience, with a focus on game development.
• A strong portfolio/demo reel showcasing advanced 2D animation skills and a deep understanding of game animation principles.