Spine Animator

📋 Description

• Character Animation: Develop high-quality 2D animations for a varied range of characters using Esoteric Spine, emphasizing weight, personality, and smooth movement.

• UI & Motion Graphics: Craft and execute dynamic UI animations and transitions that elevate the user experience, offering clear feedback and a satisfying "game feel."

• Rigging & Skinning: Construct efficient, adaptable rigs and meshes that facilitate expressive movement while being optimized for mobile performance.

• Technical Integration: Collaborate closely with engineers to incorporate animations into Unity, ensuring that technical specifications are met without compromising visual quality.

• Optimization: Oversee draw calls, texture atlases, and bone counts to ensure smooth game performance across a wide array of mobile devices.

• Pipeline Collaboration: Work alongside the Art Director and 2D Artists to guarantee that animations are consistent with the defined art style and intellectual property guidelines.

• Iterative Design: Quickly prototype animation concepts to evaluate gameplay feel, refining them based on feedback from the design team and player insights.

⛳️ Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in 2D animation for games, including at least one mobile title released.

• Mastery of Esoteric’s Spine: You have significant expertise in rigging, weighted meshes, and the dopesheet.

• Character Specialist: A profound understanding of traditional animation principles (squash and stretch, anticipation, staging) as applied to 2D skeletal rigs.

• UI Animation Expertise: Proven experience in animating buttons, menus, and HUD elements to create a high-quality, responsive interface.

• Unity Pipeline Proficiency: Familiarity with working in Unity (Spine-Unity runtime), including knowledge of Animators, Controllers, and basic prefab management.

• Problem Solver: Capability to analyze a static UI mock-up or character concept and determine the most effective way to bring it to life both technically and artistically.

• Strong English communication skills along with the ability to remain organized and self-driven in a fully remote setting.

• Bonus Points

• VFX Skills: Experience in creating 2D particles or hand-drawn effects to enhance animations.

• IP Experience: Previous involvement with licensed entertainment IPs and the capacity to uphold strict brand consistency.

• Motion Graphics: Proficiency in After Effects for pre-visualizing UI flows or marketing materials.

• Technical Art: Familiarity with C# or Unity shaders to further improve visual effects and UI interactions.

🏝️ Benefits

• Contribute to the development of a new mobile game from its inception to launch, rather than just maintaining an existing one.

• Work on a globally recognized intellectual property with significant brand reach and growth opportunities.

• Collaborate with a studio led by veterans that values creativity, experimentation, and a player-first approach.

• Enjoy high ownership, visibility, and a direct impact on how players interact with our product.

• Experience 100% remote, flexible work within a small, passionate, and execution-focused team.

• As we expand post-MVP, you will play a crucial role in shaping our design culture and mentoring upcoming designers.