Job Description

Lead 3D Animator (Characters & Props for Games)

A5 Labs

Location

: Remote / Hybrid / On-site (Osaka, Japan - optional relocation)

Team

: Art & Design -- 3D Animation

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, 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 influence over the 3D animation vision and direction. Opportunity to shape and evolve the animation pipeline. Collaboration with a multidisciplinary team building stylized real-time experiences. Hardware allowance: $2,000 upfront + $1,000 annually. Unlimited PTO (typically 22-30 days per year). $2,000/year learning & development support. Flexible hours and remote work options. * Optional relocation to Japan; business travel may be required.