Senior 3D Animation Lead (Props & Characters)

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.