2D ANIMATOR JOB DESCRIPTION

The 2D Animator is a production-level art role found across video game studios of all sizes, from independent teams to major publishers developing PC, console, and mobile titles. Sitting within the art department, this position transforms character designs, environmental assets, and UI elements into fluid, game-ready animations that directly shape how players experience and interact with a title. As live-service games, mobile platforms, and real-time engines raise the bar for animated content quality, skilled 2D animators remain among the most consistently sought-after contributors in game development pipelines.

As the 2D Animator, this role drives the creation of character, effects, and UI animations across the full production cycle, translating art direction into optimized, in-engine assets that elevate gameplay feel and visual cohesion. Reporting to an Art Lead or Art Director, the animator works in close collaboration with game designers, programmers, and technical artists to ensure every animated element meets both creative and performance requirements.

Career Impact: Building a shipped-title portfolio in interactive entertainment establishes the specialized credibility that opens doors to senior animator, lead, and art direction roles within the industry.

Business Impact: The quality and responsiveness of in-game animation directly determines how intuitive and satisfying a product feels to players, making this role central to review scores, retention, and franchise reputation.

Growth Opportunity: Hands-on ownership of the full pipeline — from rigging and keyframing through engine integration and optimization — develops the technical range that distinguishes senior-level animators in a competitive hiring market.

• Create character, UI, and environmental animations across gameplay and cinematic contexts using bone-based and frame-by-frame techniques.
• Rig and animate characters in Spine or equivalent tools, producing clean, optimized assets ready for engine implementation.
• Implement and debug animations directly within the game engine, identifying integration issues and resolving them in collaboration with programmers.
• Collaborate with game designers and art directors to interpret creative briefs and align animation style with the established visual direction of each title.
• Optimize animation assets for file size, spritesheet efficiency, and real-time performance across target platforms including mobile and console.
• Produce and iterate on visual effects animations, including particle FX, icon states, and background ambient loops for UI and in-game environments.
• Participate actively in playtesting sessions to identify animation inconsistencies and validate character reactions across control and gameplay scenarios.
• Maintain well-organized, export-ready production files that support file sharing, version control, and cross-discipline collaboration.

• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, Game Design, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 2 or more years of professional 2D animation experience, with at least one shipped or production-stage game title.
• Demonstrated proficiency in bone-based rigging and animation workflows, including character rig construction and weight painting.
• Strong command of animation fundamentals including timing, anticipation, weight, squash and stretch, and body mechanics.
• Working knowledge of game engine animation integration, including export formats, spritesheets, and real-time performance constraints.
• Ability to interpret and execute within established art direction, adapting to a range of stylistic requirements across projects.
• Strong attention to detail in subtle character movement, emotional performance, and frame-level precision.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to give and receive constructive feedback across disciplines.

• Experience with 3D animation tools, enabling cross-discipline understanding of pipeline constraints when working with technical artists and engineers.
• Knowledge of mobile optimization techniques, including image sequence compression, asset batching, and memory budget management.
• Familiarity with VFX and particle-based effect editors for producing secondary animation and environmental FX.
• Experience working within a live-service game environment, including rapid iteration cycles and LiveOps content delivery.

• Animation Tools: Spine (Esoteric), Adobe Animate, Toon Boom Harmony, DragonBone
• Effects & Compositing: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro
• Design & Asset Creation: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
• Game Engine: Unity
• 3D Reference: Maya, Blender (supporting knowledge)
• AI Tools: Not specified in examples

• Base Salary Range: $65,000 – $95,000 annually, depending on experience and studio size
• Bonus: Annual or project-completion discretionary bonus, where offered
• Equity: Stock options or profit-sharing at larger studios; uncommon at independent studios
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer contribution varies by studio
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually, plus studio holidays and potential end-of-project downtime
• Common Perks: Game library access, remote or hybrid flexibility, professional development budget, and hardware stipends for production use
• Figures based on current US market benchmarks. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Lamwork is committed to equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Candidates requiring reasonable accommodations during the hiring process are encouraged to make that request at any time. All offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a background check. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

Sitting at the intersection of art and gameplay, the 2D Animator at Obsidian Entertainment drives the creation of stylized character animations that bring RPG worlds to life. Reporting into a collaborative team of designers, artists, and programmers, this role contributes directly to shipped PC and console titles.

Key Responsibilities

• Create exaggerated limited 2D animation for stylized characters
• Create and edit characters in Unity and in the animation software Spine
• Debug animation issues in engine
• Work with other developers to create a pipeline that delivers quality animation into the game

Required Qualifications

• Has shipped one or more games on PC and console
• Familiarity with animation software such as Spine
• Strong foundation in traditional arts
• An online animation reel that demonstrates quality animation skills and in-game examples
• A shot breakdown document detailing your work contribution
• 2D and/or 3D character animation examples demonstrating knowledge of body mechanics
• Animation projects that demonstrate attention to acting, emotion, and storytelling
• Obsidian Entertainment is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

A key member of an Emmy award-winning studio, the 2D Harmony Animator at Bardel delivers high-quality character animation that meets the demanding deadlines of TV animation production. Working under the direction of the Lead Animator and Director, this role also contributes to the mentorship of entry-level artists within the department.

Core Functions

• Bring characters to life with motion and emotion using a broad range of 2D animation abilities
• Work with colleagues and supervisors to identify and solve problems, both technically and artistically
• Actively participate in team/department meetings
• Mentor entry-level artists by providing them with support, guidance and instruction in areas that provide for their artistic and professional growth

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience in a digital build-based animation setting, visual arts and life drawing with a solid grasp of movement and form
• Advanced technical computer animation knowledge such as dynamics, scripting and tools
• Experience with acting, live action or staging
• Recognized higher education qualification in animation, film or a related field
• We've got great people, and for good reasons! Bardel offers work on exciting high-profile projects, a generous compensation/benefits package, and a fantastic company culture fueled by career development and artistic skill enhancement. Every day you will collaborate with other influential, career-minded, creative professionals from around the world.

As the 2D Character Animator, this role produces engaging, beautifully crafted character animations for educational videos that reach millions of children across math, reading, science, and more. Collaborating within a fast-paced creative team, this position balances artistic quality with the iterative speed required to evolve content continuously.

Primary Duties

• Mastery of 2D animations using Adobe After Effects
• Excellent sense of natural character animations including mouth movements
• Ability to work quickly and adapt work speed based on requirements for the quality of the design (i.e. prototyping vs. final render)
• Organized and methodical with projects, while being a self-manager
• Strong communication skills
• Strong desire to work in the educational games space
• Receptive to feedback and iterative/experimental design methodology

Skills & Qualifications

• A beautiful portfolio for us to see your impressive works of art
• Strong communication skills
• Interest in learning new skills to help a small team create something really big

Embedded within a cross-functional game development team, the 2D Animator creates visually compelling animations for both interactive gameplay and cinematic cutscenes for new slot titles. Partnering with Game Developers, Concept Artists, UI Designers, Technical Artists, and QA, this role plays an integral part in bringing game concepts to life from the concept phase through final delivery.

Accountabilities

• Creating amazing 2D animations
• Creating stunning effects that reward players as well as communicate in-game information
• Playing a big role in the concept phase and animating proof of concepts
• Optimizing assets for file size and performance
• Building features with our game development team in our unique animation system
• Create, maintain, and export production-quality graphic assets

Experience & Qualifications

• Knowledge of Adobe Flash/Animate / After Effects / Maya
• Passionate about games, with an understanding of game-play mechanics
• Positive team player that gladly speaks your mind
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Exceptional organizational, collaboration and communication skills

Reporting to the Art team, the 2D Animator supports the creative development of slot and casino games by producing polished animations, game previews, and graphic assets from brief through final export. Collaborating across a studio brainstorm and production workflow, this role blends artistic skill with technical precision in After Effects.

Job Functions

• Providing ideas and creating animations for slot/casino games
• Creating animated game previews
• Implementing game producer's feedback
• Creating art/design elements for slot games
• Preparing the graphic assets for animation
• Participating in the team brainstorm sessions and suggesting game themes and ideas
• Export and optimization for development

Position Requirements

• Expert skill in After Effects
• Expertise in creating digital animations and effects
• Advanced knowledge of Photoshop
• Good artistic and drawing skills
• At least 2 years of experience in computer animation/graphics field
• Good communication skills and command of English language (spoken and written)
• Willingness to learn new things
• Ability to meet deadlines
• A good team player and loyal to the company
• Knowledge and experience with After Effects scripting
• Some experience with 3D
• Experience with Adobe Illustrator, InDesign
• Previous experience in online gambling industry

The 2D Game Animator brings illustrated characters, game assets, and backgrounds to life within a 2D game environment, working in close collaboration with Artists and Engineers. Operating across Unity and Spine pipelines, this role covers character animation, UI effects, particle FX, and fosters a user-oriented design culture within the team.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Creating 2D animations for stylized characters and items
• Create animations and effects for UI elements, including: icons, pop-ups, buttons, backgrounds and menus
• Collaborating with the engineering team in order to create 2D Particle FX in Unity
• Editing animated assets in Unity and Spine
• Working together with the team to envision and iterate animations
• Growing and fostering a user-oriented design culture

Background & Experience

• Experience with bone and spritesheet animation style
• Familiarity with graphic design, fine arts, illustration or visual arts
• Good knowledge of digital visualization tools (i.e. Spine, After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator)
• Basic skills necessary to make modifications of game assets
• Knowledge of processes, pipelines and best practices for 2D animation production
• A keen eye for color harmonies, lighting, perspective and materials
• Process and methods for optimizing assets for mobile devices

The 2D Animator for this health communications brand translates complex medical information into sensitive, visually engaging animations and digital content across social media, web, and YouTube platforms. Collaborating closely with the creative and marketing teams, this role balances brand consistency with storytelling to produce content that is both informative and accessible.

Areas of Ownership

• Create within the guidelines of our animation, illustrations, videos and GIFs for mainly digital media, including material for our Instagram and FB pages #DrHensays, website and YouTube channel Hen.world
• Conceptualise health information into sensitive yet amusing visuals with the team
• Translate marketing and brand strategies into stunning visuals for social media and offline activities
• Ensuring that all visual collateral is in-line with the company's creative vision

Education & Experience

• Qualified Degree from a college or university
• Minimum 2 years work experience in animation
• Highly enthusiastic, organised and able to set priorities, manage deadlines and devise strategies with a strong attention to details
• A great sense of humour with good English writing skills
• Understanding what makes a good and sensitive story
• High competency in video editing software including Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro
• Hands-on skills in Adobe creative suite especially on Photoshop
• High knowledge of animation principles
• Demonstrating illustrative skills with rough sketches, including storyboards
• Able to adapt to different design styles as required
• Demonstrable illustrative design skills with a portfolio
• Able to work both independently and in a team environment with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

The 2D Animator for this communications-focused role produces a broad range of animated content spanning full-scale videos, character animation, motion graphics, and JavaScript-based simulations for app and digital channels. Serving as a versatile production contributor, this role relies on deep technical knowledge and classical animation expertise to plan and execute projects with minimal supervision.

Role Responsibilities

• Templates for video projects
• Full-scale 2D animated videos
• Animated assets for content videos
• Javascript based simulations for video projects
• Character animation
• Motion graphics and kinetic typography in videos

Technical Qualifications

• Requires a diploma or a bachelor's degree (engineering / design / art / 2D animation / 3D animation / film-making)
• Experience in the field or allied domains will be useful
• Applicant should be familiar with a variety of the field's concepts, practices, and procedures and should rely on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals
• Must show a high level of technical skills and ability creating the animated movement and performance
• Traditional animation experience and strong drawing skills a must
• Positive attitude with the ability to work within a team and actively problem-solve/troubleshoot
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and think creatively while meeting deadlines
• Specialization and/or expertise in classical animation, character animation, motion graphics, dynamic typography and others
• Strong grasp of principles of design, layout and frame composition, and principles of animation is a must
• Ability to follow storyboard and design reference accurately and work in a range of styles and to work with a minimum of supervision
• Working knowledge and experience with Adobe After Effects (including Duik, Boa Bones and other plugins; Forward-Inverse Kinematics, Puppet Pins, 3rd party plugins — Red Giant Trapcode Suite, VideoCopilot Suite including Element 3D and others, Plexus, Newton and other Physics Simulators, Motion V2, etc.), ToonBoom, Character Animator, Adobe Animator and Photoshop Timeline Animation, etc.
• Ability to spot and rectify shortcomings in efficient design practices and a strong intent to mentor and learn from peers

The 2D Animator on this game studio's art team creates animations and visual effects across Spine 2D, After Effects, and Adobe Animate, delivering optimized assets that serve both the creative vision and technical requirements of real-time game environments. Working closely with artists, game designers, producers, and Front-End developers, this role supports art direction decisions and ensures seamless in-game performance.

Work Activities

• Create animations and visual effects for the games in Spine 2D, Adobe After Effects and Adobe Animate environment
• Work closely with artists, game designers and producers to understand the creative brief
• Use technical software packages with confidence, such as Adobe products (Animate, Photoshop, After Effects, Premier Pro)
• Follow the art guidelines, technical limitation and preparing the art elements in the required format
• Help the Art Directors and the Game Designers to determine the visual style of the game
• Work together with the Front-End developers to be able to provide the most optimized format for the best in-game performance

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• High level of proficiency in Spine (animation, rigging) and After Effects
• Knowledge of computer 2D animation techniques and VFX
• Good knowledge in Adobe Animate
• Knowledge of character animation and special effects
• Minimum 3 years industry or related experience
• Have previously worked in game development
• Have experience with 3D animations
• Knowledge of particle-based effect editors (Red Giant's Trapcode)

As the 2D Animator at Ogilvy, this role produces client-facing animations that communicate stories and information through compelling visual form, from storyboard through final delivery. Collaborating across creative, account management, planning, and traffic teams, this position requires a balance of artistic craft, strategic awareness, and confident client presentation skills.

Performance Expectations

• Collaborating with the client and production team members to understand needs, review scripts, design storyboards, and create and edit animations
• Using software and other techniques to produce animations
• Listening to feedback and altering animations to better suit client needs
• Ensuring that the final product aligns with the needs of the client and is delivered on time without exceeding the budget
• Presenting the final animated piece to clients for their approval
• Using creativity and artistic techniques to tell a story or provide information in visual form
• Researching industry trends and developments and learning new applications
• Recognises and values work done well
• Effectively manages multiple project requests
• Able to understand the strategic thinking that has gone into a brief, debate and contribute to it
• Ability to sell creative concepts and executions internally
• Builds strong relationships with Account Management, Planning & Traffic
• Presents ideas clearly, succinctly and passionately

Professional Experience

• Bachelor's degree or certificate in computer animation, fine arts, graphic design, or related field
• More education, experience, or proficiency with specific animation software platforms may be preferred
• Strong interpersonal, communication, presentation, and computer skills
• Understanding of animation, storytelling, and character development techniques
• Attention to detail, adaptability, and receptiveness to feedback and direction
• Ability to work independently or with a team to develop animations and solve problems
• Ability to deal effectively with clients on a day-to-day level
• Ability to display meticulously well designed animation
• Good knowledge of creative formats (above and below the line)

The 2D Artist and Animator powers the mobile marketing department's advertising content by producing motion graphic designs that showcase mobile games and attract broad audiences. Collaborating within an agile, multidisciplinary creative team, this role blends classical animation expertise with an understanding of viral content and consumer behavior.

Delivery Expectations

• Build great motion graphic design using 2D character, library, assets and visual elements
• Traditional animation experience and strong drawing skills
• Specialization and expertise in classical animation, character animation, motion graphics, dynamic typography and others
• Strong grasp of principles of design, layout and frame composition, and principles of animation is a must
• You'll be part of an agile, multidisciplinary and creative team and work closely with them to ensure the best results
• You'll think creatively and be motivated by challenges and constantly striving for the best
• You'll work with cutting edge technology, if you need software or hardware to get the job done efficiently, you will get it

Experience & Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of Toon Boom, TV Paint, CC Animate, After Effects and Photoshop
• Strong understanding of animation principles — timing, anticipation, weight and staging
• Interest in how visual art and creative production can influence consumer behavior
• Self motivated and able to ideate and execute tasks on your own with accountability
• Good knowledge of gaming, especially hypercasual and mobile
• Knowledge and interest in viral video content and internet culture
• Strong communication, interpersonal skills and team player attitude

The 2D Animator on this mobile games team creates playful, cohesive motion that elevates user experience across products, contributing to every stage of the creative production pipeline from concept through delivery. Working closely with the Art Lead and LiveOps managers, this role balances eye-catching character and UI animation with the tight schedules of a live-service environment.

Scope of Work

• Work closely with Art Lead, and LiveOps managers to create amazing animation
• Create a playful, intuitive cohesive motion for our products and user experience
• You would be adding value to all aspects of the creative production pipeline from concept to all production cycle
• Comprehending animation briefs well and quickly, conceptualizing and producing animations
• Create eye-catching animations working with UI elements (characters, logos, icons, backgrounds)
• Prioritize work within a dynamic environment and while meeting tight schedules

Requirements

• 2 years' experience as animator
• Animation portfolio & showreel
• Strong understanding of the animation principles
• Experience with Adobe programs, with an emphasis on Animate and After Effects
• Ability to create eye-catching animation and tell a story through animation
• Strong accuracy and attention to detail
• Receptive of feedback and creative thinking
• Ability to meet deadlines in a dynamic team environment
• Ability to work as part of a team — in-house and remotely
• Time management and organizational skills
• Experience with Unity
• A passion for video games and the latest trends
• Academic background

The 2D Animator in this generalist creative role produces illustrations, logos, animations, and graphics that meet quality standards across a range of marketing and storytelling applications. Collaborating with creative teams to develop characters, environments, and storylines, this position balances artistic expression with the practical demands of marketing appeal.

Key Deliverables

• Creating illustrations, logos and other graphics using software like Photoshop and Illustrator
• Reviewing scripts and storyboards to understand animation requirements
• Interpreting design briefs to develop creative solutions
• Assist in the development of storylines, characters and environments
• Use computer animation technologies to bring to life character movements, environmental effects, special effects, etc.
• Balance artistic expression with marketing appeal
• Ensure final graphics and animations meet quality standards

Skills & Qualifications

• Strong creative and artistic ability with demonstrated drawing skills
• Proficiency in animation software including Photoshop, After Effects, and Unity 3D
• Storytelling ability with a strong sense of layout and design
• Effective communication and collaboration skills
• Strong time-management skills with the ability to multitask across projects

The 2D Animator on this video game team applies deep knowledge of body mechanics and animation tools to produce high-quality frame-by-frame and rigged mesh animations that enhance the player experience. Working closely with programmers, designers, and fellow animators, this role actively participates in animation system design and contributes to issue resolution throughout the development cycle.

Core Responsibilities

• Applying principles of animation, produce quality 2D hand-draft frame-by-frame animation or 2D animation using software like Dragon Bone or Spine2D (rigged mesh animation)
• Has a deep knowledge of the engine and animation tools / is aware of constraints — brings new solutions to complex problems
• Actively participates in animation system design and issue resolution
• Work closely with cross discipline team members (eg. programmers, designers) to ensure the quality of the integration of the animations
• Playtest the game to detect inconsistencies and validate the regularity of character reactions (control and gameplay situations)
• Meeting project deadlines/milestones
• Carry out all other related tasks

Experience & Qualifications

• Minimum of 1-3 years' experience in video game animation, or any other relevant experience
• Strong understanding of body mechanics and realistic animation
• Game experience is a must
• Relevant software experience — Spine2D, DragonBone, After Effects, Photoshop
• Attention to key minor details to enhance player experience (eg. subtle character's movements)
• Adaptability, suppleness, flexibility, open mind and ability to receive and provide objective feedback
• Open to constructive criticism
• Ability to multi-task and to adapt easily to change
• Passion for games and some knowledge of the gaming industry
• Good collaboration with members of the animation team and other team members on the project

The 2D Animator on this game studio team creates and animates characters, environments, and effects across a variety of visual styles, producing optimized, game-ready assets that meet project milestones and technical requirements. Collaborating within an artist-driven workplace, this role also contributes to knowledge-sharing across the animation team.

Engineering Responsibilities

• Create and animate characters, environments, and FX in different styles
• Bring characters, effects, and ambient effects into life
• Work with programmers to achieve the best possible animations within the technology we use
• Apply your knowledge of optimization techniques to meet memory limitations
• Work with the team to meet project milestones and deadlines set by the Studio
• Export and optimize animations to create game-ready assets
• Actively participate in the Game Development process to create the best games on the market
• Share and spread knowledge among your team members

Qualifications & Experience

• Past experience and knowledge in creating 2D animations in a variety of styles
• Ability to work under tight deadlines in an artist driven collaborative workplace
• Vast knowledge and experience in Spine and Adobe Creative Suite programs
• Technical art knowledge (image sequence optimization, asset export, working with spritesheets)
• Good communication and problem-solving skills
• Must be self-motivated and a collaborative team player
• Previous experience in the gaming industry
• Knowledge in 3D programs

At Thunder Lotus — creators of Jotun, Sundered, and Spiritfarer — the 2D Animator contributes to the studio's distinctive visual signature, producing high-quality semi-realistic animations in Toon Boom Harmony for the studio's fourth game. Working closely with the Animation Director, experienced animators, game designers, and the programming team, this role spans character rigging, engine integration, and cross-departmental technical collaboration.

Strategic Initiatives

• Make animation sketches so that the gameplay can be prototyped
• Follow established visual benchmarks of animation direction and art direction of this ongoing project to produce high quality semi-realistic animations on Toon Boom Harmony
• Build a character ready to be animated in a cut-out style (Character Rigging), integrate your animations and test them in the engine (Unity), as well as integrate your own characters in Toon Boom Harmony
• Work closely with game designers to validate their animation needs and work with the programming team to develop programming solutions that meet animation needs
• Reconciles the needs and constraints of the Design team, the Programming team and the Art Direction
• Manage basic technical issues with other departments
• Test the game (very often) to collect feedback on the animations and offer your feedback on the different aspects of the game in general
• Make the necessary corrections/modifications
• Research relevant technologies and best practices to support animation pipelines

Education & Experience

• Training in 2D Animation (Technical DEC, animation course or professional training)
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a 2D animation role, in the game industry (an asset)
• Specific technical knowledge (Toon Boom Harmony, but Unity an asset)
• Realize frame-by-frame drawn animations, the ability to make cut-out animations is an asset
• Work in cartoon and semi-realistic styles
• Advanced knowledge of 2D animation
• Knowledge of codes and visual language specific to video games
• Drawing Skill / Hand-Eye Coordination
• Knowledge of human and animal anatomy
• Visualization capability (3D perspective)

The Graphic Designer/2D Animator at Longboat by Advarra produces highly visual, medically informed animated training modules and design assets for the Clinical Trial industry, working across a wide range of projects that demand both creative and technical fluency. Collaborating with fellow animators and cross-functional partners through daily scrums and on-screen reviews, this role upholds rigorous in-house content standards while continuously advancing its own design knowledge.

Operational Focus

• Create storyboards and initial design concepts for our animated training modules
• Translate storyboards into 2D animated sequences
• Create layouts, icons, infographics etc. that will be used within our products
• Develop content that adheres to in-house content standards and style guides
• Work closely with other animators to maintain consistency within and across projects
• Participate in on-screen reviews and implement team and client feedback
• Report progress in daily scrums and escalate issues to management as required
• Work with other functional areas to ensure effective continuous improvement
• Continually research and learn new design software and methods to keep up-to-date with industry standards
• Participate in "Lunch & Learns" to continue to advance creative skills and industry knowledge
• Meet professional obligations through efficient work habits such as meeting deadlines and demonstrating respect for others

Education & Experience

• Familiarity with the Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Adobe Animate and Illustrator
• The ability to think outside the box, to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem
• Excellent design, illustration and animation skills, with exceptional attention to detail
• Willingness to assume individual responsibility for own deliverables
• Demonstrated ability to work to tight deadlines, in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Good team player with ability to work in a multi-functional team
• Bachelors Degree in Multimedia Design, Graphic Design, or Web Design, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Strong knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite
• Prior industry experience in graphic and multimedia design

The 2D Animator on this game studio team serves as the primary art asset point of contact, bridging Game Designers, the Senior Artist, and outsourcers to ensure animated in-game characters, environmental effects, and promotional video content meet quality and technical standards. Communicating across an iterative development process, this role requires proficiency in Esoteric Spine alongside a broad Adobe Creative Suite toolkit and strong design foundations.

What You'll Do

• Work between our Games Designers and Senior Artist and our outsourcers to ensure the artwork required for each production is processed properly, following our quality standards and technical programming requirements
• Design and animate content including in-game characters and environmental effects
• Design and animate content for motion video promotional content and in-game video content where necessary
• Collaborate with the game development team, being the main point of contact for art assets for each production
• Communicate with the game designer and development team in an iterative development process
• Maintain well-organized working files to facilitate file sharing and collaborative work

Requirements

• Minimum 2+ years of professional experience in Animation in a Gaming industry
• Must have Esoteric Spine experience including rigging and animating a broad range of objects including characters
• Must have Adobe Creative Suite experience including Photoshop and After Effects
• Able to produce high quality game assets under technical constraints while meeting the artistic requirements
• Strong portfolio showing strong 2D Art Foundations and Animation skills
• Good communication skills
• Strong understanding of design principles, layout and colour theory
• Ability to work with a variety of different illustration styles
• Ability to receive art direction and provide multiple design solutions
• Able to demonstrate
• Strong knowledge Autodesk 3ds Max or other 3D Packages
• Strong typography and layout skills
• Good knowledge of UI and UX and typography

The BrainPOP Animator works collaboratively across editorial and animation teams to plan, create, and execute short educational animated movies that explain a wide range of topics to young audiences. Contributing to all visual stages of production — from storyboard sketches through polished animations — this role maintains style guidelines and best practices across BrainPOP's suite of educational products.

Core Functions

• Work with editorial and animation team members to ensure that script concepts are visualized clearly and accurately
• Create character animations and compelling visuals that explain a wide range of educational topics
• Execute all visual stages of the movie production process from storyboard sketches to polished animations
• Maintain style guidelines, best practices, and standards across products

Professional Experience

• Passionate about learning and always seek opportunities to expand your knowledge
• A self-starter with great creative instincts and a desire to push the envelope
• An articulate visual and verbal communicator
• Able to work both independently and collaboratively
• Eager to simplify
• Curious and excited to learn concepts as you explain them visually
• A creative thinker who enjoys visual problem solving and storytelling
• Attentive to detail, taking pride in the quality and precision of your work
• 1-2 years experience as an animator
• Solid proficiency in 2D digital animation practices
• Excellent communication skills in English — verbal and written
• A strong portfolio of animation and illustration samples
• Interest in using animation to explain educational concepts to children
• Excellent proficiency in Adobe Animate and Adobe Illustrator
• Experience with character animation
• Audio and/or video editing experience — an advantage
• Motion graphics and/or graphic design experience — an advantage

The 2D Animator on this production team brings assigned scenes to life in Toon Boom Harmony, maintaining consistency with the Director's vision while meeting internal deadlines across both intermediate and senior production tiers. Collaborating within the full animation team, this role requires strong technical proficiency in Harmony alongside mastery of foundational animation principles including walk cycles, lip sync, and character timing.

Activities

• Animate scenes that have been assigned that are consistent in quality and style of the production and meet internal deadlines
• Use/manipulate available assets to build scenes and problem solve when assets are unavailable
• Work with the entire Animation team to ensure that scenes fit into the production as a whole and are in line with Director's vision

Minimum Qualifications

• Intermediate positions — 2+ years of previous experience as an Animator
• Senior positions: 4+ years of previous experience as an Animator
• Proficient in the use of Toon Boom Harmony, with a strong understanding of the technical aspects
• Solid understanding of animation principles and able to apply them
• Validated capabilities of walk cycles, lip sync, and character timing
• Ability to work flexible hours if and when required
• Effective problem solving skills, solution oriented
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment and take direction
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines

The 2D Animator on this London-based game studio team creates animations and visual elements in Adobe Animate CC, supporting Art Directors and Game Designers in shaping the visual style of each title while guiding fellow animators through production. Collaborating with Technical Artists, producers, and the wider development team, this role owns animation quality from brief intake through final optimized implementation.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Work closely with artists, game designers and producers to understand the creative brief
• Use technical software packages with confidence, such as Adobe (Animate CC, Photoshop CC, After Effects CC, Premier Pro CC)
• Create animations and visual elements for the games in Animate CC environment
• Follow the art guidelines, technical limitations, to prepare art elements in required format
• Help Art Directors and Game Designers to determine the visual style of the game
• Support and guide other animators in the team
• Provide animation mockups for planning and documentation
• Read the game design documents to be informed about the scope of the work
• Follow the game development, testing the product to make sure all the implementation is done as imagined
• Work with the Technical Artist to provide the most optimized format for the best in-game performance

Technical Qualifications

• At least five (5) years of experience as an animator or related field
• Knowledge of computer 2D animation techniques and motion design
• Knowledge of character animation and special effects
• High level of proficiency in Adobe Animate CC and After Effects
• Great creativity and imagination
• Able to work as part of the team and on own initiative
• Able to take responsibility for organizing work within the production schedule, managing files and meeting deadlines
• A strong desire for continuous learning
• Superb English communication skills
• Have previously worked in game development
• Have experience with 3D modeling and animations (Maya, Max, Blender etc.)
• Have Knowledge of scripting in ActionScript 3
• Knowledge of HTML and Mobile platforms
• Knowledge of other particle-based effect editors

The Senior 2D Animator at BUCK operates as an expert-level contributor and informal leader across a broad range of styles, techniques, and high-profile client projects, delivering outstanding animation work while supporting the growth and output of the wider animation department. Working closely with animators, leads, designers, producers, and directors, this role combines technical mastery with the organizational and mentorship capabilities expected at a senior level.

Ownership Areas

• Produce outstanding animation work in a variety of styles
• Provide proficient time estimation and management
• Communicate productively with other animators, leads, designers, producers and directors
• Efficiently respond to feedback and revisions
• Contribute to creative ideas
• Provide R&D and technical support
• Self-direct
• Can take part in client calls
• Can provide animation feedback to others
• Can own the edit/conform
• Can QC/deliver postings and finals
• Can advise on techniques/strategy
• Can initiate meetings
• Can accurately estimate team size and timeframe
• Learn to create and assign shots
• Learn to pass direction along
• Can help find, interview, evaluate, onboard and mentor new hires

Skills & Qualifications

• Years of BUCK experience or exceptional outside work experience
• Proficient knowledge of the Adobe Suite
• Supporting software knowledge and techniques a plus (cel animation, design, illustration, 3D and so on)
• Proficient knowledge of animation fundamentals
• Good design sensibility and innovative style
• Excellent organization, communication, time management, collaboration, self-tasking and listening skills
• Proactiveness and positivity