Gameplay Animator Jobs
Gameplay Animator jobs are open across AAA game studios, indie developers, mobile gaming companies, and VR/AR startups, from junior to senior and lead levels, with specializations in character animation, procedural systems, and cinematic cutscenes. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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See related jobsHidden Variable is looking for a Senior 3D Gameplay Animator to help direct and support animation efforts for an upcoming Fighting Game. As Senior 3D Gameplay Animator, you will collaborate with the Art Director, Lead Combat Designer, and external animation partners to deliver high-quality 3D combat animations that require exacting precision. This role is ideal for someone with a track record of managing smooth, effective outsourcing pipelines to meet high technical requirements. Your insight, creativity, and attention to detail will directly shape the overall feel and player experience of our game.
This is a hybrid role, combining work-from-home time with in-office time at our brand new headquarters in Pasadena, CA. U.S. work authorization is required. This is intended as a full-time position in our Art Department.
Responsibilities
What do we expect from you on a day to day basis? Here are the essential functions of the job:
- Own the execution of the combat animations so they meet Fighting Game standards for timing, weight, responsiveness, and frame-count constraints.
- Drive quality standards and give clear, actionable feedback to our external animation partners so their work meets Fighting Game requirements.
- Partner with the Lead Combat Designer to deliver combat animation that feels satisfying, impactful, and responsive.
- Collaborate with Design and Engineering to ensure animations integrate seamlessly with gameplay mechanics, including troubleshooting any issues with implementation.
- Iterate and refine gameplay animations, incorporating playtesting and stakeholder feedback.
- Adapt and improve our animation pipeline, tools, and best practices to facilitate effective scaling as our projects progress.
- Coordinate with Production and other leads to scope out animation work, track progress, proactively identify and mitigate project risks, and support timely delivery of milestones.
- Create select combat animations when needed, including bug fixes, templates, or examples that illustrate the quality bar.
Requirements
The ideal candidate will reflect each of these key qualities:
- Professional - You have 5+ years of experience working in animation for games or 2+ years of experience in combat-focused / Fighting Game animation for games, with at least one shipped title. Your portfolio demonstrates strong combat or Fighting Game animations.
- Returning Champ - You have worked on a Fighting Game and can deliver high-quality combat animation within fixed frame-count limits.
- Insider - You understand Fighting Game terminology and can "talk shop" with members of the FGC.
- Rigmaster - You can oversee animation tech (rigging, weighting, interpolation, dynamics) and work with gameplay and VFX experts, riggers, and technical animators so that animations meet technical requirements.
- Artisan - You possess top-tier aesthetic sensibilities, with an unerring eye for high quality animation, including combat / Fighting Game animation and specifically 2D vs 3D differences.
- Ambassador - You have the ability to clearly communicate ideas both verbally and visually to diverse audiences, and can forge strong collaborative relationships with external art partners. You can give and receive feedback with equanimity, style, and grace.
- Wellspring - You are a fount of new ideas. You can discover solutions through rapid prototyping and are able to clearly articulate a vision to those around you.
- Bootstrapper - As a highly motivated individual, you are able to excel in a fast-paced environment, either autonomously or collaboratively.
- Technician - You are familiar with game engine platforms (preferably Unity) and are comfortable implementing assets independently.
- Precisionist - You build your work with attention to detail and visual consistency. Your output is highly organized and labeled.
- Maya Master - You have proficiency with Maya and are adept at using it effectively to iterate with other animators on their work.
Bonus Features
Extras we hope to see in the most competitive candidates:
- Gamer - You are an avid Fighting Game player, and stay up to date on trends in the industry's top games.
- Mobile Wrangler - This isn't your first rodeo. In addition to having Fighting Game experience, you also have reps working on mobile games and understand art optimization best practices for mobile devices.
- F2P Mobile Fanatic - You play all of the latest, greatest F2P games on mobile.
- Unity Veteran - You have familiarity using the Unity platform specifically, and know your way around the editor and its subcomponents.
- Agile Enthusiast - You have prior exposure with Agile development practices and are no stranger to backlogs and Scrum.
- Smooth Operator - When a game launches, the work has only just begun. You have experience working alongside a live ops team, addressing the ongoing needs of players month after month.
Compensation
Below is the base salary range that HVS expects to pay applicants for this role in California. Salary offered will vary depending on experience, skill, and location.
$90,000 - $120,000
The Perks
There are a lot of great reasons to work at Hidden Variable! Some of the highlights include:
- Unlimited PTO Policy - We offer unlimited paid time off, on top of 10 company holidays and two weeklong studio-wide breaks. We focus on results rather than hours, and we trust you to take the time you need to find the right balance between work and your personal life.
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans - We offer a generous yearly stipend, and have several premium plans available from major health care providers. Already have medical coverage? Keep the stipend as an end of year bonus.
- Financial Protection - We offer a 401(k) retirement plan, short- and long-term disability, and a complimentary Life/AD&D policy. You'll also have the opportunity to add supplemental coverages (including pet insurance) if you like.
- Family Support - We offer 4 months of paid parental leave, plus an additional 90 days of fully remote work for employees returning from parental leave (on top of our usual hybrid work schedule).
- Career Growth - Developing the skills and training to advance in one's career is a shared responsibility. To that end, we frequently compensate for travel to conferences, fund tuition through online or in- person learning, and even reimburse game expenses (mobile or otherwise) to allow our teammates to maximize their full potential.
- Frequent Celebrations - We work hard, but we like to let off steam, too. You'll find us playing board games, video games, trivia, and even the occasional field trip to an escape room or other attraction around the city, all courtesy of Hidden Variable.
Equal Opportunities
Hidden Variable Studios is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applications from candidates of any background who are eager to celebrate their unique perspective. We recruit, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, orientation, disability, age, military service, and other protected statuses. We believe diverse backgrounds and life experiences enable us to collectively build better and more inclusive games.
How To Apply?
Hopefully, by the time you've scrolled this far, you've realized that we value high quality products and people who are passionate about what they do for a living.
Ready to apply? Apply via Hitmarker or send us an email at art-careers@hiddenvariable.com containing the following requirements: your resume, a cover letter, and a link to your animation portfolio. Make sure to list your name and the position in the subject line.
We can't wait to hear from you!
Hidden Variable is looking for a Senior 3D Gameplay Animator to help direct and support animation efforts for an upcoming Fighting Game. As Senior 3D Gameplay Animator, you will collaborate with the Art Director, Lead Combat Designer, and external animation partners to deliver high-quality 3D combat animations that require exacting precision. This role is ideal for someone with a track record of managing smooth, effective outsourcing pipelines to meet high technical requirements. Your insight, creativity, and attention to detail will directly shape the overall feel and player experience of our game.
This is a hybrid role, combining work-from-home time with in-office time at our brand new headquarters in Pasadena, CA. U.S. work authorization is required. This is intended as a full-time position in our Art Department.
Responsibilities
What do we expect from you on a day to day basis? Here are the essential functions of the job:
- Own the execution of the combat animations so they meet Fighting Game standards for timing, weight, responsiveness, and frame-count constraints.
- Drive quality standards and give clear, actionable feedback to our external animation partners so their work meets Fighting Game requirements.
- Partner with the Lead Combat Designer to deliver combat animation that feels satisfying, impactful, and responsive.
- Collaborate with Design and Engineering to ensure animations integrate seamlessly with gameplay mechanics, including troubleshooting any issues with implementation.
- Iterate and refine gameplay animations, incorporating playtesting and stakeholder feedback.
- Adapt and improve our animation pipeline, tools, and best practices to facilitate effective scaling as our projects progress.
- Coordinate with Production and other leads to scope out animation work, track progress, proactively identify and mitigate project risks, and support timely delivery of milestones.
- Create select combat animations when needed, including bug fixes, templates, or examples that illustrate the quality bar.
Requirements
The ideal candidate will reflect each of these key qualities:
- Professional - You have 5+ years of experience working in animation for games or 2+ years of experience in combat-focused / Fighting Game animation for games, with at least one shipped title. Your portfolio demonstrates strong combat or Fighting Game animations.
- Returning Champ - You have worked on a Fighting Game and can deliver high-quality combat animation within fixed frame-count limits.
- Insider - You understand Fighting Game terminology and can "talk shop" with members of the FGC.
- Rigmaster - You can oversee animation tech (rigging, weighting, interpolation, dynamics) and work with gameplay and VFX experts, riggers, and technical animators so that animations meet technical requirements.
- Artisan - You possess top-tier aesthetic sensibilities, with an unerring eye for high quality animation, including combat / Fighting Game animation and specifically 2D vs 3D differences.
- Ambassador - You have the ability to clearly communicate ideas both verbally and visually to diverse audiences, and can forge strong collaborative relationships with external art partners. You can give and receive feedback with equanimity, style, and grace.
- Wellspring - You are a fount of new ideas. You can discover solutions through rapid prototyping and are able to clearly articulate a vision to those around you.
- Bootstrapper - As a highly motivated individual, you are able to excel in a fast-paced environment, either autonomously or collaboratively.
- Technician - You are familiar with game engine platforms (preferably Unity) and are comfortable implementing assets independently.
- Precisionist - You build your work with attention to detail and visual consistency. Your output is highly organized and labeled.
- Maya Master - You have proficiency with Maya and are adept at using it effectively to iterate with other animators on their work.
Bonus Features
Extras we hope to see in the most competitive candidates:
- Gamer - You are an avid Fighting Game player, and stay up to date on trends in the industry's top games.
- Mobile Wrangler - This isn't your first rodeo. In addition to having Fighting Game experience, you also have reps working on mobile games and understand art optimization best practices for mobile devices.
- F2P Mobile Fanatic - You play all of the latest, greatest F2P games on mobile.
- Unity Veteran - You have familiarity using the Unity platform specifically, and know your way around the editor and its subcomponents.
- Agile Enthusiast - You have prior exposure with Agile development practices and are no stranger to backlogs and Scrum.
- Smooth Operator - When a game launches, the work has only just begun. You have experience working alongside a live ops team, addressing the ongoing needs of players month after month.
Compensation
Below is the base salary range that HVS expects to pay applicants for this role in California. Salary offered will vary depending on experience, skill, and location.
$90,000 - $120,000
The Perks
There are a lot of great reasons to work at Hidden Variable! Some of the highlights include:
- Unlimited PTO Policy - We offer unlimited paid time off, on top of 10 company holidays and two weeklong studio-wide breaks. We focus on results rather than hours, and we trust you to take the time you need to find the right balance between work and your personal life.
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans - We offer a generous yearly stipend, and have several premium plans available from major health care providers. Already have medical coverage? Keep the stipend as an end of year bonus.
- Financial Protection - We offer a 401(k) retirement plan, short- and long-term disability, and a complimentary Life/AD&D policy. You'll also have the opportunity to add supplemental coverages (including pet insurance) if you like.
- Family Support - We offer 4 months of paid parental leave, plus an additional 90 days of fully remote work for employees returning from parental leave (on top of our usual hybrid work schedule).
- Career Growth - Developing the skills and training to advance in one's career is a shared responsibility. To that end, we frequently compensate for travel to conferences, fund tuition through online or in- person learning, and even reimburse game expenses (mobile or otherwise) to allow our teammates to maximize their full potential.
- Frequent Celebrations - We work hard, but we like to let off steam, too. You'll find us playing board games, video games, trivia, and even the occasional field trip to an escape room or other attraction around the city, all courtesy of Hidden Variable.
Equal Opportunities
Hidden Variable Studios is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applications from candidates of any background who are eager to celebrate their unique perspective. We recruit, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, orientation, disability, age, military service, and other protected statuses. We believe diverse backgrounds and life experiences enable us to collectively build better and more inclusive games.
How To Apply?
Hopefully, by the time you've scrolled this far, you've realized that we value high quality products and people who are passionate about what they do for a living.
Ready to apply? Apply via Hitmarker or send us an email at art-careers@hiddenvariable.com containing the following requirements: your resume, a cover letter, and a link to your animation portfolio. Make sure to list your name and the position in the subject line.
We can't wait to hear from you!
See All 5 Gameplay Animator Jobs
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Find Gameplay Animator JobsGameplay Animator Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in gameplay animator jobs.
- Proficiency in Unreal Engine or Unity animation systems and state machines
- Strong keyframe animation skills using Maya, 3ds Max, or MotionBuilder
- Experience building locomotion sets, combat cycles, and blendspaces
- Portfolio or demo reel demonstrating in-game character and creature animation
- Understanding of rigging fundamentals and working within technical constraints
- Bachelor's degree in animation, game design, or a related field, or equivalent experience
Tips for Your Gameplay Animator Job Search
Tailor your reel to gameplay loops
Hiring managers at game studios watch your reel for in-engine animation, not just polished cinematics. Cut a version that leads with locomotion sets, combat cycles, and state machine work so reviewers see gameplay-ready output immediately.
List your engine experience explicitly
Unreal and Unity proficiency levels belong directly in your skills section, not buried in a job description. Hiring managers filter by engine before reading further, so name the version and your depth with each one upfront.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists gameplay animator openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings that name your specialty
A posting asking for procedural animation experience signals a very different pipeline than one asking for hand-keyed character work. Read job descriptions for specific technical callouts and only apply when your reel directly addresses what they named.
Prepare a breakdown document for your reel
Many studios ask you to annotate your portfolio work before or during the interview. Write a one-page breakdown explaining your contribution, the tools used, and any technical constraints you solved for each piece you plan to discuss.
Negotiate start date around ship cycles
Game studios often have hard crunch windows tied to release schedules. If you have flexibility, ask about the project phase before agreeing to a start date so you can align your onboarding with a period that lets you ramp up productively.
Gameplay Animator Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How many gameplay animator jobs are remote?
About 100% of gameplay animator openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote availability concentrated in studios that have already built distributed pipelines. Roles focused on cinematic and cutscene work tend to go remote more readily than those requiring tight real-time collaboration with engineers on physics or ragdoll systems.
How do you become a gameplay animator?
Start by building foundational keyframe skills in Maya or a comparable package, then move your work into a game engine like Unreal or Unity so you understand how animation state machines and blendspaces function in a real production environment. Assemble a reel focused entirely on in-game character movement, ship a small personal project or contribute to a game jam to get shipped-title experience, and apply to junior roles or internships at studios whose output matches your interests.
How do you get hired as a gameplay animator with little experience?
Studios hiring junior gameplay animators care more about your reel quality and engine familiarity than years of employment. Build a short demo that shows locomotion cycles, a basic state machine, and at least one character interaction entirely authored in a game engine. Contributing to a game jam, shipping a mod, or posting breakdowns of your work online all serve as credible experience substitutes when your professional history is thin.
What does the gameplay animator interview process look like?
Most studios start with a reel review call where you walk a recruiter or lead animator through your work and explain your specific contributions. A technical interview follows, often involving questions about your workflow in a game engine and how you approach animation state machines. Many studios then assign a short take-home test asking you to animate a specific action from a brief, followed by a final conversation with the team to assess fit and talk through your test submission.
Where can I find and apply to gameplay animator jobs?
You can find and apply to gameplay animator jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the listings to find roles that match your engine experience and specialization, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 5 Gameplay Animator Jobs
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