Senior Spine Animator

Why should candidates come to you?

Because this is a chance to be part of a visually ambitious mobile game from the ground up — where animation takes center stage, not the back seat. We are a design-driven team with a deep appreciation for stylized, expressive visuals. If you love making 2D feel like 3D and want your animations to be truly seen and appreciated — you’ll feel right at home here.

Who are you? How long have you been on the market?

We are a newly formed collective of senior-level game developers and artists who have worked together across multiple projects in the past. Our core team was established in 2023 to pursue a shared creative vision: building stylized mobile games with premium production values, agile workflows, and small, high-talent teams.

What are your main projects?

We are currently developing a new mobile game that blends vibrant 2D art with immersive 2.5D animation. The focus is on expressive characters and dynamic movement — animation is not just part of the polish; it is central to the visual identity of the game.

What makes you stand out from other companies?

• Creative Ownership: Animators have a real say in how things move and feel. You’re not just executing — you’re helping shape the visual style.

• Art-First Pipeline: Our entire production is structured around clarity, clean PSDs, and efficient rigging and animation flows in Spine.

• Clear Direction, Minimal Bureaucracy: Fast approvals, direct feedback, and streamlined communication with art leads and game designers.

• Experienced Founders: Our leadership consists of hands-on creators who understand both the creative and technical sides of animation.
  

Why is your company stable? If a candidate takes the risk, how will it pay off?

We operate through a reliable legal and financial structure, including international contracts and payment systems that support remote collaboration. We fund development internally, avoid crunch, and invest directly into team growth. You’ll be working with professionals who value consistency, respect deadlines, and pay on time — always.

What unique approaches/work methods do you use?

• Clear documentation and video references for each animation cycle

• Pre-approved PSDs with consistent structure for rigging

• Shared Spine templates and animation libraries

• Real-time feedback via private builds and Jira/Telegram

• Close weekly sync between animator, artist, and Unity integrator

Company or product plans?

We’re preparing a major visual milestone by the end of 2025, with a focus on strong, reusable character animations and high-quality in-game presentation. Our goal is to create a scalable stylized animation pipeline and bring on talented animators as long-term partners, not short-term executors.

What are you working on?

• The name of the project(s): SPINELINE tech name
• At what stage of the project(s)? active production
• Genres: Music / Rhythm
• Platforms: iOS, Android

Team size and structure?

11-20

For which tasks (responsibilities)?

Main Business Purpose of the Role:

To bring characters, environments, and interactions to life using high-quality 2.5D animation in Spine. The animator plays a crucial role in defining the game’s visual identity and delivering polished, readable, and expressive animation assets for Unity integration.

Key Responsibilities:

• Create rig-ready Spine animations for characters, props, and environments

• Build efficient rigs using bones, constraints, meshes, deformers, and IK systems

• Review PSD files for proper structure and provide visual/video guidelines to 2D artists

• Maintain consistency of style, timing, rhythm, and readability across all animations

• Export, test, and debug Spine animations in Unity builds

• Apply feedback from the art lead and game designer quickly and cleanly

• Collaborate with concept artists and Unity integrators in a tight feedback loop

• Proactively propose animation improvements and motion design ideas

Key Tasks to Solve:

• Transform layered PSDs into expressive, polished animation rigs

• Animate characters to mimic a 3D illusion using 2.5D techniques

• Maintain a clean Spine file structure for scalability and clarity

• Ensure exported animations work without issues inside Unity

Key KPIs:

• Number of finalized animation cycles delivered per sprint

• Quality and consistency of animations (as evaluated by art lead/game designer)

• Number of rounds to approval (lower = better workflow & clarity)

• Responsiveness to feedback and revision turnaround time

• Rig reusability and clarity for future iterations

• Successful integration of animations in Unity without major bugs

What kind of professional are we looking for?

Required Experience:

• 3+ years of hands-on experience in Spine animation

• Strong portfolio of character-focused 2.5D animations

• Proven work on commercial game or animation projects

• Experience collaborating with 2D artists and Unity developers

Core Skills Needed:

• Excellent sense of timing, posing, and motion rhythm

• Deep understanding of anatomy, weight, overlap, and secondary motion

• Ability to turn flat 2D elements into expressive, lifelike 2.5D animation

• Eye for style consistency and readability

• Strong communication and self-management in a remote team setting

Required Tools / Programs:

• Spine Pro — advanced use of meshes, bones, constraints, IK, deformers, and animation curves

• Adobe Photoshop — reading and evaluating PSD file structure

• Google Drive, Telegram, and video screen recording tools for internal documentation

Nice to Have (Bonus):

• Experience with other animation tools (e.g., DragonBones, After Effects, Moho)

• Understanding of Unity’s animation system and how Spine integrates with it

• Experience mentoring or reviewing junior animators

• Background in traditional or 3D animation principles

• Passion for stylized, hand-crafted visuals inspired by 3D cinematics

What is important for us in a person?

Key Competencies:

• Strong self-management and ability to work independently

• Clear communication skills for collaborating with remote teams

• Attention to detail in both motion and file structure

• Problem-solving mindset — able to spot issues and suggest fixes before they become blockers

• Ability to give and receive feedback constructively

Behavior We Welcome and Encourage:

• Initiative: You don’t wait for tasks — you propose better solutions

• Reliability: You meet deadlines and flag risks early

• Collaboration: You respect the input of designers, artists, and developers — and help them do their best work

• Ownership: You care about how your animation looks in the game, not just in Spine

• Curiosity: You’re always looking for smarter, more stylish, or more efficient ways to animate

Why do we enjoy working here?

Creative Freedom & Artistic Impact

You’ll have real creative ownership — animation is not just execution here; it’s part of the product’s identity. You’re encouraged to propose motion ideas, experiment with style, and push the visuals forward.

Influence on the Product

This is a small, senior-driven team where every animation decision matters. You’ll work closely with the art lead and game designer and directly impact how characters move, feel, and interact.

Clear & Focused Management

We respect your time and workflow. Tasks are structured, communication is fast and direct, and feedback is clear. We keep things lean — no micromanagement, no chaos.

Professional Development Atmosphere

You’ll be surrounded by experienced professionals who are passionate about their craft. We value clean structure, feedback loops, and continuous growth in animation skills and creative thinking.

Meaningful & Stylish Projects

This isn’t a shovelware pipeline. You’ll be animating beautiful, stylized characters in a game where animation truly matters — not as decoration, but as core storytelling.

Constructive Feedback Culture

We offer consistent feedback — fast, respectful, and to the point. Our goal is to help you grow without bottlenecks or ego trips.

What are the conditions and bonuses?

Fully Remote Work

You can work from any location. All collaboration is conducted online via email, chat, and task tracking tools.

Flexible Schedule

We are results-oriented, not hour-focused. As long as deadlines are respected and communication is consistent, you are free to organize your workday.

No Office Requirement

There is no physical office. The team operates fully remotely, and no relocation is required.

Direct Communication with Management

You will work closely with the project administrator and senior creative leads without layers of unnecessary hierarchy.

No Paid Holidays or Sick Days

This is a freelance/contract role. You manage your own availability and take breaks at your discretion.

Business Travel

Not required. All work and coordination are handled remotely. Occasional in-person creative sessions may occur, but participation is voluntary.

Bonuses and Compensation

We offer a competitive flat monthly rate. While there is no formal bonus system, consistent, high-quality work may lead to continued collaboration and priority in future projects.

No Relocation or Severance Packages

As this is a contract-based role, relocation support or compensation upon termination is not provided. Either party may end the collaboration per the terms of the agreement.