Gameplay Animator (Mid-Senior) (m/f/o)
KAIKO GmbH · Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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About the Role
As a Gameplay Animator, you will be responsible for creating dynamic, high-impact animations tailored for a top-down gameplay perspective, ensuring clarity, readability, and strong player feedback.
You will work closely with Game Design, Code, Game Direction, and Art Direction to rapidly visualize and iterate on character movesets, from early blocking concepts and previs to final in-game implementation.
Working with an established IP, you will need to deeply understand its core identity and translate it faithfully into gameplay animation that feels both authentic and fresh.
Key Responsibilities
- Create high-quality, stylized gameplay animations with strong readability from a top-down perspective
- Develop expressive, over-the-top movesets (combat, traversal, interactibles) that enhance gameplay clarity and impact
- Quickly visualize and iterate on animations using blocking, previs, and prototypes
- Collaborate closely with Game Design to align animations with gameplay mechanics and timing
- Work with Code to ensure smooth implementation and integration
- Maintain consistency with the project’s art direction and IP identity
- Perform minor rigging tasks and support animation setup where needed
- Contribute to technical animation workflows (e.g. state machines, animation blending, integration support)
- Ensure animations support gameplay responsiveness, feedback, and player readability
- Follow and maintain clean production workflows (naming conventions, version control, documentation)
- Communicate proactively with cross-disciplinary teams to keep production moving efficiently
Requirements
- Mid to Senior level experience in game animation
- At least one shipped game in a relevant role
- Strong portfolio demonstrating gameplay animation (stylized preferred)
- Proficiency in Maya with animBot
- Experience animating for top-down or gameplay-driven camera perspectives
- Proven ability to create clear, readable, and impactful animations
- Experience developing combat or action-oriented movesets
- Ability to rapidly prototype and iterate on animation ideas
- Solid understanding of timing, weight, exaggeration, and gameplay responsiveness
- Experience implementing animations in a game engine
- Basic Rigging skills and understanding of animation setups
- Familiarity with technical animation workflows and tools
- Strong organizational skills (naming conventions, version control, pipeline discipline)
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- Fluent in English
- Valid work permit for Germany
Nice to Have
- Experience with mGear Rigging Framework
- Experience working with established IPs
- Familiarity with proprietary engines or custom pipelines
What We Offer
- Opportunity to work on a visually bold and expressive project
- Collaboration with a passionate, cross-disciplinary team
- Hybrid work setup in Frankfurt (3 days onsite)
- A focused production environment with strong creative direction
On KAIKO GmbH:
With over 30 years of game development experience, the founders still work hands on in the development of our titles.
We have a friendly work environment, work sane hours and allow everybody to leave their mark in our products.
As a company we always strive for competence and reliability and keep ourselves from corporate bullshit or buzzwording.
How to apply :
Send your CV, resume and showreel via email to jobs@kaikogames.com
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