Job Summary

We are looking for a skilled Lead Spine2D Animator to create high-quality 2.5D animations & VFX for slot/casino games, while also leading and guiding the animation team. This role focuses on bringing static game art to life using Spine2D through smooth, polished, and performance-optimized animations that enhance gameplay experience.

In addition to hands-on animation, the Lead Animator will be responsible for mentoring and guiding the team, reviewing work, and planning and managing the animation pipeline to ensure timely and high-quality deliveries. You will work closely with Concept Artists, Game Artists, and Developers to align animation & VFX execution with both creative vision and technical requirements.

Key Responsibilities:1. Concept Development & Final Animation Production

• Lead the creation of high-quality 2D and 2.5D animations using Spine2D for slot/casino games.
• Design and execute complex feature, win, transition, and loop animations.
• Animate slot-game assets including symbols, Wilds, Scatters, reels, UI elements, and special features.
• Create parallax-style 2.5D motion using layered artwork.
• Work with layered PSD files prepared for Spine workflows.
• Ensure animations align with gameplay feel, UX timing, and visual consistency.

2. Leadership & Mentorship

• Lead, mentor, and guide Senior Animator and Junior Animators.
• Provide constructive feedback and hands-on support to improve animation quality.
• Foster a collaborative and growth-oriented team environment.
• Support skill development and best-practice adoption within the team.

3. Cross-Department Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Art Directors, Concept Artists, Game Artists, VFX Artists, and Developers.
• Ensure animations meet both creative vision and technical requirements.
• Work with development teams to ensure smooth engine integration.

4. Review & Quality Control

• Review, refine, and approve animation assets before final delivery.
• Maintain high visual and technical quality standards across all animations.
• Ensure consistency in animation style, execution, and polish.
• Identify and resolve quality issues proactively.

5. Production Management & Delivery

• Define and manage animation pipelines, workflows, and best practices.
• Plan and organize animation tasks to meet project timelines and milestones.
• Optimize animations for performance, memory usage, and runtime efficiency.
• Ensure timely and high-quality delivery of animation assets.

6. Communication

• Ensure timely and high-quality delivery of animation assets.
• Act as the primary point of contact for animation-related discussions.
• Provide regular updates on animation progress, risks, and dependencies.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Animation, Fine Arts, Game Design, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
• 10+ years of professional experience in 2D / 2.5D game animation & VFX, with a strong focus on Spine2D.
• Expert-level proficiency in Spine2D, including rigging, skinning, bones, meshes, constraints, and animation states.
• Strong understanding of animation principles, timing, easing, secondary motion, and visual polish.
• Demonstrated experience in leading, mentoring, and guiding animation teams.
• Hands-on experience collaborating with Art and Development teams.
• Solid understanding of game pipelines, engine integration (Unity or similar), and performance optimization.
• Ability to plan and manage animation workflows to meet production timelines and quality standards.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to provide clear direction and constructive feedback.

Required Skills & Experience:Animation & Technical Skills

• 10+ years of industry experience in game animation, VFX, or real-time interactive entertainment.
• Expert-level proficiency in Spine2D for 2D and 2.5D animation, including rigging, skinning, bones, meshes, and constraints.
• Strong understanding of animation principles, timing, easing, secondary motion, and visual polish.
• Hands-on experience creating high-quality animations and VFX for slot/casino games or similar real-time game environments.
• Ability to create and integrate parallax-based 2.5D motion using layered artwork.
• Experience optimizing animations and VFX for performance, memory usage, and runtime efficiency.
• Familiarity with game engines (PIXIJS, HTML5, Unity or similar) and asset integration workflows.
• Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Spine2D, After Effects, Photoshop, and related animation/VFX software.
• Leadership & Communication
• Proven experience leading, mentoring, and guiding animation and/or VFX teams.
• Ability to provide clear, structured, and actionable feedback to improve quality and consistency.
• Experience defining animation/VFX pipelines, standards, and best practices.
• Strong communication skills for effective cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to work closely with Art Direction, Game Design, Development, and Technical teams to align creative vision with technical constraints.

Soft Skills

• Strong ownership mindset
• Attention to detail
• Ability to meet deadlines and adapt to shifting priorities
• Team-first mentality and creative problem solving

Bonus Skills (Good to Have)

• Experience in slot game animation or casual/mobile game animation.
• Knowledge of PIXIJS/HTML5 animation integration pipelines.
• Understanding of motion graphics for popups and win animations.
• Experience leading small teams or specialized pods.
• Experience leading small teams or specialized pods.

Success Metrics (First 12 Months)

• Delivery of consistent, high-quality animation & VFX across all assigned projects, validated by client satisfaction and internal reviews.
• Clear improvements in animation & VFX workflow efficiency and quality assurance processes.
• Positive team engagement scores, reflecting improved clarity, feedback, and motivation.
• Delivered high-quality pitch and animation decks that strengthened client engagement and contributed to new project opportunities.
• Establishment of PIXIJS/HTML5-driven prototyping workflows and animation enhancements to improve visual fidelity.