Principal Animator [iGaming]

📌 Job Title: PRINCIPAL ANIMATOR

📍 Location: India (Hyderabad)

🕒 Type: Full time, Onsite – Hyderabad

📂 Report to: Art Director

Experience: 11 – 14 years

Role Summary

We are looking for a Principal Animator who will own the animation vision and execution across slot game titles. Working closely with the Art Director, Principal Artist and Game Design teams, you will define how motion enhances gameplay driving player engagement, anticipation, and reward gratification through high-quality animation.

This role combines creative direction, hands-on animation, and team leadership, ensuring that all animated content meets the highest standards of quality and performance.

Essential Responsibilities

Animation Direction & Ownership:

· Define and execute the animation style and motion language for our slot game titles

· Transform game design and reward mechanics into engaging, high-impact animations

· Ensure animations enhance player feedback, anticipation, and emotional payoff.

Hands-on Animation:

· Create high-quality 2D animations, effects, transitions, banner animation and motion graphics

· Animate symbols, characters, UI elements, titles, and banners.

· Maintain consistency in timing, spacing, weight, and motion style

Game Understanding & Player Psychology:

· Deep understanding of slot mechanics and player behavior

· Design animations that maximize engagement, retention, and gratification loops

· Study market trends and benchmark top-performing slot animations

Team Leadership & Mentorship:

· Lead and mentor mid-level and junior animators

· Conduct animation reviews, feedback sessions, and training along with Art Director

· Collaborate with the Art Director & Principal Artist on team upskilling initiatives

Research & Innovation:

· Explore new animation styles, tools, and techniques

· Integrate modern workflows, including AI-assisted animation tools where applicable

· Pitch fresh ideas to elevate the studio’s animation quality

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

· Work closely with Game Designers to align animation with gameplay mechanics

· Collaborate with artists, developers, and VFX teams for seamless integration

· Ensure animation intent is preserved through implementation

· Go hand-in-hand with Principal Artist for various art related activities.

Technical & Pipeline Expertise:

· Strong understanding of animation pipelines and production workflows

· Experience integrating animations into game engines (either Unity / Cocos or Unreal)

· Ensure assets are optimized for performance, memory, and runtime efficiency

· Troubleshoot animation and integration issues independently

· Deep understanding of how animated assets are implemented in the game engine.

Documentation & Process Building:

· Assist in defining animation guidelines, principles, and best practices

· Contribute to building a centralized knowledge base for animation workflows

· Standardize animation quality across projects

Ownership Mindset:

· Take full ownership of animation deliverables from concept to final implementation

· Work independently while maintaining high quality animation.

· Handle production challenges with a solution-oriented approach

Qualifications

· 10-14 years of experience in game animation, preferably in slot / casino / casual games

· Master’s, Bachelor’s degree or Diploma in any one of the following:

· Game Production

· Digital Media Art/Animation

· Or an equivalent discipline

· Strong portfolio showcasing game-ready animations and motion graphics

· Experience leading or mentoring animation teams

Key Skills

· Must have exceptional proficiency in After Effects, Spine, Adobe Animate, or equivalent tools

· Deep understanding of animation principles

· Experience with VFX and motion graphics

· Knowledge of game engine animation workflows

· Working with Ai and related Generative Ai tool

· Strong problem-solving and communication skills

Assessment

You will be asked to perform a practical assessment for us to determine the capabilities and alignment towards this position.

A message from Vortech

You don’t need to tick every single box listed above. At Vortech, we value a strong growth mindset just as much as experience. If you’re passionate about playing and creating slot games, have a creative or visionary approach at any level, and feel you can bring something valuable to the table, we’d love to hear from you.