Gameplay Animator

We're looking for a Gameplay Animator to breathe life into a new, stylized world at Snowman. You'll work closely with the art and design teams, creating animations that make the game look and feel great to play. This is a contract position based in our downtown Toronto studio, with the option to work remotely 2 days per week.

Responsibilities

Foundational knowledge of core animation principles.

Intuitive understanding of game feel.

Ability to animate a wide range of characters and personalities.

Understanding of additive procedural animations in Unity.

Experience with retargeting animations across multiple character rigs to maintain consistency and efficiency.

Familiarity with animation blending and layering techniques in Unity.

Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines.

Skills

Animate characters, animals and select inanimate objects.

Create dynamic gameplay animations and big, expressive character moments.

Animate facial expressions using facial rigs and sprite swapping.

Collaborate closely with the Art Director to realize the project's artistic vision.

Collaborate with tech and design teams to ensure animations align within technical constraints while maintaining quality.

Import, integrate and implement animations in Unity.

Requirements

At least 1 commercially shipped game as a 3D Character animator.

Proficiency in Autodesk Maya.

Portfolio or demo reel showcasing 3D character animations demonstrating a range of actions, poses, facial animations and expressive character moments.

Based in the Greater Toronto Area or willing to relocate.

Able to work on-site at our studio 3 days a week.

Legally authorized to work in Canada.

Nice to Haves

Knowledge of 3D character rigging and skinning pipelines.

Traditional animation skills.

A personal connection to action or board sports.

To Apply

Please submit your resume, cover letter and portfolio using the subject line "Snowman: Gameplay Animator”.

Snowman is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Snowman welcomes all races, religions, genders, countries of origin, and sexual orientations. We are proud to have completed disability awareness training through Liebs & Co and aim to continue to improve accessibility in our workplace and community.

AboutSnowman

Snowman is an Apple Design Award-winning independent studio at the center of artful experiences. Since 2012, we've developed original titles and partnered with talented teams on critically acclaimed games such as the Alto series, Where Cards Fall and Skate City. Our recent work includes Lucky Luna and Laya's Horizon for Netflix Games and Skate City NY for Apple Arcade. To date, our games have been played by over 100 million players across mobile, console and PC.

Featured Games

Jump into the ultimate skateboarding experience with Skate City: New York, the latest addition to the Skate City series. Navigate the iconic streets of New York City as you master hundreds of tricks in famous, real-world skate spots. Jump over taxis, dodge pedestrians and string together impressive combos to land your highest scores!

Master the art of flying in Laya's Horizon. Dive off mountains, weave across forests and glide over rivers to unlock new abilities as you explore a vast, peaceful world.

Use the ancient power of the Windfolk's enchanted capes to hone your skills, take on challenges and fly through obstacle courses that will make your heart soar. Explore an expansive island in this open-world adventure inspired by wingsuit flying.

Guide Lucky Luna through hidden dungeons and mythical temples to unlock the secrets of her past in this platformer inspired by Japanese folklore.

Each level introduces new mechanics and features that open up different ways to explore. The only catch? There’s no jump button! Swipe to move Luna left and right as she plunges deeper into each evolving, treacherous environment. You’ll have to take advantage of your surroundings and rely on your wits to reach what lies below and help Luna find her true path.