Senior 3D Combat Animator — Fighting Game Specialist

Hidden Variable Studios; Pasadena (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Medical/Dental/Vision plans

401(k) retirement plan + disability

Parental leave + remote after leave

Tuition reimbursement & conference/trn

Team events & game nights

Job summary

Hidden Variable Studios is hiring a Senior 3D Gameplay Animator for a hybrid role based in Pasadena, CA. You will lead the draft of high-quality 3D combat animations and coordinate with an Art Director and outsourcing partners to ensure precise, responsive gameplay feel.

Ideal candidates bring 5+ years of game animation experience, a strong Fighting Game portfolio, and proven ability to manage outsourcing pipelines while maintaining technical standards.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of animation experience for games or 2+ years in combat-focused animation with at least one shipped title.
• Portfolio demonstrates strong combat/Fighting Game animations.

Responsibilities

• Own execution of combat animations meeting Fighting Game standards.
• Provide clear feedback to external animation partners to meet requirements.
• Collaborate with Lead Combat Designer to deliver satisfying, impactful animations.
• Work with Design and Engineering to ensure seamless gameplay integration.

Skills

Combat animation (Fighting Game)

Rigging/Weighting/Interpolation

Unity experience

Maya

2D vs 3D animation understanding

External partner management

Communication & collaboration

Rapid prototyping

Live ops/post-launch support

Autonomy in fast-paced environments

Tools

Maya

Unity

Job description

Hidden Variable Studios is hiring a Senior 3D Gameplay Animator for a hybrid role based in Pasadena, CA. You will lead the draft of high-quality 3D combat animations and coordinate with an Art Director and outsourcing partners to ensure precise, responsive gameplay feel.

Ideal candidates bring 5+ years of game animation experience, a strong Fighting Game portfolio, and proven ability to manage outsourcing pipelines while maintaining technical standards.