Animation Artist for Dead Misery

We are looking for a talented Animation Artist to join the development of Dead Misery, a dark and atmospheric game being developed with Unreal Engine 5. The Animation Artist will be responsible for creating believable, high-quality character animations for gameplay, combat, interactions and cinematic sequences. Since the role includes recording original motion-capture performances, applicants must have access to their own motion-capture suit and recording setup. Responsibilities • Record motion-capture performances for player characters, enemies, NPCs and cinematic sequences. • Create animations for locomotion, combat, interactions, reactions, injuries, deaths and environmental actions. • Clean up, edit and refine motion-capture data to achieve natural and production-ready results. • Retarget animations to Unreal Engine 5 character rigs and skeletons. • Implement and test animations directly inside Unreal Engine 5. • Work with Animation Blueprints, Blend Spaces, Animation Montages, State Machines, IK systems and root-motion workflows. • Adjust animation timing, weight, posing and transitions to match the dark and grounded atmosphere of Dead Misery. • Collaborate with game designers, programmers and character artists to ensure animations work correctly within gameplay systems. • Identify and resolve animation issues such as foot sliding, clipping, incorrect retargeting and unnatural transitions. • Maintain an organized animation library with consistent naming and file structures. Requirements • Access to a reliable motion-capture suit and the ability to record motion-capture performances independently. • Experience recording, cleaning and editing motion-capture animation data. • Practical experience with Unreal Engine 5 animation systems. • Understanding of character rigs, skeletons, animation retargeting, root motion and inverse kinematics. • Experience with animation software such as Blender, Maya, MotionBuilder or a comparable application. • Strong understanding of body mechanics, timing, weight and believable character movement. • Ability to create grounded and responsive animations suitable for a dark horror or survival game. • Good communication skills and the ability to work independently within a remote development team. • A portfolio or showreel demonstrating relevant character animation and motion-capture work. Preferred Qualifications • Previous experience working on horror, survival, action or narrative-driven games. • Experience animating creatures, infected characters or other non-standard movement styles. • Knowledge of Unreal Engine Control Rig, Full-Body IK, Motion Warping and animation retargeting workflows. • Experience creating cinematic performances and facial animations. • Familiarity with multiplayer animation replication and networked gameplay. • Experience working with indie development teams and iterative production workflows.