3D Animator

HyperVR Games is a VR gaming studio and publisher, founded in 2021.

We develop casual VR games that deliver immersive, highly interactive experiences for a broad audience. Our ambition is to become one of the leading creators of premium VR entertainment by combining strong product thinking, fast iteration, and exceptional execution.

Our award-winning title Shave & Stuff received the “Best in Play” award at the Game Developers Conference 2023 and is available on Meta Quest, Pico, and Steam.

As we continue expanding our portfolio, we’re looking for a 3D Animator who can create expressive, memorable character animations while owning the technical side of the animation pipeline - from rigging and Unity integration to optimization and production workflows.

If you're passionate about stylized animation, enjoy solving technical challenges, and want to help shape the quality bar of a growing VR studio, we’d love to hear from you.

What are you working on?

• Genres: Simulation, Action, Casual
• Platforms: VR

For which tasks (responsibilities)?

• Own the animation pipeline for one or more projects.

• Create high-quality stylized character animations.

• Create and maintain rigs, skinning and BlendShapes.

• Integrate animations into Unity.

• Configure Animation Controllers, State Machines and gameplay events.

• Implement technical animation solutions (IK, Ragdolls, secondary motion).

• Review, mentor and provide feedback to internal artists and outsource teams.

• Improve animation workflows, tools and production efficiency.

• Collaborate closely with Product, Art and Engineering.

What kind of professional are we looking for?

Requirements (Mandatory)

• B2 English (spoken and written);

• 4+ years of experience as a 3D Character Artist in game development;

• Strong proficiency in Blender, Maya, ZBrush, or equivalent 3D tools;

• Strong character art fundamentals: anatomy, proportions, silhouette, shape language, color, and materials;

• Experience creating stylized, expressive, game-ready characters;

• Ability to take a character from early concept to a production-ready 3D asset;

• Strong understanding of facial expressions and character emotions;

• Understanding of BlendShapes and facial deformation for animation;

• Ability to explore and propose different visual directions, not only execute an existing concept;

• Interest in and willingness to use generative AI and other modern tools for concept exploration and iteration;

• Understanding of real-time character requirements: topology, UVs, textures, materials, and optimization;

• Ability to work independently, explain visual decisions, and iterate based on feedback;

• Ability to collaborate effectively with Animators, Artists, Designers, and Developers.

Nice to Have

• VR game development experience;

• Experience using generative AI as part of a professional art workflow;

• Strong 3D concept sculpting / rapid character exploration skills;

• Experience designing facial expression sets / emotion maps;

• Hands-on BlendShape creation experience;

• Unity experience and character integration;

• Rigging and skinning experience;

• Experience with highly interactive or physics-driven characters;

• Understanding of character design for comedy, exaggerated reactions, and physical interactions.

What is important for us in a person?

• High ownership and accountability.

• Practical, solution-oriented mindset.

• Open to feedback and iteration.

• Proactive and self-driven.

• Comfortable with ambiguity.

• Curious and willing to experiment.

• Focused on improving product quality, not just completing tasks.

• AI-driven.

• Passionate gamer.

What are the conditions and bonuses?

• Opportunity to work on high-performing projects and bring your vision into new titles;

• Paid vacations: 20 working days per year (according to the labor legislation of Latvia);

• Company events and team-building activities.