At a Glance
- Tasks: Animate 2D characters for an exciting deckbuilder game, bringing heroes and enemies to life.
- Company: Join Topdeck Productions, a passionate indie team creating unique gaming experiences.
- Benefits: Full-time remote work with a collaborative and creative environment.
- Other info: Work closely with a small team and enjoy excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make your mark in the gaming world with impactful animations that enhance gameplay.
- Qualifications: Experience in 2D character animation and a strong portfolio showcasing combat animations.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
Studio: Topdeck Productions — a small, focused indie team (~7 people) building for Steam.
Location: London preferred; open to remote for the right candidate.
Type: Full-time.
About the game: Project Topdeck is a party-based roguelite deckbuilder game for Steam: players draft a party of heroes from a roster of ~20, each contributing cards to a shared deck. Visual style sits in the Darkest Dungeon / Slay the Spire 2 space — characters that read as a little dark and serious while still being expressive and full of personality.
What they’re looking for: An experienced 2D animator to bring their hero and enemy roster to life in combat: idle states, attacks, hit reactions, deaths, and special-ability moments, all with the weight and readability a turn-based card battler needs to sell impact. You’ll be working closely with their concept art direction to keep animation consistent with an established, painterly character style, and with their Unity implementation to make sure everything lands in-engine the way it’s meant to.
You might be a good fit if you:
- Have shipped 2D character/creature animation for games — a portfolio or reel showing combat-relevant animation (attacks, hits, deaths, idles) is a must.
- Are comfortable working within an established art style rather than designing your own.
- Have experience with a sprite or skeletal animation pipeline (Spine2D, DragonBones, or similar) and familiarity with how animation gets implemented in Unity.
- Understand what makes combat animation feel weighty and readable, not just pretty.
- Can work collaboratively and iteratively with a small team; based in London or able to overlap comfortably with a London-based team if remote.
Nice to have:
- Some VFX knowledge/experience — not required, but a plus if you’ve dabbled.
Requirements:
- Have shipped 2D character/creature animation for games.
- Have a portfolio or reel showing combat-relevant animation (attacks, hits, deaths, idles) is a must.
- Comfortable working within an established art style.
- Have experience with a sprite or skeletal animation pipeline (Spine2D, DragonBones, or similar) and familiarity with how animation gets implemented in Unity.
- Understand what makes combat animation feel weighty and readable, not just pretty.
- Can work collaboratively and iteratively with a small team; based in London or able to overlap comfortably with a London-based team if remote.
Experienced 2D Character Animator for Deckbuilder Game at Topdeck Productions employer: Animationclub
Topdeck Productions is an excellent employer for those seeking a creative and collaborative environment in the gaming industry. With a small, focused team based in London, employees benefit from close-knit teamwork, opportunities for personal growth, and the chance to contribute significantly to an innovative project. The company values artistic expression and offers flexibility for remote work, making it an attractive option for talented animators looking to make their mark in game development.
