Cocos Animator

# Senior Cocos Animator We are hiring a Senior Cocos Animator for our client — a gaming product company building high-performance real-money and social casino experiences with a strong focus on real-time gameplay feedback and motion systems. This role focuses on creating, assembling, and optimizing in-engine animations directly in Cocos Creator, with a strong emphasis on gameplay clarity, responsiveness, and performance efficiency across mobile and web platforms. You will own the full animation pipeline from concept through in-engine implementation and collaborate closely with engineers, game designers, and UI/UX teams. ## Responsibilities ### Animation & Motion Design * Create high-quality gameplay animations for: * Game states (idle, deal, reveal, win/lose, bonus, celebrations) * Card game interactions (shuffle, deal, fan, reveal, chip movement, table transitions) * Design UI motion that improves clarity, feedback, and user engagement * Build VFX and particle effects for wins, streaks, combos, jackpots, and events * Ensure motion is responsive, readable, and emotionally satisfying ### In-Engine Assembly (Cocos Creator) * Build, rig, and assemble animations directly in Cocos Creator * Configure timelines, curves, animation states, and event systems * Create reusable prefabs and motion components for scalable production * Set up triggers, animation events, and integration-ready systems for developers * Ensure smooth handoff and reliable implementation in-engine ### Performance & Optimization * Optimize animation assets (atlases, sprite sheets, skeletal rigs, textures) * Balance frame-based vs skeletal animation approaches depending on use case * Define and maintain performance budgets (memory, draw calls, file size) * Profile and optimize animations across devices and frame rates * Ensure smooth performance on mobile and web platforms * Build reusable animation and VFX libraries for production efficiency ### Collaboration & Workflow * Work closely with product, game design, UI/UX, and engineering teams * Ensure motion supports gameplay mechanics, pacing, and economy systems * Provide clear documentation and technical specs for implementation * Review builds and PRs to ensure visual fidelity and performance quality * Present animation concepts and iterate based on feedback * Mentor peers and help improve motion and in-engine best practices ## Requirements ### Must-Have * 5+ years of experience in game animation or motion design * 3+ years of experience delivering in-engine animations in shipped titles * Strong portfolio in gaming or iGaming (casino/card games is a plus) * Advanced proficiency in Cocos Creator: * Animation clips * Timelines * State machines * Prefabs * Events * Proven ability to assemble and ship animations in-engine * Strong understanding of animation principles (timing, easing, anticipation, overlap) * Deep knowledge of optimization (atlases, batching, draw calls, compression) * Experience with mobile and web performance constraints and profiling * Strong English communication skills ### Nice to Have * Spine rigging and animation experience (integration workflows) * Experience with JavaScript/TypeScript in Cocos pipelines * Familiarity with After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator * Knowledge of particle systems and shader-based VFX * Understanding of casino game UX patterns and player feedback systems * Mandarin language skills ## Working Approach * Player-first motion design focused on clarity and responsiveness * Performance-driven development with profiling and optimization * System-based thinking (reusable motion libraries over one-off animations) ## Application Requirements Please include: * Portfolio or reel showcasing in-engine Cocos animation work (with your contribution clearly stated) * Short case study describing: * Problem and goals * Technical/creative constraints * Optimization approach * Final impact * CV or LinkedIn profile