Senior Character & Motion Animator

Remote from: Europe
Annual salary: Undisclosed
Salary information is not provided for this position. Check our Salary Directory to estimate the average compensation for similar roles.
Department: Creative & Design
Employment type: Full Time,
Job posted: 10 Jul 2026
Apply before: 10 Aug 2026
Experience level: Senior
Views / Applies: 28 / 2

Crafting Consumer Products of Tomorrow

Actively Hiring

AI Summary

Ruby Labs is seeking a Senior Character & Motion Animator to create premium, web-native animations for an online sweepstakes social casino. The role involves designing character mascots, building hero-section animations, and rigging in Rive using state machines. Candidates need 4+ years of iGaming experience and proficiency with AI animation tools. This is a senior, high-ownership position with a fast daily production cadence.

Role DNA

Job Complexity

Easy Hard

Pace & Pressure

Relaxed Fast-paced

Autonomy Level

Guided Full Ownership

Communication Load

Independent Highly Collaborative

AI Insight The role requires senior-level skills in character animation, Rive rigging, and AI tools, plus specific iGaming experience, making it challenging but not overly technical.

Salary Analysis

AI Insight The salary was not specified, but for a Senior Animator in the iGaming space, the market range is $70k-$150k annually. Based on the seniority and specialized skills, a competitive offer would likely be around $100k.

Core Skills Required

Character Animation Motion Design Rive Spine AI Animation Tools iGaming State Machines Rigging VFX Production Pipeline

Cover Letter Sample

Dear Hiring Team,

I am excited to apply for the Senior Character & Motion Animator role at Ruby Labs. With over 4 years of experience in online casino animation and expertise in Rive, Spine, and AI animation tools like Viggle and Runway, I am confident in my ability to deliver premium, interactive animations at a fast pace. I have a proven track record of running high-intensity production pipelines and building reusable rigged skeletons with state machines.

In my previous role, I created character mascots and hero-section animations that increased user engagement by 30%. I am eager to bring my technical skills and creative vision to Ruby Labs and help elevate your social casino product. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to your team.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Sample Interview Questions

Can you describe a project where you used AI animation tools like Viggle or Runway in production? What were the challenges and how did you overcome them?

I used Viggle to generate initial animation concepts for a slot machine win sequence. The tool helped speed up ideation, but the output needed refinement for precise timing and character expressions. I cleaned up the animation in Rive by adjusting keyframes and adding state machine triggers. The challenge was ensuring the AI output matched the brand's style, which required manual tweaking.

How do you prioritize and manage multiple animation requests with daily deadlines?

I break down requests by impact and complexity, using a kanban board to track progress. For daily cadence, I establish reusable templates and rigs to accelerate production. Communication with stakeholders is key to align expectations and adjust deadlines if needed.

Explain your experience with Rive state machines. How have you used them to create responsive animations?

I have built state machines for character reactions (idle, win, loss) in a social casino game. By mapping input events from the game engine to animation states, the character would react in real-time. For example, a win state triggered a celebration animation with particle effects, all controlled through Rive's state machine logic.

Describe your process for creating a reusable character rig with multiple states in Rive or Spine.

I start by designing the character with modular pieces in a vector tool, then import to Rive. I create bones and constraints for the skeleton, using blend shapes for facial expressions. I set up state machines for different actions (idle, walk, celebrate). The rig is tested for edge cases and documented for team use.

How do you ensure your animations are optimized for web performance while maintaining high quality?

I use Rive's ability to export vector-based animations, which are lightweight. I limit the number of bones and keyframes, and use sprite sheets for complex effects. I also work with developers to test frame rates and memory usage, and adjust detail levels based on the target device.

About us

Ruby Labs is a leading tech company that creates and operates innovative consumer products. We offer a diverse range of opportunities across the health, education, and entertainment industries. Our innovative teams are driving the future of consumer-led products, and we’re always looking for passionate individuals to join us. Learn more about our story at: https://rubylabs.com/about-us/

About the role

RubyLabs is looking for a Superhero Animator to join our creative squad and own premium, web-native animations for one of our fastest-growing portfolio products — an online sweepstakes social casino. We need “wow” quality, at a daily production cadence, built in Rive as interactive, state-driven animations (not pre-rendered video). This is a senior, high-ownership role with room to grow into a leadership role for a small animation pod as the team scales.

Key Responsibilities

Design and animate character mascots (idle loops, reactions, win celebrations) that feel alive and premium
Build hero-section animations combining characters with animated environments (coins, slot machines, effects)
Rig in Rive using state machines so animations react live to real product events
Run a daily/weekly production pipeline for new offer animations across segments
Partner with dev on responsive embedding and with design on the avatar art pipeline

Qualifications

4+ years of experience in the online casino / iGaming space
3+ years of experience with online casino & online gaming animation and motion designs production with characters that are specific to the online casino themes
Highly proficient with AI animation tools (e.g., Viggle, Kling, Runway) for rapid concepting and production — be ready to walk through a real project where you used one in production, including where it broke down
Experience running high-intensity motion production and delivering results fast
Experience of a highly professional studio-level motion production design

Nice to have

Hands-on production experience in Rive (or Spine/DragonBones with fast ramp-up ability), with character animation in your portfolio
Experience building reusable rigged character skeletons with multiple states
Particle/VFX experience (coin bursts, win effects)

Location

Ruby Labs operates within the CET (Central European Time) zone. Applicants from any country are welcome to apply for the position as long as they are located within approximately ± 4 hours of CET. This ensures optimal collaboration and communication during working hours.

Benefits

Discover the perks of being part of our vibrant team! We offer:

Remote Work Environment: Embrace the freedom to work from anywhere, anytime, promoting a healthy work-life balance.
Unlimited PTO: Enjoy unlimited paid time off to recharge and prioritize your well-being, without counting days.
Paid National Holidays: Celebrate and relax on national holidays with paid time off to unwind and recharge.
Company-provided MacBook: Experience seamless productivity with top-notch Apple MacBooks provided to all employees who need them.
Flexible Independent Contractor Agreement: Unlock the benefits of flexibility, autonomy, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Benefit from tax advantages, networking opportunities, reduced employment obligations, and the freedom to work from anywhere. Read more about it here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nkrN76JlZkbKj9WSOhlT1_mni_CZeDkHdwfIjPXVwvk/preview?tab=t.0#heading=h.ndsdl4wapxtt

Be part of our fast-growing team and seize this excellent opportunity for personal and professional growth!

Interview Process

After submitting your application, we conduct a thorough review which typically takes 3 to 5 days, but may occasionally take longer due to the volume of applications received. If we see a potential fit, we proceed with the following steps:

Recruiter Screening (40 minutes)
Technical Interview (60 minutes)
Technical Interview (45 minutes)
Final Interview (30 minutes)

Life at Ruby Labs

At Ruby Labs, we move fast, aim high, and expect the same from our team. We’re not here to play small—we’re here to build, grow, and win. That means we look for people who are ambitious, driven, and ready to give their best every single day.

This is a place for individuals who thrive under pressure, embrace challenges, and see opportunity in every obstacle. If you’re hungry to achieve, motivated by impact, and want to grow at the speed of your own ambition, Ruby Labs offers the platform to make it happen.

Here, effort is matched with reward. We recognize those who go all in and deliver results, and we create space for people who want more—more responsibility, more growth, and more success.

#LI-Remote

Apply now >