Gameplay Animator (Senior/Principal)

Job Application for Gameplay Animator (Senior/Principal) at Bonfire Studios Back to jobs Gameplay Animator (Senior/Principal) Hybrid, Irvine, California, United States Apply What's the one game you couldn't put down? The game that connected you with friends, and made you feel like you belonged? If a game has ever defined a chapter of your life, then you already know the spark we’re chasing. Our mission is to ignite that same feeling for players; the thrill of competition, the joy of community, and the belonging of finding your own corner of a larger world. Great games begin with people who dare to dream big. If that sounds exciting, you might be exactly who we’re looking for. Bonfire is a group of experienced and ambitious developers, proud to be creating our first original IP: Arkheron . It is a fast-paced, competitive PVP game set in a surreal dark fantasy world where 15 teams of three battle their way up the Tower. In a world built from memories, you will loot powerful items to create and adapt a unique build-out that will change your strategy and combat experience with every Ascension. The best way to understand our Art team is in their own words — here’s how they describe their work. Our goal is to immerse players in an extraordinary and haunting realm. From initial concept art to final in-game elements, we are crafting a compelling aesthetic experience that seamlessly blends with and brings to life the game’s narrative, level design, combat and audio. We play the game daily and our deep understanding of it allows us to deliver visuals that put the player experience first, while still pushing artistic boundaries to fully capture the unique tone and unforgettable atmosphere of the Arkheron’s world. We’re looking for a Senior/Principal Animator who understands that every frame communicates something: timing, weight, threat, opportunity. You’ll help define the animation language of a competitive experience, shaping clarity and responsiveness from the earliest stages of development. On a small team, your work will directly influence the feel of every ability, encounter, and moment of impact. If you care about animation as gameplay (and want real ownership over the result) we’d love to see your reel. YOU’LL CONTRIBUTE BY: Creating high-quality, in-game character animations that bring combat, movement, and moment-to-moment gameplay to life. Collaborating closely with designers, engineers, and tech artists to develop combat that feels responsive, readable, and satisfying in a competitive multiplayer environment. Partnering with animation, engineering, and tech art to help shape rigs, tools, and animation systems that improve workflows and elevate quality. Owning animation features end-to-end, from early exploration and iteration through polish and final implementation. Aligning with the animation team on style, quality bar, and execution, while contributing your own ideas, taste, and problem-solving. Participating actively in playtests, evaluating your work through the lens of the player experience and iterating based on feel, clarity, and gameplay impact. Balancing animation fidelity with gameplay needs, making smart tradeoffs that serve performance, readability, and fun. Wearing multiple hats in a small, focused team and using your experience to contribute beyond your core lane when it helps the game or studio. Helping shape a new IP, contributing creatively and thoughtfully as the game, systems, and pipelines evolve. WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT YOU BECAUSE YOU: Have strong experience creating high-quality gameplay animation, ideally across multiple shipped titles. Are genuinely excited by competitive multiplayer combat and understand how animation affects feel, fairness, and clarity. Bring a deep understanding of combat systems and how animation drives responsiveness and player satisfaction. Have experience working with or helping develop animation systems and tools, including in new or evolving engines. Are comfortable owning work independently, seeing features through from concept to completion. Are highly skilled at conveying character through gameplay animation, not just cinematics. Push for animation excellence while prioritizing gameplay quality first. Are self-motivated and good at identifying what matters most right now for the game. Thrive in highly collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams and communicate clearly with partners in all disciplines. Value trust, openness, and diverse perspectives, and enjoy learning from others. Have a growth mindset and care about raising the quality bar for both yourself and