Buffalo Buffalo, in partnership with Shumka Centre, is seeking a qualified recent graduate from Emily Carr University for a full-time position beginning early 2026. This project will be delivered in a hybrid format, with some work being done in person at the Buffalo Buffalo studio in Vancouver and some remotely. 

Buffalo Buffalo is a future-forward Vancouver-based game studio crafting unique, immersive experiences brimming with surprises. They are looking for a talented full-time Animator to join their team for a 2D/3D platform fighting game. You’ll work alongside their Art Director and multidisciplinary team to create expressive, high-quality character animations that bring the fighters—bipedal, quadrupedal, and beyond—to life.

Role Overview

As an Animator, you will be working on Buffalo Buffalo’s original unannounced PVP title. You’ll focus on designing, creating, and implementing animations for a variety of body shapes and rig types. From agile humanoid fighters to powerful quadrupedal creatures, you’ll bring personality, weight, and fluidity to every move set. You’ll collaborate closely with their Art Director, designers, and programmers to ensure animations feel great in-game and fit seamlessly with the project’s visual style and gameplay requirements.

• Position: Full-Time (32 hours/week, 4 days/week)
• Salary: CAD $24-26/hour, based on experience
• Duration: 8 months, with possibility of extension
• Location: Hybrid, Vancouver (2 days remote, 2 days in-office)

View the full call on The Leeway
Deadline to apply: 5PM on November 21, 2025

Requirements

• Recent graduate from Emily Carr University of Art + Design
• Proficiency with 3D animation in Maya
• A 3D character animation portfolio

What You’ll Do

• Create high-quality, stylized animations for characters with different rig types (bipedal, quadrupedal, hybrid, etc.)
• Work with Buffalo Buffalo’s Art Director to define animation style, timing, and personality for each fighter
• Implement animations in Unity, including animation controllers, blend trees, and state machines
• Collaborate with designers to ensure animations align with gameplay mechanics and player feedback
• Optimize animation assets for performance in a real-time engine
• Maintain clean, organized animation files with consistent naming conventions

What You Bring

• A strong understanding of body mechanics, weight, and timing for both stylized and realistic animation
• Experience animating a variety of character body types, including bipedal and quadrupedal rigs
• Strong collaboration skills and openness to feedback from art, design, and technical leads
• A passion for expressive, gameplay-driven animation

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience with combat animation and action-driven movement
• Familiarity with Unity’s animation system (Animator Controller, Mecanim, blend trees, events)
• An understanding of animation optimization for performance on PC and console
• Familiarity with procedural animation techniques or motion capture cleanup
• Experience with effects timing, hit reaction, or camera shake integration for impact

Submit your Application and Portfolio via Buffalo Buffalo’s Job Application Form

Please note that hiring will be done by Buffalo Buffalo and only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. This opportunity is funded through external sources (e.g., grants and/or partner contributions). Hiring may be delayed, modified, or withdrawn in the event of changes to grant availability or partner commitments.