VFX Artist (Stylized / Anime Focus)
Art / Tokyo, Japan
Experience Level
Must have contributed to at least one shipped game title in a VFX role
About the Role
As a VFX Artist at Savage Astronaut, you will help define the visual language of combat and gameplay. Your work will bring impact, emotion, and readability to the player experience while supporting a grounded, anime-inspired art direction.
We are looking for an artist who appreciates the craft of hand-drawn animation and understands how to bring that sensibility into a real-time game. This role is about creating effects with intention, personality, and strong visual communication.
You will work closely with art, animation, design, and engineering to create effects that feel expressive, readable, and deeply integrated into the game’s visual identity.
You Will
Create real-time visual effects for combat, abilities, movement, environments, and gameplay feedback
Develop stylized effects inspired by hand-drawn animation, anime, and traditional effects animation principles
Work closely with animation and game design to support timing, anticipation, impact, and gameplay readability
Collaborate closely with the Art Director and Creative Direction to ensure visual effects reinforce the themes, storytelling, and identity of the world
Create textures, flipbooks, materials, and supporting assets for effects production
Prototype and iterate on effects based on artistic direction, gameplay needs, and player feedback
Collaborate with technical artists and engineers to ensure effects are performant and scalable
Help define the visual language and VFX standards of the project
We’re Looking For Someone Who
Has a strong artistic eye for timing, motion, shape language, and visual communication
Understands the principles of traditional effects animation and how they translate into real-time games
Is passionate about anime, hand-drawn effects, and stylized visual storytelling
Can create effects that enhance gameplay readability rather than overwhelm it
Understands how visual effects contribute to player feedback and game feel
Brings ideas and artistic vision, not just execution
Can clearly communicate intent and collaborate across disciplines
Is proactive, communicative, and comfortable taking ownership
Bonus Points
Experience working on competitive PvP games
Experience creating anime-inspired or hand-drawn-style VFX
Experience with flipbook animation and frame-by-frame effects workflows
Experience working on action games, shooters, or combat-heavy titles
Experience with Unreal Engine Niagara
Experience creating stylized shaders and materials for VFX
Traditional animation, illustration, or motion graphics background
Required Documents
CV
Portfolio (must include design work and process)
Work Samples
CV should include:
Projects you have worked on, with your specific VFX contributions clearly described
Tools and engines used, and how you used them
Experience collaborating with animation, art, design, and engineering teams
Please also include (if available):
VFX breakdowns showing textures, materials, flipbooks, and implementation process
Before/after iterations demonstrating artistic problem solving
Examples of stylized, anime-inspired, or hand-crafted effects work
Employment Status
Contract Employee (possibility of promotion to Permanent Employee)
Location
Hybrid / Tokyo, Japan
Work Hours
10:00 – 19:00 or Discretionary Labor System
Standard hours begin at 10:00, but exact working style will be discussed individually
Salary
Annual Salary (Negotiable)
Compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, and our internal salary framework
Benefits
Social Insurance
Transportation Expenses Covered
Salary Review System
Annual Health Checkups
Corporate Defined Contribution Pension Plan (for permanent employees)
Interested in this role and think you’re a good fit? Apply below!
