UI Animator

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI Animator

Company: SuperPlay

Location: Tel Aviv-Yafo, Tel Aviv District, Israel

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Game Operations & Creative Production

Date Posted: May 03, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is critical for enhancing the user experience in mobile games through dynamic and engaging UI animations, directly contributing to player retention and satisfaction.

• The UI Animator will be instrumental in visualizing and prototyping new game features, ensuring they are both technically feasible and aesthetically compelling within the game's ecosystem.

• Collaboration with cross-functional teams, including game designers, artists, and producers, is a key aspect of this role, focusing on seamless integration of animated elements into the game's production pipeline.

• The position requires a strong understanding of animation principles and their application to interactive user interfaces, aiming to create intuitive and visually appealing player journeys.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "UI Animator," the responsibilities clearly indicate a broader motion design role within game development, encompassing UI, VFX, and general gameplay prototyping. The emphasis on "telling a good story" and "breathing life into icons, titles, symbols, and effects" points to a creative motion designer rather than a purely UI-focused animator. This role is positioned within the creative production facet of game operations, focusing on the aesthetic and interactive elements that drive user engagement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with the Animation Lead, Producer, and Art Director to ensure animated elements align with the game's overall vision, technical constraints, and production timelines.

• Visualize and prototype future game features through techniques such as gameplay prototyping, storyboarding, animatics, previs, blocking, and posing to communicate concepts effectively.

• Work in close partnership with 2D artists and technical leads to address production constraints and ensure animations are optimized for mobile game environments.

• Create high-quality, believable animations for UI elements, special effects (VFX), and in-game assets, and directly integrate these assets into the game engine.

• Stay abreast of the latest animation techniques, tools, and industry trends to continuously innovate and elevate the quality and engagement of SuperPlay's mobile games.

• Develop and refine animation style guides and best practices to ensure consistency across the game's UI and visual elements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a proactive role in feature visualization and prototyping, which is crucial for GTM (Go-To-Market) readiness. By early involvement in feature design and animation, the UI Animator contributes to a smoother development cycle and ensures that user-facing elements are polished and engaging from the outset, impacting player acquisition and retention strategies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a background in Digital Art, Animation, Graphic Design, or a related field is highly recommended, demonstrating a foundational understanding of visual principles.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in motion graphics design, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality, engaging visual content and VFX.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe After Effects: Essential for creating complex motion graphics, UI animations, and visual effects.

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop: Crucial for asset creation, manipulation, and preparation for animation.

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Premiere: Useful for creating animatics, storyboards, and video presentations of animated sequences.

• Strong understanding of the 12 principles of animation: Fundamental for creating fluid, believable, and impactful motion.

• Experience with VFX creation: Ability to design and implement visual effects that enhance gameplay and user experience.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills: Ability to articulate ideas, provide constructive feedback, and work effectively within cross-functional teams (art, design, production, tech).

• Detail-oriented: Meticulous attention to detail in animation execution, asset integration, and project management.

• Highly motivated and organized: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and maintain a high standard of work.

• Strong sense of ownership: Taking responsibility for animated assets from concept to integration.

• Passion for games: Deep familiarity and enthusiasm for casual and mobile games, understanding player expectations and engagement drivers.

Preferred Skills:

• 1+ year of production experience in the mobile game industry: Direct experience with the unique challenges and workflows of mobile game development.

• Knowledge of Unity: Experience integrating animations into the Unity game engine.

• Knowledge of Spine: Proficiency with 2D skeletal animation software commonly used in game development.

• Knowledge of Maya: Familiarity with 3D animation software, potentially for more complex asset creation or previs.

• Experience with gameplay prototyping and storyboarding tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 3+ years of experience and specific software proficiencies positions this as a mid-level role. The "Bonus" skills like Unity, Spine, and Maya suggest a preference for candidates who can contribute beyond just UI animation, potentially assisting with broader game asset animation and integration, which is valuable for operational efficiency in game development.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a breadth of motion graphics experience: Showcase a range of UI animations, VFX, and character/asset animations if applicable, highlighting versatility.

• Highlight problem-solving through animation: Include case studies or examples where animation was used to solve a specific user experience challenge or improve engagement metrics.

• Showcase integration into a game context (if possible): Examples of animations integrated into a game engine or a simulated game environment are highly valued, demonstrating practical application.

• Evidence of prototyping and visualization: Include storyboards, animatics, or previs examples that illustrate the process of visualizing and refining animation concepts.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow design and optimization: Be prepared to discuss how you approach the animation pipeline, from initial concept to final implementation, and how you identify areas for efficiency.

• Implementation and automation methods: Discuss your experience with integrating animations into game engines (like Unity) and any methods you've used to streamline or automate animation tasks.

• Measurement and performance analysis: While direct measurement might be the responsibility of others, be ready to discuss how your animations contribute to key performance indicators (KPIs) like player retention, session length, or conversion rates, and how you would assess their effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a creative role like this, the portfolio is paramount. It serves as the primary "process and systems" demonstration, showcasing not just the output but the candidate's understanding of the development lifecycle and their ability to integrate animated assets effectively within a production system. The emphasis should be on demonstrating how their work directly supports game objectives and player experience.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on Israeli market standards for a mid-level Motion Designer/UI Animator with 3+ years of experience in the gaming industry, the estimated annual salary range would be ₪180,000 - ₪280,000 (approximately $48,000 - $75,000 USD, depending on exchange rates). This range accounts for the cost of living in Tel Aviv and the specialized skills required.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Including medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Stock Options/Equity: Potential for ownership in a rapidly growing company.

• Competitive Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Professional Development Budget: For courses, workshops, conferences (e.g., GDC, SIGGRAPH), and learning resources.

• On-site Perks: Potentially including catered meals, snacks, and beverages, fostering a collaborative work environment.

• Game Room/Recreation Area: Reflecting the company's focus on gaming and employee well-being.

• Team-Building Events: Regular social activities and company-sponsored events.

Working Hours: Standard full-time work hours are typically around 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, there may be flexibility for occasional remote work or adjusted hours depending on project needs and team agreements, though the primary expectation is on-site presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on research of similar roles in Tel Aviv, Israel, considering the tech and gaming industry landscape. Benefits are inferred from typical offerings at successful, growing tech/gaming companies in the region. The "On-site" nature of the role is a key factor influencing potential workspace benefits and daily routines.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Mobile Gaming (Casual Games). SuperPlay is focused on creating highly engaging and delightful casual mobile games, positioning itself as a significant player with its successful title "Dice Dreams" and promising new ventures like "Domino Dreams." This industry focus means a fast-paced, iterative development environment driven by player engagement and monetization metrics.

Company Size: Growing. Founded in 2019, the company has expanded significantly, indicating a dynamic environment with opportunities for growth and impact, moving from a startup phase to a more established player.

Founded: 2019. This relatively recent founding means the company has a modern approach to technology and culture, likely influenced by experienced professionals from established gaming giants like Playtika and Rovio.

Team Structure:

• Creative & Art Department: The UI Animator will likely be part of a larger Art or Creative team, working alongside 2D artists, animators, UI/UX designers, and potentially VFX artists.

• Reporting Structure: The role reports to an Animation Lead or Art Director, with close collaboration with Game Producers and Game Designers.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working with game designers to understand feature mechanics, producers for project timelines, and technical leads for integration challenges.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Iteration: Game development, especially in the casual mobile space, is heavily reliant on data. Expect a culture of A/B testing, player feedback analysis, and iterative design based on performance metrics.

• Agile Development: Likely employs agile methodologies for rapid development cycles, requiring flexibility and quick adaptation to changes.

• Player-Centric Design: A core focus on creating enjoyable and accessible experiences for a broad player base.

Company Website: https://www.superplay.co/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's history, founded by veterans from Playtika and Rovio, suggests a culture that blends innovation with proven industry best practices. The focus on casual games implies a need for visually appealing, intuitive, and highly polished user experiences, making the UI Animator's role directly impactful on the product's success.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This UI Animator role is classified as Mid-Level. It requires a solid foundation of technical skills and experience (3+ years) and involves significant collaboration and direct contribution to game features rather than solely executing directives. The role has the potential to grow into a Senior UI Animator, Lead Animator, or even a broader Motion Design Lead position.

Reporting Structure: The UI Animator will report to an Animation Lead or Art Director. This structure provides mentorship and guidance from experienced creative professionals while allowing for direct contribution to project goals. Collaboration extends to Producers and Game Designers, exposing the candidate to different facets of game development.

Operations Impact: The UI Animator's work directly impacts the player's perception of game quality, usability, and overall enjoyment. Engaging animations can:

• Improve player retention by making the game more visually appealing and intuitive.

• Enhance user satisfaction through smooth, responsive, and delightful interactions.

• Contribute to the game's "fun factor" and overall polish, differentiating it from competitors.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific animation techniques, VFX, or game engine integration (Unity, Spine).

• Leadership Development: Progress to a Senior Animator role, mentoring junior team members, or potentially leading animation efforts on new projects.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience in game design, UI/UX principles, and production management through close collaboration.

• Industry Engagement: Opportunities to attend industry conferences (e.g., GDC) and stay connected with the latest trends in game animation and VFX.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth analysis emphasizes how this role fits into the broader operational success of a game studio. By developing engaging UI and visual elements, the animator directly contributes to player engagement and retention, key metrics for any GTM strategy in the mobile gaming sector.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company is headquartered in Tel Aviv, and the job description explicitly states an "On-site" work arrangement. This suggests a traditional office environment designed for collaboration and team synergy.

Office Location(s): Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. This location is a hub for technology and gaming companies, offering a vibrant professional ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect an open or semi-open office layout conducive to spontaneous discussions and teamwork between animators, artists, designers, and producers.

• Tools & Technology: Access to high-performance workstations equipped with industry-standard creative software (Adobe Creative Suite) and potentially game development tools (Unity, Spine).

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for in-person collaboration, brainstorming sessions, and critique meetings to refine animated assets.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time office hours (approximately 40 hours/week) are expected. While the primary arrangement is on-site, the company culture might allow for some flexibility in specific circumstances, but consistent in-office presence is key for collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement is a significant factor for candidates. It implies a company culture that values in-person teamwork, direct communication, and the spontaneous creative energy that comes from shared physical space, which is often beneficial for creative production roles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A deep dive into your portfolio with the Animation Lead or Art Director, discussing your process, technical skills, and problem-solving approaches. This may include specific animation challenges.

• Art Test/Challenge: A practical assignment to assess your ability to create specific animations within given constraints, reflecting the company's style and technical needs.

• Team/Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Producers, Game Designers, or other team members to evaluate collaboration skills and understanding of game development workflows.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and company vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase UI animation, VFX, and motion graphics relevant to mobile games.

• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the challenge, your approach, the tools used, and the final outcome. Include storyboards, animatics, or WIPs where appropriate.

• Highlight Impact: If possible, quantify the impact of your animations (e.g., improved engagement, user feedback).

• Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your workflow, asset integration, and optimization for mobile performance.

• Adaptability: Demonstrate your ability to adapt to different art styles and project requirements.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Game: Research SuperPlay's existing games (Dice Dreams, Domino Dreams) to grasp their art style, UI complexity, and animation aesthetic.

• Animation Principles: Refresh your knowledge of the 12 principles of animation and be ready to apply them to UI elements.

• Technical Constraints: Consider common mobile game optimization challenges (frame rate, file size, performance) and how to address them in animation.

• Communication: Practice articulating your creative choices and technical decisions clearly and concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio and potential art test is standard for creative roles. The advice focuses on tailoring the portfolio to the specific needs of a mobile game studio and preparing for a process that tests both technical animation skills and creative problem-solving within a collaborative production environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe After Effects: The core tool for motion graphics and UI animation. Expect to use its extensive features for keyframing, expressions, shape layers, and potentially plugins.

• Adobe Photoshop: Essential for creating, editing, and optimizing UI assets, textures, and graphical elements that will be animated.

• Adobe Premiere: Useful for creating animatics, storyboards, and presenting animation sequences or concepts.

Game Engine & Integration Tools:

• Unity: A primary game engine for mobile development. Experience integrating animations into Unity is highly desirable, including understanding how to set up animation controllers, timelines, and particle systems.

• Spine: A popular 2D skeletal animation tool. Proficiency here allows for more efficient, data-driven animations that are optimized for real-time game use.

• Maya/3D Software (Bonus): While not strictly required, familiarity with 3D animation software could be beneficial for certain types of assets or previs work.

Other Potential Tools:

• Version Control Systems: Such as Git, for managing assets and collaborating with the development team.

• Project Management Software: Tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for tracking tasks and project progress.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of After Effects, Photoshop, and Premiere, along with the bonus of Unity, Spine, and Maya, clearly defines the expected technical toolkit for this role. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate proficiency in these areas, particularly in how they integrate animated assets into a game engine for real-time performance.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Player-Centricity: A deep commitment to creating enjoyable and engaging experiences for players, with all creative decisions ultimately serving player satisfaction and retention.

• Excellence in Craft: A dedication to producing high-quality, polished animations and visual effects that meet industry-leading standards in mobile gaming.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A belief in the power of collective effort, encouraging open communication, constructive feedback, and mutual support across all departments.

• Innovation & Adaptability: A forward-thinking mindset that embraces new techniques, tools, and creative approaches to stay ahead in the competitive mobile game market.

• Data-Informed Creativity: While creativity is paramount, decisions are often informed by performance data and player feedback to ensure animations contribute positively to game objectives.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: A close working relationship between art, design, production, and tech teams, ensuring that creative vision is aligned with technical feasibility and business goals.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: A culture where assets are regularly reviewed, critiqued, and refined based on feedback from peers, leads, and potentially playtesting results.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement for team members to share techniques, tools, and insights to foster collective growth and improve overall team efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values align with typical successful game development studios, emphasizing player experience, quality, and collaborative execution. For an operations professional, understanding these values helps in navigating team dynamics and aligning personal work with broader company objectives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Artistry with Technical Constraints: Creating visually stunning animations that also perform optimally on mobile devices requires careful optimization and resource management.

• Rapid Iteration Cycles: The fast-paced nature of mobile game development means frequent changes and the need to adapt animations quickly to evolving game designs and features.

• Maintaining Visual Consistency: Ensuring that animations align with the established art style and brand identity across various game elements and updates.

• Integrating into Existing Pipelines: Adapting to SuperPlay's specific development workflows and toolchains, especially if new to their established processes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastering Game Engine Integration: Gaining in-depth experience with Unity or other game engines for real-time animation implementation.

• Exploring Advanced Animation Techniques: Learning new workflows, software, or specialized animation styles (e.g., procedural animation, character rigging for games).

• Contributing to Core Game Features: Having a direct impact on the player experience by animating key game mechanics, UI flows, and monetization events.

• Mentorship from Experienced Professionals: Learning from senior animators and art directors within a company founded by industry veterans.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying challenges helps candidates prepare for potential hurdles and demonstrate their problem-solving skills. The growth opportunities highlight the potential for career advancement and skill enhancement within SuperPlay's dynamic game development environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to animate a UI element that was technically challenging to implement. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus: Problem-solving, technical execution, collaboration)

• "How do you ensure your animations are engaging and contribute positively to player retention in a mobile game context?" (Focus: Player-centricity, understanding of game KPIs, creative strategy)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you specifically about SuperPlay and our games like Dice Dreams?" (Focus: Research, genuine interest, cultural alignment)

• "How do you approach receiving and giving constructive feedback on creative work?" (Focus: Collaboration, teamwork, professional development)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, frame it as a narrative: the challenge, your solution (the animation), and the result.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use video clips of your animations. For complex projects, include brief explanations of your process (storyboards, animatics, software used).

• Quantify Impact (if possible): Mention any metrics or feedback that demonstrate the effectiveness of your animations.

• Be Prepared to Discuss Technical Aspects: Explain your workflow, optimization considerations for mobile, and integration into game engines.

• Highlight Collaboration: If projects involved teamwork, explain your role and how you collaborated with others.

📝 Enhancement Note: These interview questions and preparation tips are designed to help candidates anticipate what SuperPlay might look for, focusing on technical animation skills, creative problem-solving, understanding of the mobile gaming industry, and collaborative abilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UI Animator position:

• Submit your application through the Comeet application link provided.

• Customize your resume: Highlight specific achievements and quantify your impact where possible, using keywords from the job description such as "motion graphics design," "Adobe After Effects," "UI animation," "VFX," and "mobile games."

• Prepare your portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (link provided on your resume or application) and showcases your strongest UI animation, motion graphics, and VFX work, tailored to the mobile gaming context. Be ready to discuss your process and technical choices.

• Research SuperPlay: Familiarize yourself with their games (Dice Dreams, Domino Dreams) to understand their art style, UI, and overall player experience. This will help you tailor your application and prepare for interviews.

• Practice articulating your creative process: Be ready to discuss how you approach animation challenges, collaborate with teams, and integrate your work into a game development pipeline.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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