Character Concept Artist (Anime)

TL;DR

Character Concept Artist (Anime/Game Art): Designing iconic, anime-inspired characters that blend 80s nostalgia with modern game design for production-ready assets. Focus on silhouette design, expressive character storytelling, and translating retro aesthetics into 3D-compatible visual guides.

Location: Must be based in Tokyo, Japan (Hybrid)

Company

hirify.global is a creative studio where art, technology, and storytelling collide to build games that connect players globally.

What you will do

• Define and uphold the stylistic pillars of an 80s anime-inspired aesthetic, balancing retro authenticity with gameplay readability.
• Lead the end-to-end visual development of the main cast, supporting characters, and key NPCs from narrative briefs to final concept packages.
• Establish character hierarchy through silhouette, scale, color logic, and costuming.
• Produce high-quality deliverables including exploration sheets, orthographic turnarounds, expression sheets, and pose sheets.
• Collaborate with Art Directors, Narrative, 3D, and Tech Art teams to ensure seamless translation of designs into 3D.
• Provide paint-overs and corrective feedback to maintain intended proportions and style.

Requirements

• Must be based in Tokyo, Japan.
• Deep understanding of 1980s anime aesthetics, including line weight, color palettes, and facial stylization.
• 5+ years of professional experience in game development, animation, or related entertainment industries.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in stylized anime or anime-inspired character design.
• Exceptional draftsmanship, anatomy, gesture, and fabric rendering skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, or Procreate.

Nice to have

• Experience working with Japanese studios or on anime-influenced projects.
• Knowledge of 3D character pipelines (Maya, Blender, ZBrush) and real-time engine constraints.
• Ability to work comfortably in an English and Japanese bilingual environment.
• Understanding of narrative-driven character development.

Culture & Benefits

• Flexible arrangement options: open to both short-term contracts and employee status.
• Collaborative and humble team culture with a focus on ownership and responsibility.
• Supportive recruitment process focused on candidate accessibility and comfort.
• Opportunity to work at the intersection of art, technology, and storytelling.