Game Designer

We are developing Hanzi Heroes, a groundbreaking RPG designed for global Chinese language learners and diaspora families.

This project shatters the framework of traditional educational apps by fusing Chinese linguistic logic with Eastern fantasy, character collection, and deep tactical combat. In this universe, the Chinese characters are the heroes.

With stable funding and a top-tier engineering architecture already in place, we are looking for a highly skilled Senior 2D Game Artist. You will work closely with our Lead Engineer and IP Producer to breathe life, animation, and striking visual impact into a massive roster of heroes and the world they inhabit.

Core Responsibilities

1.Character Concept & "Hero-fication"

• Transform the abstract concepts of Chinese characters into highly collectible, anime-style 2D heroes.
• Visually communicate a character's combat role through their design. For example, a single-stroke character like "一" should look like a swift, lightweight assassin, while a dense, multi-stroke character like "龍" (Dragon) should possess the visual weight of a heavy tank.
• Deliver complete character portraits, sprite sheets, and visual upgrade designs.

2. Animation & VFX Direction

• Design and conceptualize 2D (or 2.5D) combat visual effects, such as elemental bursts, radical synergy combos, and screen-clearing ultimate attacks.
• Outline character animations and stage-clearance victory sequences.
• Collaborate deeply with the Lead Engineer to provide precise animation specifications, fine-tuning the visual impact of "hit-stops" and screen shakes to make combat feel incredibly satisfying.
• Note: You only need to describe the desired effects and provide the base visual assets; the heavy lifting of the animation coding and technical implementation will be handled by our AI-driven engineering pipeline.

3. Game Assets & Environments

• Draft, design, and finalize all overarching in-game environmental assets. This includes creating immersive background images, exploration maps, and the restored cityscapes for the player's hub.

Requirements

Must-Have

• 3-5+ years of experience in 2D game art, concept art, or character design, having shipped at least one mid-to-heavycore mobile game (RPG, Gacha, Anime-style, etc.).
• Top-Tier Anime/ACG Aesthetic: Exceptional grasp of color theory, lighting, and Chibi/anime proportions. Your portfolio must demonstrate strong character appeal and commercial viability.
• Animation Fluency: Highly proficient in Spine 2D or frame-by-frame animation principles.

Nice-to-Have (Bonus Skills)

• AIGC Proficiency: Experience using AI generation tools (Stable Diffusion, Midjourney) as an optional workflow accelerator for concepting or rapid iteration.
• Deep understanding of Chinese typography, calligraphy structures, or Eastern fantasy aesthetics.
• Experience in independent game development, thriving in small, highly agile teams.

Who You Are

• A Visual Storyteller: You don't just draw pretty static images; you understand animation principles and exactly how art serves the gameplay loop.
• A Collaborative Creator: You can accurately interpret world-building briefs and are comfortable having rational, technically grounded discussions with the Lead Engineer regarding rendering performance and asset hand-offs.
• A Passionate Gamer: You understand exactly how a perfectly timed critical hit effect triggers player dopamine, and you are willing to tweak a single animation frame by 0.1 seconds to get it right