Unreal Engine Cinematic Generalist — Animated Character Shorts

About the Position

Unreal Engine Cinematic Generalist - Animated Character Shorts

Rippaverse Publishing is an independent comic book publisher founded in 2022. We've done over $15 million in direct-to-consumer sales, we own our IP outright, and as of July 2026 our books are distributed nationally through Hachette Book Group into Target, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble.

Our audience funded this animation initiative directly. 839 backers, both goals met. They are waiting on the results and they are loud about it. Whoever takes this on will have work seen by a large, engaged audience that already cares about these characters.

The work

Short character showcase clips - 10 to 15 seconds each. Think fighting-game character reveal: the character enters, throws a few moves, hits a finishing pose. One to four shots per clip. High impact, tightly cut, built to stop a thumb mid-scroll.

These are not short films. There's no dialogue, no story beat, no narrative arc. Each clip is a self-contained showcase of one character in motion.

We need these in volume and on a repeating cadence.

What you'd own per clip

• Camera and shot composition
• Character animation, or polish on an existing pass
• Lighting and look development
• FX
• Rendering and final delivery

Sound design and music are handled separately. You don't need to cover audio.

What already exists

This is not a from-scratch build. We have:

• Rigged, textured 3D character models for two lead characters
• An established Unreal Engine 5 project - materials, textures, sequences, VFX
• Maya animation scenes (.ma) with a first animation pass already complete
• Finished reference renders from a prior pass
• 2D character model sheets and full design reference
• Published comics establishing the characters, tone, and world

Some clips will be a polish pass on animation that already exists. Others will need new choreography built on the existing rigs. No character creation or asset building is required.

Responsibilities

• Create animated character shorts in Unreal Engine 5
• Polish existing animations or create new choreography
• Ensure high-impact, tightly cut clips that showcase character motion
• Work from written direction and reference

Requirements

• Unreal Engine 5 - Sequencer and Movie Render Queue specifically
• Maya-to-Unreal pipeline experience
• Action and combat animation in your reel. Weight, impact, and timing are the whole job at this length. We need to see that you can land a hit.
• Stylized rendering sensibility. Our characters are comic IP, not photoreal.
• Ability to turn a clip around on a predictable schedule
• Comfortable working from written direction and reference

Nice to Have

• Fighting game, anime, or action-trailer work
• Niagara FX
• Your own trailer or Steam-page work as a solo dev
• Comics or action-genre taste

We Offer

• Per clip: 10–15 seconds. $1,500–$4,000 depending on whether we're polishing existing animation or building new choreography, and on FX load.
• First engagement: one clip, paid at full rate. This is a real deliverable we intend to publish, not a test piece. It lets us both see how the collaboration works before scaling up.
• Ongoing: we want many of these. If the first clip lands, we'll discuss batch pricing and a standing cadence.
• Day rate arrangements considered. Tell us what you prefer.

How to Apply

Send your application to email to [email protected]. Include:

• Your reel or portfolio link. Timestamp the action or combat work.
• Breakdown material for at least one piece - wireframes, lighting passes, AOV or layer breakdowns, blocking-to-final progression, or a Sequencer screenshot. This is required. Applications without it won't be reviewed.
• Your current availability and what else you're committed to over the next six months.
• Your rate, structured however you normally work.
• How long a 10–15 second clip typically takes you, start to delivery.
• One sentence on what you'd change about a piece of existing animation we'd send you.

About the Company

Rippaverse Publishing is an independent comic book company dedicated to high-quality storytelling, compelling characters, and a strong, interconnected universe. Founded by Eric July, Rippaverse launched with the record-breaking release of Isom #1, selling over 220,000 copies and generating over $10 million in sales, all while maintaining full creative and distribution control.

At Rippaverse, we believe in authentic storytelling, respecting the medium, and delivering stories directly to fans-without corporate interference. Our growing universe is built on continuity, deep lore, and dynamic world-building, making it a fresh alternative for comic book fans looking for something new.

In addition to comics, we are expanding into manga, animation, and creator-owned publishing through RippaSend, allowing more independent creators to bring their visions to life.

Whether you're an artist, writer, or fan, Rippaverse is here to redefine what independent publishing can be.