I am a senior gameplay animator and character rigging artist with 25+ years bridging 3D software and game engines. I specialize in character creation pipelines from concept through engine integration, and I enjoy exploring efficient hybrid AI/manual workflows to keep artistic control and technical precision. In my work, I lead teams, mentor peers, and teach across institutions, always pushing for optimized pipelines and high-quality animation for games, VR/AR, and cinematic projects.…

Oliver Stephan

I am a senior gameplay animator and character rigging artist with 25+ years bridging 3D software and game engines. I specialize in character creation pipelines from concept through engine integration, and I enjoy exploring efficient hybrid AI/manual workflows to keep artistic control and technical precision. In my work, I lead teams, mentor peers, and teach across institutions, always pushing for optimized pipelines and high-quality animation for games, VR/AR, and cinematic projects.…

Available to hire

I am a senior gameplay animator and character rigging artist with 25+ years bridging 3D software and game engines. I specialize in character creation pipelines from concept through engine integration, and I enjoy exploring efficient hybrid AI/manual workflows to keep artistic control and technical precision.

In my work, I lead teams, mentor peers, and teach across institutions, always pushing for optimized pipelines and high-quality animation for games, VR/AR, and cinematic projects.

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Skills

Experience Level

Language

German
Fluent
English
Fluent

Work Experience

Senior Game Play Animator – Rigging, all disciplines at Moon Gaming
January 1, 2023 - March 31, 2026
Interface between Blender and Unity; character animation for upcoming Moon Gaming project; lecturer on efficient hybrid AI/manual workflows with Leonardo, Tipo, Hunyuan; engine integration.
Senior Animator – Rigging, Character Animation at Gamigo
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Rigging, character animation; maintain quality standards across multiple game titles.
Head of Character & Animation at BEAM Cross Realities
January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022
Character development, animation, rigging, and art direction for VR/AR projects. Led team mentorship and pipeline optimization.
Lead Character Animator & Rigger at Spides
January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019
Lead character animation and rigging for TV project Spides.
Character Animator at The True Film
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020
Character animation for VR project The True Film.
3D Layout Artist at Die Rückkehr der Heinzelmännchen
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018
3D layout artist for the project Die Rückkehr der Heinzelmännchen.
Lead Animation at Mullewapp
January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2016
Lead animation for Mullewapp project (2013–2016).
Lead Animation at Laura's Traum Monster & Laura's Stern
January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2010
Lead animation for Laura's Traum Monster and Laura's Stern projects (2008–2010).
Senior Character Animator & Rigger at Drakensang Online (Bigpoint Berlin)
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2011
Senior character animator and rigger for Drakensang Online; multi-title work across VR/CG pipelines.
Independent Project / Personal Project Lead at o Ossels Odyssey
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Release: o Ossels Odyssey (2025, Steam/Itch/Android); personal game exploring advanced animation systems; AI-assisted character generation and experimental design.
Lecturer / Instructor at Multiple institutions (Media Design Hochschule Berlin; Games Academy; Technische Hochschule Brandenburg; SRH Hochschule Berlin; IU)
January 1, 2013 - Present
Lecturing and mentoring across multiple institutions on 3D character creation pipelines; AI-assisted workflows; student training.

Education

Postgraduate at Academy of Media Arts Cologne
January 1, 2002 - January 1, 2004
Degree in Communication Design at Hochschule Niederrhein
January 1, 1996 - January 1, 2002
Graphic Technical Assistant (Apprenticeship) at Graphic Technical Assistant
January 1, 1993 - January 1, 1996

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Gaming, Software & Internet

Skills

Experience Level