Stylized Low-Poly 3D Character Artist for Unreal Engine -Rigging/Animation

I’m looking for an experienced **stylized 3D character artist** for a commercial Unreal Engine game. The immediate need is to create a small number of **original, game-ready playable characters** with strong silhouettes, clean low-poly topology, polished stylized materials, and appropriate LODs. The existing project uses KayKit characters and animations, so experience working with an existing skeleton/animation library, retargeting, rigging, skinning, or adapting animations is strongly preferred. The first engagement will be a **paid character project broken into milestones**, so we can review the concept/model, rigging, animation compatibility, and final Unreal-ready asset before proceeding further. Relevant skills include: * Stylized / low-poly character modeling * Character design * Game-ready topology and optimization * UVs, texturing, and materials * Rigging and skinning * Character animation / retargeting * Unreal Engine asset preparation * LOD creation There may also be follow-on work involving stylized environment assets, modular walls/structures, props, and 2D illustration, but those are separate specialties and are not required for this character role. Strong independent artistic ability is required. AI-generated finished art is not what I am hiring for, but applicants should be comfortable with AI-assisted tools being used appropriately within the broader creative workflow. Transparency about where AI is used is required. **U.S.-based freelancers only.** Please include: * 1–3 examples of stylized game-ready characters you personally created * What parts of each example you personally handled * Any rigging, animation, LOD, wireframe, or Unreal examples * Your current U.S. location * Your availability