Rive state-machine animator needed — 2 game characters, 6 poses each, React-ready output

Project Overview
Body Beat Space is an educational rhythm app for classrooms (web, Next.js/React). One of the game modes — "Do Not Wake the Admiral" — is a stealth/volume-control mini-game where students must stay quiet while a character sleeps. The louder the class, the more the character wakes up. When the noise meter hits 100%, the mission fails.

We need a skilled Rive animator to rig two flat-vector characters and build a state machine for each. The state machine will be driven at runtime by our React app — we control which state is active, you build the rig and the transitions.

This is a technical animation brief, not an illustration brief. We supply the finished art. You rig, animate, and wire the state machine.

What We Supply
- Full-body character art for both characters in Adobe Illustrator (.ai) and SVG format
- Layer-separated source files with named groups for each body part
- This spec document (with complete technical requirements)
- A minimal Vite + React app will be provided. It includes a stage slider (0–5) and a Mission Failed toggle wired to the state machine inputs.


Ideal Candidate
- Demonstrated experience rigging 2D characters in Rive (please share portfolio examples or a public .riv file)
- Familiarity with Rive state machines (not just timelines)
- Comfortable receiving layered vector art and separating it into a rig
- Communicates clearly on what layer prep is needed from our side before rigging begins

Questions to Answer in Your Proposal
- Have you built Rive state machines driven by external runtime inputs (not just keyframe timelines)?
- Can you share a .riv file or Rive community link showing character animation you have done?
- What layer/group naming conventions do you need us to follow in the source files?
- Do you need the art cleaned up or re-organized before you can rig, or can you handle that as part of the work?
- What is your estimated timeline for M1–M3?