Jim Zhao

About

Real-time character animation/tech art specialist spanning Maya rigging/auto-rigging through UE5 Animation Blueprints, Control Rig (FBIK/IK), and motion matching. Has shipped performance-focused work on an FPS targeting 60 FPS with 20+ AI and motion matching, using Unreal Insights, URO, PCA, and gameplay-tag pruning. Also collaborated on a VR brain-surgery simulation, translating desired vascular behavior into procedural Control Rig spring-based animation via rapid prototyping.

Key Strengths

• End-to-end character animation pipeline from Maya rig/skin to UE5 AnimBP (state machines, blend spaces, layered blending)
• Advanced Control Rig implementation (FBIK, foot IK, look-at) plus post-process fixes for targeted animation repair
• Strong in-engine debugging workflow using Rewind Debugger and Control Rig visual debugging
• Implemented motion matching for an ARPG; managed runtime cost via gameplay-tag-based database pruning and PCA optimization
• Performance optimization on a shipped FPS targeting 60 FPS with 20+ AI using Unreal Insights and Update Rate Optimization
• Delivered pipeline efficiency gains: naming/convention system saving ~70% batch import/renaming time
• Built/optimized Maya auto-rigging tooling saving ~60% rigging time (batch skeleton + basic skinning, modular edit mode)
• Created DCC-to-engine validation and compatibility tooling (deformer/SDK checks; exporting SDK to JSON and recreating in Control Rig)
• Cross-discipline prototyping/iteration with VR team to deliver procedural vascular simulation using spring algorithms

Experience

Education

Skills

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