Video game animation startup Mixamo has launched with a $4 million first round of funding led by Granite Ventures and Keynote Ventures. The S.F.-based startup is backed by Nazim Kareemi and Stefano Corazza, a pair of Stanford alums with experience developing 3D and motion-capture technology.

Kareemi will serve as CEO, with Corazza as CTO. The company has been in stealth mode since last year; it plans to offer a self-serve video game animation service that lets developers drag and drop features into their games, complete with customizable skins. The platform could be a boon to indie developers trying to get casual, social or mobile games off the ground quickly.

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