diff --git a/com.unity.netcode.gameobjects/CHANGELOG.md b/com.unity.netcode.gameobjects/CHANGELOG.md
index 5ce566967d..38656d18cd 100644
--- a/com.unity.netcode.gameobjects/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/com.unity.netcode.gameobjects/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ Additional documentation and release notes are available at [Multiplayer Documen
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- Fixed memory leak in `NetworkAnimator` on clients where `RpcTarget` groups were not being properly disposed due to incorrect type casting of `ProxyRpcTargetGroup` to `RpcTargetGroup`.
 - Fixed issue when using a client-server topology where a `NetworkList` with owner write permissions was resetting sent time and dirty flags after having been spawned on owning clients that were not the spawn authority. (#3850)
 - Fixed an integer overflow that occurred when configuring a large disconnect timeout with Unity Transport. (#3810)
 
diff --git a/com.unity.netcode.gameobjects/Runtime/Components/NetworkAnimator.cs b/com.unity.netcode.gameobjects/Runtime/Components/NetworkAnimator.cs
index b939717f6d..c8db9b0d47 100644
--- a/com.unity.netcode.gameobjects/Runtime/Components/NetworkAnimator.cs
+++ b/com.unity.netcode.gameobjects/Runtime/Components/NetworkAnimator.cs
@@ -709,7 +709,7 @@ protected virtual bool OnIsServerAuthoritative()
         private static byte[] s_EmptyArray = new byte[] { };
         private List<int> m_ParametersToUpdate;
         private RpcParams m_RpcParams;
-        private RpcTargetGroup m_TargetGroup;
+        private IGroupRpcTarget m_TargetGroup;
         private AnimationMessage m_AnimationMessage;
         private NetworkAnimatorStateChangeHandler m_NetworkAnimatorStateChangeHandler;
 
@@ -762,7 +762,7 @@ public override void OnDestroy()
         {
             SpawnCleanup();
 
-            m_TargetGroup?.Dispose();
+            m_TargetGroup?.Target?.Dispose();
 
             if (m_CachedAnimatorParameters != null && m_CachedAnimatorParameters.IsCreated)
             {
@@ -928,12 +928,12 @@ public override void OnNetworkSpawn()
                 NetworkLog.LogWarningServer($"[{gameObject.name}][{nameof(NetworkAnimator)}] {nameof(Animator)} is not assigned! Animation synchronization will not work for this instance!");
             }
 
-            m_TargetGroup = RpcTarget.Group(new List<ulong>(128), RpcTargetUse.Persistent) as RpcTargetGroup;
+            m_TargetGroup = RpcTarget.Group(new List<ulong>(128), RpcTargetUse.Persistent) as IGroupRpcTarget;
             m_RpcParams = new RpcParams()
             {
                 Send = new RpcSendParams()
                 {
-                    Target = m_TargetGroup
+                    Target = m_TargetGroup?.Target
                 }
             };
 
@@ -1219,7 +1219,7 @@ internal void CheckForAnimatorChanges()
                         }
                         m_TargetGroup.Add(clientId);
                     }
-                    m_RpcParams.Send.Target = m_TargetGroup;
+                    m_RpcParams.Send.Target = m_TargetGroup.Target;
                     SendClientAnimStateRpc(m_AnimationMessage, m_RpcParams);
                 }
             }
@@ -1555,7 +1555,7 @@ private unsafe void SendServerParametersUpdateRpc(ParametersUpdateMessage parame
                     m_TargetGroup.Add(clientId);
                 }
 
-                m_RpcParams.Send.Target = m_TargetGroup;
+                m_RpcParams.Send.Target = m_TargetGroup.Target;
                 m_NetworkAnimatorStateChangeHandler.SendParameterUpdate(parametersUpdate, m_RpcParams);
             }
         }
@@ -1621,7 +1621,7 @@ private void SendServerAnimStateRpc(AnimationMessage animationMessage, RpcParams
                     }
                     m_TargetGroup.Add(clientId);
                 }
-                m_RpcParams.Send.Target = m_TargetGroup;
+                m_RpcParams.Send.Target = m_TargetGroup.Target;
                 m_NetworkAnimatorStateChangeHandler.SendAnimationUpdate(animationMessage, m_RpcParams);
             }
         }