WDI Figure Animator Intern, Summer/Fall 2026
About The Position
About the Role & Program Be a part of an innovative team and culture… Walt Disney Imagineering is the creative force that imagines, designs and brings to life all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions and cruise ships worldwide. Working across a spectrum of disciplines that range from creative and conceptual to scientific and technical, Imagineers blend an innovative mixture of storytelling, art, science and technology to create immersive experiences, memorable destinations, and innovative entertainment for families around the globe. The approximate date of this internship is May/June 2026 to December 2026 and will be located in Glendale, CA . What You Will Do As an intern working within WDI Animation you will have the opportunity to work with the team that is a one-stop shop for prototypical design, engineering, manufacturing, assembly, figure finishing, installation, show programming and animation. This is the group that “creates the illusion of life” within our attractions to tell amazing stories! This department includes managers, technical specialists and engineers who provide delivery of high-quality Audio-Animatronics to Disney theme parks that are safe, meet creative intent, and are easily maintainable.
Requirements
- Proficiency in CG character animation
- Being a creative problem solver and an enthusiasm for coming up with inventive solutions
- Ability to function in a dynamic work environment, managing multiple project tasks
- Ability to provide basic technical support for computer graphic animation applications
- Ability to work with limited supervision but be able to integrate inputs from many individuals and work as a team member
- High tolerance for change and changing requirements
- Currently enrolled as a Junior or higher attending an accredited college/university earning a degree majoring in Art, Illustration, Computer Graphics, Animation, Film, Television, Game Development, or related field.
- Be enrolled in an accredited college/university pursuing a degree taking at least one class at time of application posting OR currently participating in a Disney College Program or Disney Internship
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Possess unrestricted work authorization
- Have not completed one year of continual employment on a Disney internship or program.
- Able to provide reliable transportation to/from work
- Must be fully available for the duration of the internship
- Able to provide own housing for the duration of the internship in Glendale, CA
- A portfolio review is required for this position. For full consideration, please include a link to your portfolio on your resume. Applications without a portfolio link on the resume will not be considered a completed application packet and may not be fully considered for the position.
Nice To Haves
- Desired software knowledge/familiarity among several of the following: Maya, MotionBuilder, Z-Brush, MS Excel, Adobe Creative, ShotGrid, Unreal/Unity
- A generalist mindset with the flexibility to contribute across a variety of skills and tasks
Responsibilities
- Work closely with other Show Programmers to operate and maintain Animation & Show Programming system’s highly specialized hardware and software tools
- Assist in creating, debugging, and organizing Audio-Animatronic figures’ digital assets (character sheets, animation data, rigs, ride paths, shots, and/or models)
- Help develop Audio-Animatronics figures’ animation performance and functionality
- Create quality animation for Audio-Animatronics figures with compelling performances that adhere to the requirements of the mechanical system
- Partner with the creative team and overall show programming team to program special effects, audio, animated props and show action equipment
- Organize, secure and maintain show data created by the Animators and Show Programmers
- Learn proprietary software packages
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
