Summer Intern - Character Technical Director

Job Description

2023 Character TD Summer Internship

The Internship Program

Have you wondered how your skills and talents could translate into the world of Animation? Our internship program dives into the craft, technology and operations behind our animated films while developing your skills and connecting you to industry mentors. You'll learn what it means to be a part of a collaborative team and how your unique talents can grow within our studio. Find yourself immersed in hands-on projects and learning guided by our artists, technologists and production leaders.

Walt Disney Animation Studios Summer Internship Program is a 12 week paid experience designed for students studying art, animation, computer graphics, and film. The 2023 Summer Intern program begins May 2023. Please note, the safety and well-being of our teams is very important to us. We will be determining whether this program will be in-person at our Burbank, CA studio or virtual in the coming months based on government recommendations.

The deadline for applications is January 15, 2023, 11:59 PM PST.

Am I Eligible?
• 18 years or older
• Enrolled in a post-high school educational program (Community College, College, University, Trade, Online School, or equivalent) and returning back to the program for at least one semester post internship.

For our 2023 programs, we are committed to providing mentorship and development. Walt Disney Animation Studios' production internship program provides emerging talent with an immersive view of Animation through educational seminars on craft and filmmaking, and individual and collective projects.

The Character TD Internship

The role of a Character TD at Disney Animation includes Technical Animation (also known as Creature Dev, Character Finaling, or Character Effects), Simulation Setup, and Rigging. Each craft is highly collaborative and viewed as both a technical and an artistic role.

To apply for this position you must upload a resume and a single reel of no longer than 2 minutes that demonstrates your understanding or passion for Anatomy, Tailoring, Cloth in Motion, Hair in Motion, Simulation, and/or Rigging with a reel breakdown (if a breakdown is applicable). All examples should be in the context of performance and demonstrate your sense of appeal.

Examples of Character Simulation May Include:
• Cloth simulation rigs that demonstrate an understanding of tailoring and fabric quality under a broad range of motion
• Hair simulation rigs that demonstrate an understanding of groom structure and hair texture quality under a broad range of motion
• An intuitive interface for working with simulation rigs
• An understanding of the principles of animation and how they apply to simulation
• An understanding of creating appeal in cloth and hair motion
• Creative problem solving ability
• Examples of art-directed simulations
• Demonstration of real world tailoring and/or hair styling knowledge

Examples of Rigging May Include:
• Multiple rig examples that demonstrate appealing articulation through the motion and performance of a character or item, please do not just wiggle your controls or distort your rig without purpose
• An intuitive, animator-friendly interface for interacting with and posing characters or elements to be animated
• An understanding of anatomy and design principles, realistic and/or stylized
• An understanding of collaboration with animators in the development and use of a rig
• Creative problem solving ability in creation of a rig and addressing animators' needs
Other skills may include:
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment and take direction well
• Working knowledge of CG software such as Maya
• Interest in fashion design software such as Marvelous Designer is a plus
• Scripting in MEL, Python, or C++ is a plus
• Tool development examples
• Knowledge of Linux
• Supplemental fine art portfolio of drawing or sculpture that demonstrates understanding of anatomy, design, cloth in motion and/or hair in motion

How to Apply:
• Create or update your profile and apply online
• Resume with month and year of expected graduation date
• Portfolio in PDF and/or website (don't forget to include your password, if applicable)

Deadline for applications is January 15, 2023 at 11:59 PM PST.

The pay rate for this internship in Burbank, CA is $21.20 per hour.

WDAS continues to build on its rich legacy of innovation and creativity, from the first fully-animated feature film, 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to 2019's Frozen 2, the biggest animated film of all time, to our 60th animated feature, Encanto, releasing November 2021. Among the studio's timeless creations are Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Frozen, Big Hero 6 and Zootopia.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-g3m0xx-3-12-123-254-42 in your application.