2026 CG Animation Apprenticeship Program

Join us for an opportunity to experience the art of animation and be a part of Walt Disney Animation Studios. The Talent Development Apprenticeship Program is an immersive experience available for emerging artists.  Under the guidance of a Disney mentor, the Talent Development Apprenticeship Program offers a unique opportunity to hone and understand skills, refine and strengthen key disciplines, and engage in a real-time production environment with mentorship support.

The Animation Apprenticeship Program begins October 2025 at our studio in Burbank, California. The deadline for applications is October 5, 2025 11:59 PM PST.

The Animation Apprenticeship

Animators are responsible for bringing characters to life! As an animation apprentice applicant, your animation reel should demonstrate a strong understanding of acting and animation principles such as timing, clear staging, squash and stretch, anticipation and follow-through, and secondary action. Prior training should include anatomy and solving problems in weight, balance, movement, space, and proportion.

As an Animation Apprentice, your program is structured to introduce you to the art of animation, our studio culture, and our production environment. You will get hands-on experience in the skills and philosophies of our Animation department under the mentorship of Disney artists. You will also have the opportunity to work on craft assignments, present your work to Disney leadership, and receive feedback to enhance your growth and craft.

Am I Eligible To Apply? What We’re Looking For:

• 18 years or older
• Emerging artists with less than 5 years of animation industry experience OR
• Recent graduates – Degree or equivalent experience

To apply for this position you must upload a resume and a single reel no longer than 2 minutes.

Reels/Demonstrated Skills Should Include:

• Acting, Acting, Acting! Demonstrate a versatile range of acting exercises: Dialogue, Pantomime, Narrative-Based Walk Cycle or Weight Exercises
• A focus on different styles of emoting: subtle to broad, comedic to dramatic moments
• A diversity of character personalities to create entertaining, believable, and emotionally-centered performances
• Familiarity and experience in Maya, Presto, or 3d software preferred
• Traditional animation skills encouraged
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

The pay rate for this role in Burbank, CA is $31.85 per hour. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and/or other benefits. To learn more about our benefits visit: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits