Pixar Art Department Intern – Summer 2026

Please read through this job description thoroughly before applying. There are submission requirements that will knock you out of the candidate pool if not included. Imagine getting a script page with a description of a decrepit old house in the midst of a charming neighborhood. What type of architecture conveys the spooky mood of the house? What colors show its age and what the house once was before all of the decay? What type of lighting will make the audience a little bit nervous while still giving the viewer clarity around where the front door is located? Is the type font on the welcome mat trying to tell us something about what’s about to happen? What does a little girl look like who’s brave enough to knock on the front door but too scared to do so without her hands shaking? If you think it would be fun and interesting to answer these types of questions with your drawings, then perhaps an internship in the Pixar Art Department is for you! There are four major disciplines within our Art Department. Here are some descriptions to pique your interest: Character Design: Determines what the characters of our films will look like and explores their personalities Set Design: Designs the world and environments where our stories take place Color / Shading / Lighting Design: Explores mood, emotion and character/world textures all through color Graphic Design: Uses typography and design to add details that bring story and authenticity to our films Note: These are four unique areas of specialization and you must include a cover letter with your portfolio submission and resume ranking them from 1 (you are most skilled/interested) to 4 (you are least skilled/interested).

During our 12-week Summer Internship, Art Interns will work in collaboration with mentors and the Art Department gaining valuable feature film experience. As an intern, you will do the following:

• Gain knowledge about the Pixar production process and pipeline through classes, collaboration and mentorship
• Research and collect reference materials to inspire your designs and techniques
• Practice your skill in various disciplines via hands on creation of art under the guidance of a mentor from the art department
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• You have an interest in visual storytelling, showing your strengths in illustration, drawing, painting, animation and/or graphic design
• Enjoy working collaboratively
• Possess a working knowledge of Photoshop
• Can share a link to your portfolio of minimally 10-20 images
• You have a positive outlook and a strong work ethic
• You are in a phase of learning through a traditional or non-traditional path (see eligibility below)
• You already possess the legal right to work in the United States
• This is a full-time position. You must be available to work on-site Mon 6.1.26 – Fri 8.21.26

Eligibility:

Traditional Academic Paths: 

• Minimally a junior in college working towards a degree or certificate in animation, illustration, film or a related field
• Recent grads who are in their first year after graduation are still eligible to apply

Less Traditional Professional Paths:

• Career Transition: Those with a minimum of 5 years post-college graduation and whose professional experiences in a work/academic environment differ vastly from animation, VFX, gaming, and other computer graphics-focused industries
• Armed Forces: Those who have served in the armed forces and are in a retraining program
• Home Schooled: Those who are self-taught via an alternative educational path

Visa Sponsorship:

• Unfortunately, we are not able to sponsor student / intern visas at this time

Submission Process and Application Materials (Please Read Carefully):

• Attach a single PDF file containing your resume and a cover letter ranking your skill/interest in one of the four areas listed: Character Design, Set Design, Color/Shading/Lighting Design or Graphic Design.  If you do not include a cover letter self-identifying your unique area of skill, we will not be able to review your information
• Provide a link to your online demo reel or portfolio in the “Demo Reel” section of the application; without this, you are not eligible for the internship. If it has a password, please be sure to include an accurate password. Please note: social media pages are not an acceptable format for a demo reel or portfolio
• In submitting your application, you are agreeing to the terms of our Submission Release Form. Without this, we are unable to consider your application

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, February 1, 2026

The pay rate for this internship in Emeryville is $22.50 per hour.