Visual Development Intern, DreamWorks Animation, Fall 2026

Job Position(s): Visual Development Intern, DreamWorks Animation, Fall 2026

DreamWorks Animation is hiring a Visual Development Intern for their Los Angeles area studio in Glendale, California, for Fall 2026. This role sits inside the visual development department, where the work is generating concept art, mood boards, color keys, set designs, and prop designs that define the look of feature animated films and TV animated projects. It suits a student or recent graduate with a foundation in illustration and design who wants to see how visual development actually functions inside an animation studio production pipeline.

About the Role

The Visual Development Intern at DreamWorks works directly alongside Production Designers and artist mentors embedded in an active production over a focused 10-week span. Day-to-day work moves through the full concept-to-final-design process, pulling reference, building mood boards, and executing designs that align with story, character, and directorial notes. The program runs September 28 through December 3, 2026, part-time at 24 hours per week, in person Tuesday through Thursday.

Key Responsibilities

• Generate concept designs and final production-ready designs for sets, props, and environments across feature animated film or TV animated projects.
• Pull visual reference and craft mood boards that communicate a cohesive aesthetic direction to Production Designers and creative leads.
• Develop color keys that establish lighting and palette language for specific sequences or locations within the production.
• Clarify creative notes and feedback from supervisors to ensure designs are executed accurately and within the intent of the production’s visual direction.
• Track and meet deadlines across concurrent design tasks, communicating progress to supervisors and relevant production staff.
• Use industry-standard tools including Photoshop and, where applicable, 3D animation software such as Maya to build and present visual concepts.

What You Bring

• Currently pursuing or recently completed an Associate, Bachelor, or Graduate degree in animation, illustration, or a related field, within six months of graduation.
• Strong working skills in Photoshop are required for this role.
• Familiarity with visual development workflows inside an animation studio or film production environment is a plus.
• Must be 18 or older and authorized to work in the United States.
• Ability to arrange your own housing, transportation, and relocation to Glendale, California for the duration of the program.

Why This Role

DreamWorks Animation has a long track record of producing award-winning animated features and series, and this internship puts you inside that production process rather than adjacent to it. Interns are assigned to real productions with working mentors, and the program includes speaker series, career development workshops, and artistic classes that extend beyond the desk. Compensation is up to USD 17.87 per hour, and applications close June 29, 2026 at 11:59pm PT.

Apply now for the Visual Development Intern position at DreamWorks Animation and get your work into a professional animation studio pipeline before you graduate.