Walt Disney Animation Studios is hiring: 2026 CG Animation Apprenticeship Progra

Overview

Join to apply for the 2026 CG Animation Apprenticeship Program role at Walt Disney Animation Studios. The Talent Development Apprenticeship Program is an immersive experience for emerging artists. Under the guidance of a Disney mentor, the program offers an opportunity to hone and understand skills, refine 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.

Responsibilities

• Animators are responsible for bringing characters to life. As an animation apprentice applicant, your reel should demonstrate a strong understanding of acting and animation principles such as timing, 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.
• Work in a mentorship-driven environment to gain hands-on experience in the skills and philosophies of the Animation department, receive feedback, and engage in craft assignments and presentations to Disney leadership.

Eligibility & 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

Application Requirements

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

Reels / Demonstrated Skills

• Acting: demonstrate a versatile range of acting exercises (dialogue, pantomime, narrative-based walk cycle or weight exercises)
• Emoting: a range from subtle to broad, comedic to dramatic moments
• Character variety: diverse personalities to create entertaining, believable, and emotionally-centered performances
• Familiarity and experience in Maya, Presto, or other 3D software preferred
• Traditional animation skills encouraged
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Compensation & Benefits

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

Location

• Burbank, California