Art Department Intern Summer 2026

Disney • Emeryville, CA

72d • $23 • Onsite

About The Position

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 personalitiesSet Design: Designs the world and environments where our stories take placeColor / 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 filmsNote: 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

Requirements

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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.
• Provide a link to your online demo reel or portfolio in the "Demo Reel” section of the application

Responsibilities

• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees