2026 Character TD Summer Internship - Character Simulation

The Walt Disney Company • Burbank, CA • 20h ago

The Internship Program

We are seeking individuals that have a love for learning, and are interested in exploring an artistic career in character simulation (cloth, hair, muscles and more) to join us for an immersive summer.

Our Internship Program dives into the artistry, technology, craft and operations behind our animated films while developing your skills and connecting you to industry mentors. You'll learn what it means to be a part of a collaborative team and how your unique talents can grow within our studio. Learn more about our filmmaking process here (http://www.disneyanimation.com/process/) .

Find yourself immersed in hands-on projects and learning guided by our artists, technologists, and production leaders.

Location: Burbank, CA

Am I Eligible?

18 years or older

Must be enrolled in a post-secondary educational program (such as a community college, college, university, graduate school, trade school, or accredited online program), or have graduated within six months of our internship program start date

Program Length: The approximate dates of this internship are June-August 2026. Interns must be fully available for the duration of a 11-week assignment.

The Intern Program is based in our Burbank, California studios and will start in June 2026.

Job Summary

The role of a Character TD at Disney Animation includes Technical Animation (also known as Creature Dev, Character Finaling, or Character Effects), Simulation Setup, and Rigging. Each craft is highly collaborative and viewed as both a technical and an artistic role. For this particular opportunity we will have Interns focus on Character Simulation.

To apply for this position you must upload a resume and a single reel of no longer than 2 minutes that demonstrates your understanding or passion for Anatomy, Tailoring, Cloth in Motion, Hair in Motion, Simulation reel breakdown (if a breakdown is applicable). All examples should be in the @context of performance and demonstrate your sense of appeal.

Examples of Character Simulation May Include:

Cloth simulation rigs that demonstrate an understanding of tailoring, fitting and fabric properties under a broad range of motion

Hair simulation rigs that demonstrate an understanding of groom structure and hair texture under a broad range of motion

An artist friendly intuitive interface for working with simulation rigs

An understanding of the principles of animation and how they apply to cloth and hair motion

An understanding of creating appeal in cloth and hair performance

Creative problem solving ability

Examples of art-directed cloth and hair simulations

Demonstration of real world tailoring and/or hair styling knowledge

Other skills may include:

Grooming experience,

Pattern making experience

Ability to work in a collaborative environment and take direction well

Working knowledge of CG software such as Maya

Interest in fashion design software such as Marvelous Designer is a plus

Scripting in MEL, Python, or C++ is a plus

Tool development examples

Knowledge of Linux

Supplemental fine art portfolio of drawing or sculpture that demonstrates understanding of anatomy, design, cloth in motion and/or hair in motion

Application Requirements

To apply, you must upload a resume including your school and expected graduation date and the below by Monday (March 2, 2026):

Please submit a website, portfolio, or reel (max length 2 min) to demonstrate your interest and experience in the listed disciplines

Include shot breakdown on your reel if applicable

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The pay rate for this role in Burbank is $22.50 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.

Job ID: 10143733

Location: Burbank,California

Job Posting Company: Walt Disney Animation Studios

The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or apply for a position, email Candidate.Accommodations@Disney.com with your request. This email address is not for general employment inquiries or correspondence. We will only respond to those requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.

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