2026 CG Animation Apprenticeship Program

Join us for an opportunity to experience the art of animation and be a part of Walt Disney Animation Studios. The Talent Development Apprenticeship Program is an immersive experience available for emerging artists. Under the guidance of a Disney mentor, the Talent Development Apprenticeship Program offers a unique opportunity to hone and understand skills, refine and strengthen key disciplines, and engage in a real-time production environment with mentorship support.

The Animation Apprenticeship Program begins in October 2025 at our Vancouver studio. The deadline for applications is October 5, 11:59 PM PST.

The Animation Apprenticeship:

Animators are responsible for bringing characters to life! As an Animation Apprentice applicant, your animation reel should demonstrate a strong understanding of acting and animation principles such as timing, clear 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.

As a part of the Animation Apprenticeship, the first four months of your program are structured as a Trainee environment to introduce you to the art of animation, our studio culture, and our production environment. These initial months will showcase the skills and philosophies of our Animation department under the mentorship of Disney artists. A progress review at four months provides you with real-time feedback, and determines future assignments and promotional opportunities that will bring your skills into real-time production environments.

Am I Eligible To Apply? What We’re Looking For:

• Emerging artists with less than 5 years of animation industry experience OR
• Recent graduates with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Open to B.C. residents only who currently have the right to work in Canada
• 18 years or older

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

Reels/Demonstrated Skills Should Include:

• Acting, acting, acting! Demonstrate a versatile range of acting exercises: Dialogue, Pantomime, Narrative-Based Walk Cycle or Weight Exercises
• A focus on different styles of emoting: subtle to broad, comedic to dramatic moments
• A diversity of character personalities to create entertaining, believable, and emotionally-centered performances
• Familiarity and experience in Maya, Presto, or 3d software preferred
• Traditional animation skills encouraged

The pay rate for this role in Vancouver is $30.00 per hour. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and/or other benefits.