2026 Talent Development Program - Lighting Apprenticeship

The Lighting Apprenticeship Program at Walt Disney Animation Studios in Vancouver, starting March 2026, is designed for emerging artists with less than 5 years of experience or recent graduates. Lighters manipulate color and light to emphasize mood in storytelling, assembling shot elements and composing digital lighting. The four-month program offers mentorship, introducing participants to the art and technical aspects of lighting, studio culture, and production environment, with potential for future assignments and promotional opportunities in real-time production.

Must Have

• Emerging artists with less than 5 years of animation industry experience OR Recent graduates with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• 18 years or older and eligible to work in Canada
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment, taking direction from artistic and technical leadership
• An understanding of color, contrast, and lighting design, along with a solid understanding of 3D lighting in a CG scene
• A strong visual sense and the ability to distinguish subtle differences that affect the matching of elements created in multiple mediums
• Experience with Houdini and node-based compositing programs such as Nuke
• Exposure to Global Illumination and experience manipulating lights and materials to achieve a specific art direction
• Ability to interpret and execute key aesthetic elements from visual development artwork into a shot
• Strong problem solving skills
• Upload a resume and a single reel no longer than 2 minutes

Perks & Benefits

• Medical benefits
• Financial benefits
• Other benefits

Job Summary:

**The Lighting Apprenticeship Program**

Lighters are an integral part of the storytelling process, using their keen eye to manipulate color and light to emphasize shifts of mood, both subtle and dynamic. They assemble the elements of a shot into a final composite and compose the digital lighting of the scene. Learn more about our filmmaking process here

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The Lighting Apprenticeship Program begins in March 2026 at our Vancouver studio location. The deadline for applications is November 30th, 2025, 11:59 PM PST.

The initial four month period of the Lighting Apprenticeship Program is designed to introduce you to the art and technical aspects of our Lighting process, our studio culture, and our production environment. During this time, you will learn the skills and philosophies of our Effects department while receiving personalized mentorship from Disney artists. A four-month review will provide you with real-time feedback and determine future assignments and promotional opportunities that would bring your skills into real-time production environments.

**Key Qualifications:**

• Emerging artists with less than 5 years of animation industry experience OR

• Recent graduates with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

• 18 years or older and eligible to work in Canada

**Application Requirements:**

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

Reels/Demonstrated Skills Should Include:

• Ability to work in a collaborative environment, taking direction from artistic and technical leadership

• An understanding of color, contrast, and lighting design, along with a solid understanding of 3D lighting in a CG scene

• A strong visual sense and the ability to distinguish subtle differences that affect the matching of elements created in multiple mediums

• Experience with Houdini and node-based compositing programs such as Nuke

• Exposure to Global Illumination and experience manipulating lights and materials to achieve a specific art direction

• Ability to interpret and execute key aesthetic elements from visual development artwork into a shot

• Strong problem solving skills

To apply for this position, select “Login” to update your profile and apply. If you do not have a profile with us, select “Register” to create a new profile and apply with a resume, reel and shot breakdown (if applicable). The deadline for applications is November 30, 2025, 11:59 PM PST.

The pay rate for this role in Vancouver is C$30.00 per hour. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and/or other benefits. The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To learn more about our benefits visit: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

About Walt Disney Animation Studios:

Combining masterful artistry and storytelling with groundbreaking technology, Walt Disney Animation Studios is a filmmaker-driven animation studio responsible for creating some of the most beloved films ever made. Disney Animation continues to build on its rich legacy of innovation and creativity, from the first fully-animated feature film, 1937's “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” to the upcoming fall 2024 feature, “Moana 2.” Among the studio's timeless creations are “Pinocchio,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Jungle Book,” “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King,” “Frozen,” “Zootopia,” and “Encanto.”

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.