HOW TO GET AN ANIMATION INTERNSHIP AT A MAJOR STUDIO (Pixar, Disney, Nickelodeon, Bento Box & more!)

Non-Artist Jobs in Animation: Production & Post-Production - Part 1 (NEW VIDEO)

As a senior at UC Davis about ready to graduate, I decided to stay another year to pursue the entertainment industry and was lucky enough to land three studio internships. In my super senior year, I got to intern at Warner Bros. Records in the International Marketing department, Nickelodeon Animation Studios in the Vault department, and Dreamworks Animation Studios on the movie, Penguins of Madagascar. I seized the opportunity at Nickelodeon and went from being an intern to a creator and writer of my very own cartoon short, The Outsiders. I also had the opportunity to interview with other amazing companies, such as Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Live Nation. I'm going to be talking about How to Get an Animation Internship At A Major Studio. I’ll be covering topics such as, what to put on your cover letter, how to get experience to put on your resume, and interview etiquette.
Check out the written version of this video by clicking below:

How I Got A Job at Nickelodeon And What It's Like Working Here (Detailed Blog Article)
—
0:00 Introduction
0:58 The Start Of My Internship Journey
2:03 Cover Letter Tips
2:39 Join A Club Or An Organization
3:40 Expand Your Reach
4:41 Be Open To Relocate
5:28 Ways To Keep Your Cost Low
6:47 On-Site Interview
8:21 Outro
—
MY BOOK - "How to Get an Animation Internship"

AUDIOBOOK:

MY NICKELODEON CARTOON “THE OUTSIDERS”:

ANIMATION BOOKS TO CONSIDER:
How To Write for Animation by Jeffery Scott
Your Career In Animation by David B. Levy
The Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams

CHANNEL SUPPORT:
👏 Get Bonus Episodes, Your Art and Name Displayed in my Videos & more!

PODCAST:
The Storyboard Room: Your Guide Into the Animation Industry

I host a podcast where we discuss the business of the animation industry and how to get in. You can find it by searching “The Storyboard Room” on any podcast app (eg: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, etc).

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PS: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links.

Music
Joyous Fridays 2 by Anders Nilsson
Sophisticated Gentlemen 2 by Magnus Ringblom

#AnimationInternships #AnimationCareers #InternshipPositions

[tjtjmichp]

Another great thing you could do is make a short fill,
Or a short music video that's animated.
And having it on your portfolio or application.

[Doc_Animator_N]

Wow! I didn’t know that I needed to do most of these. I haven’t thought of expanding my reaches, be open to relocate, or needing to join a club or an organization.

That and I would have to rent a lease for a nearby apartment, close to the studio I’m interning for?

And I guess I should consider applying for the Spring or Fall Semesters, which I understand, the summer times are the most competitive.

I made a mistake not seeking for an internship program during my undergraduate years, because I put education first. But now that I’m returning for my Master’s (maybe Ph.D), here’s hoping.

[dandansoysauce]

This is such a great and informative video! Do you have more in-depth advice regarding making your CV and resumes suitable for each application? I was told by my professors to apply to a minimum of 20 internships each season and I found myself so overwhelmed and exhausted from typing up the cover letters and resumes that I felt that I didn't change my resume or cover letters much for each application and only tweaked a few things while keeping most of the information the same. I feel like I'm doing it wrong since I know resumes and cover letters are not "one size fits all"

[emilymcpherson]

Broooo I need that video abt how to become a background actor

[britneyshropshire]

Do you know the acceptance rate for foreigners at internships like these? Will they consider you even if you live overseas? I’m from The Netherlands and I would love to do an internship in the states at one of the big companies. I’m also wondering what kind of level of animation they are expecting, do you still have the portfolio you used to apply ? Thanks for the video, it was very informative and clear 🙏🏻

[spearzum]

My dream is to make entertainment in the form of cartoons so I am really thankful that you as someone who works within this explains some things. Thank you, you have removed some of my anxiety. Though I wanna know, do you think that having adhd or being from another country would affect my chance of getting into this bussnies? I ask since I'm from Sweden.

[PurplesinnerW]

I am all the way back in Guatemala. But I will try this. I am getting my bachelor's degree at 3d animation this September. :'v I dream of an internship

[DarkPrincessOfLight]

Can you please make a video about studio interviews! :]

[PrincetoonsYT]

one thing is also mandatory, you need to know how to use Too Boom Harmony

[pauline]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, do you think it’s possible for a foreign art student with an ok English to get an internship at one of those studios ?

[siryikesalot]

hello !! I was wondering if there are any art programs I should get used to as a high school student? I want to get into storyboarding or character design for the animation industry but I lack experience and money to afford nice tablets and a clip studio paint/toon boom subscription. Does that matter at all, will I be learning these programs in animation in college ? Or does pen and paper suffice?

[thatgamergirl]

This video was really helpful and informative, thank you!! :) also what a coincidence, I’m going to UC Davis haha

[koolaidlover]

Hi, I’m a junior in high school and am looking forward to going to UCD. May I ask what major you took at UC Davis? Was it Cinema and Digital Media?

[felipe.imbelloni]

Hey Eric! First of all, thank you so much of your advices!! I'm a brazilian animation student, currently graduating at Faculdade Melies, and i'm extremely into try some internships, but I have some apprehention of never be selected just because I'm a international student. Do you think major studios accept international student? And do you think your book can help international student just like helps US students?

[Brizzyfo]

Im...a 36 yr old adult. I got my degree like 13 yrs ago. School clubs arent an option. What can i do as an bill paying independent adult with little experience. Unfortunately, i missed out on my time internships during my school time

[lassiehernandez]

I cant if i dont have university studies?😢 I dont have money for that, i learn from courses of Internet. But im good and i do good courses with Aaron Blaise, NMA, and i read the classic animation books.

[bimbitashaikh]

If I want to get in as a storyboard or character design artist then what type of requirements should I have as a college student?? Also I’m from South Asia, how do I effectively apply for any studio as a student who would be equivalent to a high school 3rd year in American education system? Could you please help me know these things? And also the video was really nice and educative thank you!

[jojosteve]

can i show you my animations to get some feedback on them?

[hamzatariq]

I want to be a story director in Disney. But I don’t have a degree. I wanted to do animation in college in Scotland in Aberdeen. Was never allowed. Nor university degree either. I live in Scotland can I be a director and work from home? or is there part time director jobs? I did stop motion war videos and posted them on YouTube. All on my channel. This proves how great a director I would be.

[madison]

Do you have to go to college for this or