Talent Development Program - Layout Trainee

This is a Full Time Job


Join us for an opportunity to experience the art of animation and be a part of Walt Disney Animation Studios. The Talent Development Program is available for emerging artists and offers up to a 12 month paid position at Walt Disney Animation Studios. We offer an immersive Trainee experience where participants will work under the guidance of a Disney Mentor to develop craft skills while applying them in a real world environment.

The Talent Development Layout Artist Program begins January 2022. Please note, the safety and well-being of our teams is very important to us. We will determine whether this program will be in-person at our Burbank, California studio or virtual in the coming months based on local state and county ordinance. The deadline for applications is October 17, 2021, 11:59PM PST.

The Layout Trainee

A central component of Disney's storytelling process is the work done in CG Layout. Working from storyboards, Layout Artists use a film's digital characters, sets, props and cameras to stage, block and shoot the film, shot by shot, that audiences will see on the big screen.

As a Layout Trainee, the first four months of your program are structured to introduce you to the art of layout, our studio culture, and our production environment. These initial months will showcase the skills and philosophies of our Layout department while providing you nurturing mentorship with a Disney artist. A four month review provides you with real-time feedback and determines future assignments and promotional opportunities that would bring your skills into real-time production environments.

Am I Eligible to Apply? What We're Looking For:
• 18 years or older
• Emerging Artists with less than 3 years of animation industry experience OR
• Recent Graduates with a degree or equivalent experience

To apply for this position, you must submit a reel, resume, and if applicable, a reel breakdown.

Reels/Demonstrated Skills Should Include:
• CG Layout work that shows one or more sequences of shots in continuity
• A working knowledge of cinematic staging, blocking, continuity, composition, and camera motion
• Strong camera animation and character posing skills
• A working knowledge of Maya and Unix/Linux
• A working knowledge of the posing and animation of CG characters
• Experience with lighting is encouraged
• Experience with EFX and Modeling is a plus
• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience

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. WDAS 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 2019's Frozen 2, the biggest animated film of all time, to our 60th animated feature, Encanto, releasing November 2021. Among the studio's timeless creations are Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Frozen, Big Hero 6 and Zootopia.

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 with the following business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive media. 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.

This position is with The Secret Lab, which is part of a business segment we call Walt Disney Animation Studios.

The Secret Lab is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Disney fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.

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