The trainee position is open to artists who are 18 years or older and are either recent graduates or have less than three years of industry experience. Here’s more about how the program is set-up:
It’s been a decade since Walt Disney Animation Studios made its last hand-drawn feature – 2011’s Winnie the Pooh – but the studio may be rethinking that approach.
Your animation reel should demonstrate a strong understanding of acting and animation principles such as dialogue, pantomime, timing, clear staging, squash and stretch, anticipation, follow-through, and secondary action. Prior training should include anatomy and solving problems in weight, balance, movement, space, and proportion.
Even though Disney gutted its hand-drawn animation division back in 2013, the four mentors in this program remained and have been involved with various hand-drawn projects at the studio like the series of Goofy “How to Stay at Home” shorts that were released on Disney+ earlier this year, various shorts in the studio’s Short Circuit program, and the new “Drawn to Life” stage show that premiered last month at Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs. They also do animation development tests, draw-overs, and consulting on the studio’s cg features.
The studio put out a job listing yesterday for a traditional animation trainee to take part in their 2022 talent development program. The 12-month paid position will include training in hand-drawn character animation, effects animation, and clean-up under the mentorship of four highly respected Disney veterans: Eric Goldberg, Mark Henn, Randy Haycock, and Rachel Bibb.
To apply for the job, go to Disney’s website.
