Crowds/ Houdini Intern, Disney Animation - Winter 2027, Vancouver, BC

The Walt Disney Company; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

The Walt Disney Company invites you to join its Vancouver-based Crowds Internship, a 12-week program designed to immerse you in the art of crowd animation. You will work under Disney artists, learning procedural techniques and crowd pipelines, while developing tools for production from initial design to final rendering.

Open to emerging artists and recent grads with a relevant degree, this internship offers hands-on experience in a collaborative studio environment, with mentorship from industry

Qualifications

• Proficiency with Maya or Houdini for crowdswork.
• Experience with Linux/Unix environments.
• Understanding of CG pipelines and production processes.
• Familiarity with Python scripting and OOP concepts.

Responsibilities

• Populate scenes with world-class crowds using procedural techniques.
• Develop tools to support crowd workflows from design to rendering.
• Collaborate with artists, technologists, and production leaders.
• Contribute to pipeline improvements and debugging in a fast-paced studio.

Skills

Maya

Houdini

Python

C++

Collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Linux

Git

Job description

Have you wondered how your skills and talents could translate into the world of animation? Our Internship Program dives into the craft, technology, and operations behind our animated films while developing your skills and connecting you to industry mentors. You'll learn what it means to be a part of a collaborative team and how your unique talents can grow within our studio. Find yourself immersed in hands‑on projects and learning guided by our artists, technologists, and production leaders. Learn more about our pipeline here. (opens in new window)

• 18 years or older
• Enrolled in a post-high school educational program (Community College, College, University, Trade, Online School, or equivalent) and returning back to the program for at least one semester post internship.
• Program Length: The approximate dates of this internship are February-April 2027. Interns must be fully available for the duration of a 12-week assignment.
• The Intern Program is based in our Vancouver, BC studio and will start in February 2027.

The CG Environment Internship

Job Summary

A crowds artist uses procedural animation techniques to populate Walt Disney Animation Studios’ projects with world-class crowds. They apply their technical and creative skills to develop the tools and perform the tasks necessary to bring worlds to life, from initial design to final rendering.

As part of the Crowds internship program, the 12-week program is structured to introduce you to the art of crowds, our studio culture, and our production environment. The internship program will showcase the skills and philosophies of our Crowds department under the mentorship of Disney artists.

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
• Eligible to work in Canada

Application Requirements:

Reels/Demonstrated Skills Should Include

• Experience with commercial graphics packages such as Maya and Houdini
• Experience with the Linux or Unix operating system
• Solid understanding of the production processes and pipelines of CG Animation, VFX, or Video Game productions
• Understanding of rigging and animation techniques
• Strong interest in Particle Systems, AI/Machine Learning, or Crowds Systems (agent/brain design, simulation, and behavior)
• Experience with scripting languages such as Python
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment, taking direction well
• Experience with Object Oriented Programming such as C++ a plus
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field or equivalent experience

Deadline for applications is on November 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Requirements

The Internship Program

Have you wondered how your skills and talents could translate into the world of animation? Our Internship Program dives into the craft, technology, and operations behind our animated films while developing your skills and connecting you to industry mentors. You'll learn what it means to be a part of a collaborative team and how your unique talents can grow within our studio. Find yourself immersed in hands‑on projects and learning guided by our artists, technologists, and production leaders. Learn more about our pipeline here. (opens in new window)

Am I Eligible?

• 18 years or older
• Enrolled in a post-high school educational program (Community College, College, University, Trade, Online School, or equivalent) and returning back to the program for at least one semester post internship.
• Program Length: The approximate dates of this internship are February-April 2027. Interns must be fully available for the duration of a 12-week assignment.
• The Intern Program is based in our Vancouver, BC studio and will start in February 2027.

The CG Environment Internship

Location: Vancouver

Job Summary

A crowds artist uses procedural animation techniques to populate Walt Disney Animation Studios’ projects with world-class crowds. They apply their technical and creative skills to develop the tools and perform the tasks necessary to bring worlds to life, from initial design to final rendering.

As part of the Crowds internship program, the 12-week program is structured to introduce you to the art of crowds, our studio culture, and our production environment. The internship program will showcase the skills and philosophies of our Crowds department under the mentorship of Disney artists.

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
• Eligible to work in Canada

Application Requirements:

Reels/Demonstrated Skills Should Include

• Experience with commercial graphics packages such as Maya and Houdini
• Experience with the Linux or Unix operating system
• Solid understanding of the production processes and pipelines of CG Animation, VFX, or Video Game productions
• Understanding of rigging and animation techniques
• Strong interest in Particle Systems, AI/Machine Learning, or Crowds Systems (agent/brain design, simulation, and behavior)
• Experience with scripting languages such as Python
• Strong problem solving skills required
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment, taking direction well
• Experience with Object Oriented Programming such as C++ a plus
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field or equivalent experience

Deadline for applications is on November 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Disclaimer

PAY TRANSPARENCY

The pay rate for this role in Vancouver BC is $25.00 CAD per hour. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and/or other benefits. To learn more about our benefits visit: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

This position is withWalt Disney Animation Studios Vancouver Inc., which is part of a business we callWalt Disney Animation Studios.

To learn more about Disney's guidelines on the use of AI for candidates, click here. (opens in new window)

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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.