WDI Show Ride Animation Programming Intern, Summer 2025

Job ID 10111609 Location Glendale, California, United States Business Walt Disney Imagineering Date posted Jan. 28, 2025

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Job Summary:

About the Role & Program

Be a part of an innovative team and culture…

Walt Disney Imagineering is the creative force that imagines, designs and brings to life all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions and cruise ships worldwide. Working across a spectrum of disciplines that range from creative and conceptual to scientific and technical, Imagineers blend an innovative mixture of storytelling, art, science and technology to create immersive experiences, memorable destinations, and innovative entertainment for families around the globe.

The approximate date of this internship is May/June 2025 to August/September 2025 and will be located in Glendale, CA.

What You Will Do

As an intern working within the WDI Ride Animation Programming team, you will have the opportunity to work with the Show Programming group, a one-stop shop for show integration, figure programming and rigging, as well both character and ride animation. Our group “creates the illusion of life” within our attractions to tell amazing stories! This department includes managers, technical riggers, figure animators, ride animators, and sequence programmers. These disciplines combined help provide delivery of high-quality content to Disney theme parks that are safe, meet creative intent, and are easily maintainable. You will have the opportunity to:

Work closely with our show ride programmers to operate and maintain Animation & Show Programming system’s highly specialized hardware and software tools
Assist in creating, debugging, and organizing ride vehicle digital assets (animation data, rigs, models and ride paths)
Help team develop safe and reliable ride animation profiles that meet creative intent but also adhere to the requirements of the vehicle
Partner with the show Creative Director and other Show Programmers to animate ride vehicle and show effect motion profiles
Assist in prototyping ride motion choreography for new ride systems
Assist in organizing and maintaining secure show data created by the Ride Animators and Show Programmers
Learn proprietary software packages

Required Qualifications & Skills

Proficiency in animation software: Maya and/or Motion Builder
Understanding of the basic principles of animation
Basic understanding of physics
Being a creative problem solver with an enthusiasm for coming up with inventive solutions
Ability to function in a dynamic work environment, managing multiple project tasks and adapt quickly to new and unfamiliar toolsets
Ability to provide basic technical support for computer graphic animation applications
Ability to work with limited supervision, while being able to integrate inputs from many individuals and work as a team member
High tolerance for change and changing requirements

Preferred Qualifications

Desired software knowledge/familiarity among several of the following: Maya, MotionBuilder, MS Excel, Adobe Creative, ShotGrid, Unreal/Unity

Education

Currently enrolled as a Junior or higher attending an accredited college/university earning a degree majoring in: Art, Illustration, Computer Graphics, Computer Science, Animation, Film, Television, Game Development, or related field.

Eligibility Requirements & Program Information

Candidates for this opportunity MUST meet all of the below requirements:

Be enrolled in an accredited college/university pursuing a degree taking at least one class at time of application posting OR currently participating in a Disney College Program or Disney Internship
Be at least 18 years of age
Possess unrestricted work authorization
Have not completed one year of continual employment on a Disney internship or program.

Additional Information

Able to provide reliable transportation to/from work
Must be fully available for the duration of the internship
Able to provide own housing for the duration of the internship in Glendale, CA

The pay rate for this role in Glendale, CA is $26.50 per hour for undergraduate students and $27.50 per hour for graduate level students. 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.

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About Walt Disney Imagineering:

Founded in 1952 as WED Enterprises to design and build the world’s first theme park — Disneyland — Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) is where imagination and creativity combine with cutting-edge technology to create unforgettable experiences. WDI is the creative force that imagines, designs and builds all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions and cruise ships worldwide. Imagineering’s unique strength comes from its diverse global team of creative and technical professionals, who build on Disney’s legacy of storytelling to pioneer new forms of entertainment. The Imagineers who practice this unique blend of art and science work in more than 100 disciplines to shepherd an idea all the way from “blue sky” concept phase to opening day.

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.

This position is with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc., which is part of a business we call Walt Disney Imagineering.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

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