I started my first internship in Shanghai last summer. During this experience, I learned many new skills and realised how different working in the industry is compared with studying at school. As my college years come to an end, I still feel uncertain about my future career. I began researching the tips for applying internships, as it can bridge the gap between study and work.
Ways and Timing to apply
Many online platforms collect job opportunities together which is convenient to filter suitable roles. However, directly contacting the studios is more effective, such as applying through their official websites or going to a career fair.
Large studios, such as DreamWorks, Blue Zoo, etc. The info of internship is usually listed clearly on their website, carefully noticing their application period, requirements and role description. In Eric’s video (2021), who is very experienced in the animation industry, he suggested the applicants with limited experience to apply for the internship during the off season, such as spring or fall. Since there are many students apply during the summer time.
For small studios, such as Strange Beast, Fliiip, opportunities can appear more randomly. Some of them often post internship chance or temporary jobs on social media, so regularly following their updates can be helpful. If there is no position recently, sending a polite email or message with prepared portfolio may create opportunities.
The importance of research
Knowing the basic requirements of an internship is important, but researching the features of works or artists from the studios can provide a deeper understanding. It’s also show we have positive attitude and passion about the work.
Knowing clearly who we are, what role it is and how we gonna fit it. It helps determine which works should be included in our portfolio, and what should be highlighted in the cover letter. Some studios may also require applicants to do a test task, so we need to understand what they value.
Expanding career road
If we want to gain more chances, we should think outside of the box when we apply for an internship. Opportunities can be found across the wider entertainment industry, including music, film, games and etc. As animators, it’s no need to limit ourselves to the animation industry. Exploring different industries can help us discover where we fit, and also strengthening our resume.
In fact, many animation studios have various departments. They do not only produce animated film, but also work on commercials, music videos and other media projects. The experience in different industries can help us step into the animation studio to some extent.
When I applied for my first internship, I initially applied for a graphic design position, but the company got back to me and asked if I wanna do the game character design role, which is actually more suitable for me. Through this opportunity, I learned how to make some simple animations for the game role, which greatly enriched my resume.
I believe the most important part of finding an oppotunity is stepping outside of the comfort zone and actively reaching out to opportunities through networking. Disappointment is common during the process, but we can always learn valuable lessons from these experiences.
Bibliography
Radic, M. (2025) ‘Matea’s Travels: Interview with the ‘Paradaiz’ Animation Short Director, Matea Radic’. Interview with Matea Radic. Interview by Bobrowska, O. 27 August. Available at: https://www.zippyframes.com/interviews/matea-radic-interview (Accessed: 24 May 2026)
Edric Bravo (2021) ‘HOW TO GET AN ANIMATION INTERNSHIP AT A MAJOR STUDIO (Pixar, Disney, Nickelodeon, Bento Box & more!) 8 January. Availble at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10G6Qcz2dLs (Accessed: 24 May 2026)
Toniko Pantoja (2019) ‘How I got my first fulltime job at Dreamworks Animation’ 3 June. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lXzlHep-mM (Accessed: 24 May 2026)
Our work | Blinking | London Production Studios | Blinking. Available at: https://www.blinkink.co.uk/work (Accessed: 25 May 2026)