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Intern 2D Character Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Austin, TX · On-site

$125K - $144K/yr

... character and environment concept art. * Excellent 2D drawing skills with a strong grasp of ... Mastery of fundamental artistic principles. * Experience executing a wide range of artistic styles.

Use knowledge of 2D and/or CG animation to ensure that posing, staging, and cutting is both ... storytelling, character development, composition, and editorial pacing. * Advanced working ...

Use knowledge of 2D and/or CG animation to ensure that posing, staging, and cutting is both ... character development, composition, and editorial pacing. Advanced working knowledge of digital ...

Use knowledge of 2D and/or CG animation to ensure that posing, staging, and cutting is both ... storytelling, character development, composition, and editorial pacing. * Advanced working ...

Use knowledge of 2D and/or CG animation to ensure that posing, staging, and cutting is both ... character development, composition, and editorial pacing. Advanced working knowledge of digital ...

Use knowledge of 2D and/or CG animation to ensure that posing, staging, and cutting is both ... storytelling, character development, composition, and editorial pacing. * Advanced working ...

Creative Positions (Intern)

Fort Lauderdale, FL · On-site

$14.25 - $19/hr

They use their artistic and technical skills to bring characters and scenes to life through ... Animators work with a variety of software tools and technologies to create 2D and 3D animations.

Produce 2D and/or CG visual development models to explore scale, composition, and cinematic staging ... character action * Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop * Excellent communication and ...

Produce 2D and/or CG visual development models to explore scale, composition, and cinematic staging ... character action * Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop * Excellent communication and ...

Use GenAI tools such as ComfyUI to generate concept frames, style frames, character explorations ... Qualifications Experience with ComfyUI and traditional CG 2D and/or 3D DCCs such as Photoshop, Maya ...

Use GenAI tools such as ComfyUI to generate concept frames, style frames, character explorations ... Experience with ComfyUI and traditional CG 2D and/or 3D DCCs such as Photoshop, Maya, Houdini ...

Use GenAI tools such as ComfyUI to generate concept frames, style frames, character explorations ... Experience with ComfyUI and traditional CG 2D and/or 3D DCCs such as Photoshop, Maya, Houdini ...

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Intern 2D Character Artist information

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$19

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How much do intern 2d character artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for intern 2d character artist in the United States is $19.38, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $21.63 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What kinds of projects and responsibilities can an Intern 2D Character Artist expect during their internship?

As an Intern 2D Character Artist, you can expect to work closely with senior artists and art directors on tasks such as creating character sketches, refining existing concepts, and preparing artwork for animation. Interns often assist with mood boards, turnarounds, and color studies, while receiving feedback to help develop their skills. You'll likely collaborate with other departments, such as animation or game design, to ensure your characters fit the project's overall vision. This hands-on experience helps build a strong portfolio and provides valuable insight into the creative process in a professional environment.

What does an Intern 2D Character Artist do?

An Intern 2D Character Artist assists in creating and designing characters for video games, animations, or other media under the guidance of senior artists and art directors. Their tasks typically include sketching, illustrating, and refining character concepts, as well as preparing final artwork for use in production. They may also help with creating turnarounds, expression sheets, and other visual assets that define a character's appearance and personality. This internship is an opportunity to learn industry-standard tools and workflows while building a professional portfolio.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Intern 2D Character Artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Intern 2D Character Artist, you need solid drawing fundamentals, a strong understanding of anatomy and character design, and a portfolio demonstrating your creativity. Familiarity with digital illustration tools like Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, or Procreate is typically required, and experience with asset management systems is helpful. Creativity, openness to feedback, and effective communication help interns collaborate and learn in a professional studio environment. These skills and qualities are crucial for producing engaging character art that meets project requirements and supports team workflows.

What is the difference between Intern 2D Character Artist vs Intern 3D Character Artist?

AspectIntern 2D Character ArtistIntern 3D Character Artist
Required SkillsDrawing, digital painting, concept artModeling, texturing, basic animation
Work EnvironmentConcept art departments, illustration teamsModeling and animation teams, game or film studios
Industry UsageVideo games, animation, concept artVideo games, film, animation

Both roles are internship positions in the entertainment industry, focusing on different aspects of character creation. The Intern 2D Character Artist specializes in 2D art, such as sketches and digital paintings, while the Intern 3D Character Artist works with 3D modeling and texturing. Understanding these differences helps aspiring artists choose the right internship based on their skills and career goals.

More about Intern 2D Character Artist jobs
What cities are hiring for Intern 2D Character Artist jobs? Cities with the most Intern 2D Character Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of 2D Character Artist jobs? The most popular types of 2D Character Artist jobs are:
What states have the most Intern 2D Character Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Intern 2D Character Artist jobs include:
Infographic showing various Intern 2D Character Artist job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $40,304 per year, or $19.4 per hour.
Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Nintendo

Austin, TX • On-site

$125K - $144K/yr

Contractor

Medical, PTO

Posted 18 days ago


Nintendo rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

95th of 190 rated software companies


Job description

THIS IS AN ONSITE CONTRACT POSITION - Austin, TX
Position includes:
  • Paid weekly
  • Health care benefits available
  • Paid time-off provided
  • Paid holidays observed
  • Access to Nintendo discounts

RETRO STUDIOS:
Founded in 1998, Retro Studios is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd., and a powerhouse in game development. Working hand-in-hand with Nintendo, we craft award-winning titles for the company's cutting-edge platforms, blending innovation, artistry, and gameplay excellence.
Our home base is Austin, Texas, a vibrant city known for its creative energy, live music, stunning natural scenery, and forward-thinking culture. With year-round sunshine and endless options for outdoor adventures, Austin offers the perfect backdrop for world-class developers to stay inspired, balanced, and at the top of their game.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:
  • Collaborate with the Art Director, Artists, and Designers to define the look of our games by working to establish consistent visuals for characters, environments, props, and effects, with an emphasis on boss characters.
  • Work closely with Design to rapidly iterate gameplay thumbnails to be used in conjunction with design specifications to communicate gameplay properties, interactions and sequencing of boss characters.
  • Adopt a broad range of styles from realistic to highly stylized based on goals and direction for a given project to produce concept art with an appropriate sense of color, drama, shape language, personality, and design.
  • Take ownership of concept work for various game features while actively collaborating with other disciplines such as Design, Art, and Engineering to achieve high-quality, innovative concept art.
  • Produce boss, character, environment, and prop concept art in the form of thumbnails, sketches, breakdowns, reference sheets, paintings, and other digital imagery.
  • Provide visual contextualization support for game design efforts at all stages.
  • Perform research as necessary to support visual development.
  • Work with Art Director and Leads to provide feedback and guidance to artists.
  • Create storyboards, background illustrations, and promotional artwork.
  • Provide and receive feedback professionally.

*This job description outlines primary duties and requirements and is not intended to identify all tasks that may be performed; individuals occupying the position may be required to perform other duties. The company may modify job duties from time to time, either in practice or in writing.
SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS:
  • Has 3 or more years' gaming industry experience as a concept artist, including at least one complete product cycle shipping AAA title.
  • Must present online portfolio with high-quality, varied examples of character and environment concept art.
  • Excellent 2D drawing skills with a strong grasp of composition, color theory, perspective, lighting, environment and architecture.
  • Examples of modern rendering process using 3D art and modeling tools (Maya, Blender).
  • Mastery of fundamental artistic principles.
  • Experience executing a wide range of artistic styles.
  • Good communicator, self-motivated, driven to grow professionally.
  • Undergraduate degree in art-related subject, completion of an intensive art training program, or equivalent professional experience.

Retro Studios is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment in service to one another, our products, the diverse consumers we represent, and the communities we call home. We do all of this with kindness, empathy, and respect for each other.