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Internship Animation Character Design Jobs in California

Human Computer Lab

Character Artist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$142K - $149K/yr

Are pursuing a degree in screen-writing, animation, character design, industrial design, or a related field - or have equivalent hands-on portfolio experience. * Have a portfolio that shows character ...

Skydance

Character Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

Skydance Animation is seeking an experienced Character Designer to join our team on an upcoming ... From early concept exploration to final design execution, you will craft compelling, expressive ...

Skydance

Character Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

Skydance Animation is seeking an experienced Character Designer to join our team on an upcoming ... From early concept exploration to final design execution, you will craft compelling, expressive ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$15 - $20/hr

At the heart of our mission is Adventure Ted, our superhero spokes-bear and the central character ... This role is eligible for internship credit in Graphic Design, Media, Animation, Marketing, and ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$16.25 - $21.75/hr

At the heart of our mission is Adventure Ted, our superhero spokes-bear and the central character ... This role is eligible for internship credit in Graphic Design, Media, Animation, Marketing, and ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$15.25 - $20.25/hr

At the heart of our mission is Adventure Ted, our superhero spokes-bear and the central character ... This role is eligible for internship credit in Graphic Design, Media, Animation, Marketing, and ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$15.50 - $20.75/hr

At the heart of our mission is Adventure Ted, our superhero spokes-bear and the central character ... This role is eligible for internship credit in Graphic Design, Media, Animation, Marketing, and ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$16 - $21.50/hr

At the heart of our mission is Adventure Ted, our superhero spokes-bear and the central character ... This role is eligible for internship credit in Graphic Design, Media, Animation, Marketing, and ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$15 - $19.75/hr

At the heart of our mission is Adventure Ted, our superhero spokes-bear and the central character ... This role is eligible for internship credit in Graphic Design, Media, Animation, Marketing, and ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$16.25 - $21.50/hr

At the heart of our mission is Adventure Ted, our superhero spokes-bear and the central character ... This role is eligible for internship credit in Graphic Design, Media, Animation, Marketing, and ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$16 - $21.25/hr

At the heart of our mission is Adventure Ted, our superhero spokes-bear and the central character ... This role is eligible for internship credit in Graphic Design, Media, Animation, Marketing, and ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$16 - $21.25/hr

At the heart of our mission is Adventure Ted, our superhero spokes-bear and the central character ... This role is eligible for internship credit in Graphic Design, Media, Animation, Marketing, and ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$15.75 - $21/hr

At the heart of our mission is Adventure Ted, our superhero spokes-bear and the central character ... This role is eligible for internship credit in Graphic Design, Media, Animation, Marketing, and ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$16.25 - $21.50/hr

At the heart of our mission is Adventure Ted, our superhero spokes-bear and the central character ... This role is eligible for internship credit in Graphic Design, Media, Animation, Marketing, and ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$15.75 - $21/hr

At the heart of our mission is Adventure Ted, our superhero spokes-bear and the central character ... This role is eligible for internship credit in Graphic Design, Media, Animation, Marketing, and ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$16 - $21.25/hr

At the heart of our mission is Adventure Ted, our superhero spokes-bear and the central character ... This role is eligible for internship credit in Graphic Design, Media, Animation, Marketing, and ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$17.50 - $23.50/hr

At the heart of our mission is Adventure Ted, our superhero spokes-bear and the central character ... This role is eligible for internship credit in Graphic Design, Media, Animation, Marketing, and ...

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All JobsAnimation Character Design JobsInternship Animation Character Design JobsInternship Animation Character Design Jobs in California

Internship Animation Character Design information

What is an internship animation character design?

Internship animation character designers are students or recent graduates who assist professional character designers in creating and developing the visual look, personality, and style of characters for animated films, series, or games. They typically work under supervision, contributing to brainstorming sessions, sketching character concepts, and refining designs based on feedback. Interns gain hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and workflows, learn how to interpret scripts or briefs, and collaborate with other artists and animators. This role is an entry point into the animation industry and helps interns build their portfolios and professional networks.

What does an animation character design intern do?

As an animation character design intern, you will typically support the design team by creating character sketches, refining model sheets, and helping develop character turnarounds. You may be tasked with researching visual references, assisting with color explorations, and iterating on feedback from senior designers or directors. Collaboration is a key part of the role, as you'll often work closely with animators, story artists, and other departments to ensure characters are visually consistent and fit the narrative. This hands-on experience provides great insight into the animation pipeline and helps you build a diverse portfolio.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animation character design intern?

To thrive as an Animation Character Design Intern, you need a strong foundation in drawing, character concept development, and an understanding of anatomy and movement, typically supported by coursework or a portfolio in animation or illustration. Proficiency with industry-standard digital tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and animation software like Toon Boom or TVPaint is often required. Creativity, openness to feedback, and strong teamwork skills help interns stand out in collaborative studio environments. These abilities ensure that you can produce compelling characters, respond well to direction, and contribute effectively to the animation pipeline.

What is the difference between Internship Animation Character Design vs Animation Character Designer?

AspectInternship Animation Character DesignAnimation Character Designer
QualificationsEnrolled in or recent graduate of relevant art/animation programsProfessional degree or extensive experience in character design
Work EnvironmentInternship programs, entry-level projects, supervised settingsFull-time studio or freelance projects, independent work
ResponsibilitiesAssisting in character sketches, learning workflows, supporting senior designersCreating detailed character concepts, final designs, and revisions
Industry UsageUsed as a training position within animation studiosProfessional role in animation, gaming, or film industries

In summary, Internship Animation Character Design is an entry-level position focused on learning and supporting, while Animation Character Designer is a professional role involving independent creation and responsibility for character designs in various media projects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Character Design jobs in California?

The most popular types of Animation Character Design jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Internship Animation Character Design jobs in California?

For Internship Animation Character Design jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Internship Animation Character Design jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Internship Animation Character Design jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Internship Animation Character Design jobs?

Cities in California with the most Internship Animation Character Design job openings:

Internship Animation Character Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Internship Animation Character Design job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 14% Internship, 43% Full Time, 29% Part Time, 7% Temporary, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 86% In-person, 7% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution.

Character Artist

Human Computer Lab

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$142K - $149K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

Human Computer Lab is a research lab building character robots that feel alive and responsive. Our first robot, LeLamp, explores a new category of consumer robotics where everyday objects become interactive and help us reshape our attachment to technology.
Our goal is to push the frontier of human-robot interaction by making technology more legible, emotionally intuitive, and human-centered. We are building the foundation for a new generation of robots designed for everyday environments.
What to expect
We're looking for a character artist to help define how LeLamp looks, moves, and feels - the visual and expressive language that makes a robot read as alive rather than mechanical. You'll work on everything from early concept sketches and mood boards to the motion, gesture, and lighting cues that give the robot its personality, translating character intent into something the hardware and software teams can actually build and ship. This role requires tight, fast-cycling collaboration with electrical, mechanical, and software teams - character decisions here don't stay on paper, they become motor curves, timing, and light behavior. You'll work closely with the CEO and founding team to shape the character identity of LeLamp and the robots that follow.
In this role, you will:
  • Create concept art, mood boards, and character studies that define LeLamp's personality and visual identity.
  • Collaborate with the hardware team on form factor, silhouette, materials, and color to keep the physical design aligned with the character.
  • Design expressive motion - gestures, "emotional" states, and behaviors expressed through movement, light, and sound.
  • Prototype and iterate quickly, moving between sketches, renders, and physical mockups.
  • Partner with robotics and software engineers to translate character intent into concrete behavior parameters (motion curves, timing, lighting cues).
  • Build and maintain style guides and a character bible to keep the robot's expression consistent as the team grows.
  • Review hardware and software prototypes against the character vision and give clear, actionable feedback.
  • Support brand and marketing assets to keep the character consistent across every touchpoint.

You may be a good fit if you:
  • Are pursuing a degree in screen-writing, animation, character design, industrial design, or a related field - or have equivalent hands-on portfolio experience.
  • Have a portfolio that shows character design or expressive design work, in 2D or 3D.
  • Document clearly and can explain the reasoning behind a design choice, not just the choice itself.
  • Are comfortable iterating quickly, moving from rough sketch to testable prototype without waiting for a perfect brief.
  • Are genuinely interested in physical products, not just screen-based or purely digital characters.

You will be a strong fit, if you:
  • Have designed characters or mascots that had to work within real hardware or physical constraints, not just on a screen.
  • Understand core animation principles (timing, weight, squash and stretch, anticipation) and know how to translate them into motors, servos, and lighting.
  • Are comfortable collaborating directly with engineers, turning an abstract sense of "feel" into concrete specs they can build against.
  • Move quickly through iteration cycles and don't wait for perfect information to make progress.
  • Take ownership over your work end to end, from first sketch to a behavior that's live in the robot.
  • Work well in small, collaborative teams where character, electrical, and mechanical are in constant conversation.
  • Care about what the character enables: warmth, expressiveness, and the feeling that the robot is alive.

The early team becomes the DNA of the company. We set ourselves and others to a high standard, and we respond with kindness when things get hard but keep everyone accountable. This requires us to be curious, creative, and diverse in our thinking and approach.
We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Even if you don't meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. Studies show that women and underrepresented groups often hold back unless they meet 100% of the criteria - we don't want that to be the reason we miss out on great talent.

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