Top 10 Character Art Internship Opportunities in 2021

You are probably a young, aspiring concept artist, or have just finished art school and you’re wondering what’s next. It can be hard to decide what to do with your character art degree upon graduation. Especially, since character art is a specialized job, and most of the companies that employ are industry bigwigs.

If this is you, there is an excellent pathway for you to make it in this path, and end up in that choice video game, television, or film career of yours: Character Art Internships!

There are many such opportunities in the United States and elsewhere, which not only give you an opportunity to grow but also pay very handsomely.

Generally, internship is one way to gain work experience even without being fully employed. Depending on the organization, you may gain from other benefits that are attached to internship opportunities.

In this article, you will get a deep insight into what a character art internship is alongside various opportunities available to you. The table of contents below highlights the order in which these questions and more are duly answered.

What is a Character Art Internship?

For most of the well-established animation and video game companies such as Rare, Disney, and Hasbro, a robust internship programme is one of their hallmarks. This is a system that allows young, less-experienced artists to learn from the masters while gaining valuable experience.

Character Art, while an exciting and rewarding career, is a job that involves a high level of skill and a mastery of several fields other than drawing. Thus, a form of ‘apprenticeship’ is needed for up-and-comers in the industry to properly learn the ropes.

As ArenaNet, a leading character art intern hirer posits, artists often learn more in their first six months on an internship than in their entire time in art school.

A character art internship does these, while also paying you as a ‘junior’ staff.

How to get a Character Art Internship

According to some of the best intern hirers, an ideal character art intern has to meet some important requirements:

10 Character Internships You Can Apply to

If you meet eligibility and satisfy the requirements above, you will now get clear cut information on where to apply for a character art internship:

#1. Illustrator/Animator Intern with IdeaMachine Studio,

Located in the bucolic San Francisco, California, this package is ideal for artists interested in Graphics Design, Illustration, and Character Creation.

With an estimated annual salary of $40,000 to $51,000 and one-on-one experience with Creative Directors and Art Directors and lots of work experience, it holds an attraction for any young animator. Apply if you have a degree in Art, or are attending an art institution before the March 2021 deadline.

Qualifications

#2. Graphic Design & Illustration Internship with Hallmark

Distance is not a barrier in this hiring opportunity, as this is slated to be purely virtual. However, it is an opportunity for artists with exceptional calligraphy skills, creative skills, organizational skills, and a strong fashion sense. Stay curious and willing to learn and this Kansas opportunity will be very likely to open its doors to you.

Basic Qualifications

The following is required to be considered for this role:

Preferred Qualifications

Your resume and portfolio will stand out if you have:

#3. Virtual DC Comics Editorial Intern- Summer 2021

DC Comics seeks a DC Comics Editorial Intern for Summer 2021. This intern will assist editors on graphic novels by reviewing scripts and art (layouts, inks, color), routing lettering pages, and maintaining weekly deadlines. The pay is a handsome $26,000 – $33,000 a year.

Qualifications:

#4. Concept Art Intern – Mobile (Apex Legends) with Electronic Arts

Almost any aspiring young character artist nurses dream of creating epic games like Apex Legends, “I worked on that.” That’s what this internship programme offers, with direct access and guidance from Creative Directors with whom you will learn the art of concept development. The pay is between $32,000 and $41,000 per annum.

Required Qualifications

#5. Remote Graphic Design Co-op (Summer 2021) with Hasbro

If you are strongly interested in evoking the style and qualities of a character through graphics, then this internship with gaming giants Hasbro is for you. With a good knowledge of Mac OSX, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Microsoft Office, and a great degree of passion, you should land this $31,000 – $41,000 a year internship position.

What you’ll bring…

#6. 2D/3D Artist Intern with SAIC

If you are currently enrolled in a 3D art-related program, or have a high school diploma or an AA degree with a year of experience in graphics design, you should apply for this. A good knowledge of graphics software packages is needed. Apply if you’re willing to work in Los Angeles.

Qualifications

#7. Animator Intern (Star Wars Team) with Electronic Arts

Respawn believes that the essential foundation of a great gaming experience starts with gameplay. Every detail is crafted with purpose; and all the development disciplines contribute towards creating an incredible gameplay experience for game players. Thus, they are looking for an Animation Intern to join an established, high performance team. The pay is between $35,000 and $40,000 a year.

Required Qualifications

#8. Environment Artist Intern with Playstation

Rated as one of the best hirers, Playstation offers a San Diego-based summer internship for the passionate individual. Strong artistic ability and understanding, as well as proficiency in software like Maya, Photoshop, and Substance Designer counts as an added advantage.

Qualifications

#9. 3D Artist Internship with OSF Healthcare

For artists who don’t want to tow the traditional gaming or animation path, or who have a strong inclination for the medical field, this is a great opportunity to build your portfolio. Knowledge of Unity 3D, Cinema 4D, and Autodesk 3D Studio Max are essential, and a background in courses like Anatomy and Human Physiology is a plus. Apply for this if you’re a good team worker, and also have the ability to work independently. The pay is a juicy $27,000 to $36,000 a year, and although Illinois residents are preferred, a virtual arrangement can be worked out.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

#10. Game Designer Internship with Amazon

Amazon is looking for people who are interested in creating excellent game play for their Amazon Games franchise this summer.

With a team of animators and programmers about you, you will have the opportunity of developing great game characters, as well as play-test to see that your visions for your project are as thrilling as you want them to be.

By applying, you get to work in one of Amazon’s prime locations in Seattle, WA; Austin, TX; Bay Area, CA; Bellevue, WA; Boston, MA; Denver, CO; Detroit, MI; Herndon, VA; Irvine, CA; New York, NY; Madison, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Phoenix, AZ; Portland, OR; San Diego, CA. Apply to build your portfolio in a positively high-energy environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Character Art Internship FAQs

What does an art intern do?

An art intern can do clerical, communication or maintenance related tasks for an organization. Basically, an art intern will be involved in the day to day running of an art gallery.

What is a Character Art?

Character art oversees the creation and drawing of visual elements of a computer game. These elements usually include: characters, environment, vehicles, weapons and other props.

What is a Character Art Internship?

A character art internship provides a chance for aspiring character artists to gain experience and training in the field before being fully employed.

Conclusion

There are many great internship opportunities for you to build your portfolio as a college undergraduate, high school graduate, or recently graduated artist. No matter what your current level in art is, there is always something for you.

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