Storyboard Artist Intern at LAIKA Studios, Hillsboro

Job Overview

• Company: LAIKA Studios
• Job Title: Storyboard Artist Intern
• Job Type: Internship (Full-Time / Temporary)
• Location: Hillsboro, Oregon, USA
• Work Model: 100% On-Site
• Seniority Level: Internship / Entry-Level
• Required Experience: Senior University Standing or Recent Graduate (within 12 months)
• Salary Range: USD $20.00 per hour (Fixed / Non-negotiable)
• Reporting Structure: Reports to Director in Development & Lead Storyboard Artist
• Industry: Motion Pictures, Animation, and Narrative Development

Company Overview: The Architecture of Story

LAIKA Studios is a world-renowned pioneer in the field of feature animation, celebrated for a unique cinematic signature that seamlessly blends the tactile beauty of stop-motion with cutting-edge digital innovation. Located in Hillsboro, Oregon, we are a community of specialized artists, technologists, and storytellers dedicated to crafting unconventional narratives that resonate with audiences of all ages.

In the Story Department, we are the architects of the film. We believe that a great movie begins with a powerful visual blueprint. LAIKA Studios is responsible for interpreting complex scripts into a visual language that dictates the pacing, emotion, and cinematic scope of our features. We foster an environment of radical collaboration where creative bravery is encouraged, and where every sketch serves a greater narrative purpose. As we embark on the development of our next original feature, we are seeking a Storyboard Artist Intern who is ready to immerse themselves in the rigorous, rewarding world of professional visual storytelling.

Role Overview

The Storyboard Artist Intern is a high-impact creative role within our development production pipeline. This internship is designed to provide “hands-on” experience in the translation of written word into cinematic imagery. Working under the direct mentorship of a Director in Development and a Lead Storyboard Artist , the intern will be challenged to explore story lines through sketches, thumbnail drawings, and high-fidelity finished storyboard panels.

This position is ideal for an aspiring filmmaker-artist who understands that storyboarding is about more than just “drawing well”—it is about acting, cinematography, and editorial pacing. You will be integrated into the creative heart of the studio, contributing to the visual analysis of scripts and helping to develop the character personalities and dramatic beats that define our films. This is an opportunity to learn the specialized nuances of stop-motion storytelling, where every camera angle must be meticulously planned for a physical set.

Key Responsibilities and Production Duties

The Storyboard Artist Intern will support the Story department through a variety of creative and research-based tasks aimed at refining the narrative vision of our current projects.

I. Visual Narrative Creation

• Thumbnail Exploration: Assist in the rapid generation of quick thumbnail sketches to explore different staging options and narrative flows.

• Panel Refinement: Progress from rough thumbnails to finished, detailed storyboard panels that clearly convey character action, emotion, and lighting cues.

• Script Interpretation: Assist in the visual analysis and translation of script pages into compelling story ideas that align with the Director’s vision.

• Story Invention: Contribute inventive ideas, humor, and creative solutions to a variety of project types, ensuring a high level of entertainment value.

II. Cinematic & Performance Excellence

• Staging and Composition: Utilize foundational filmmaking techniques to ensure effective use of the 1.85 or 2.39 frame, focusing on camera placement and character blocking.

• Character Acting: Assist in the development of character personality through dramatic and comedic action, ensuring that every pose conveys a specific internal thought or emotion.

• Animation Principles: Apply the core principles of animation—weight, anticipation, and follow-through—to storyboard drawings to ensure they are “animatable” for the production team.

III. Research & Collaboration

• Background Research: Perform deep-dive visual and thematic research to inform the world-building and story process.

• Note Incorporation: Participate in regular story review sessions. You must demonstrate the ability to take professional direction and incorporate complex director notes quickly and efficiently.

• Workflow Management: Effectively prioritize assigned tasks and meet strict deadlines within the production schedule.

Required and Preferred Qualifications

Academic and Professional Standards

• Educational Standing: Currently enrolled as a Senior at an accredited college or university, or a recent graduate within 12 months of the program start date.

• Field of Study: A major or concentration in Animation, Film, Illustration, Fine Arts, or a related narrative field.

• Artistic Excellence: Superior drawing skills with a mastery of anatomy, perspective, and character-driven performance.

• Portfolio Requirement: Applications without relevant samples, portfolios, or reels will not be considered. We are looking for work that shows a clear understanding of cinematic storytelling, not just pin-up illustrations.

Technical & Soft Skills

• Software Proficiency: Strong working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop .

• Hardware: Prior experience with a Wacom Cintiq drawing tablet is highly preferred.

• Principles of Design: A strong understanding of the principles of animation, acting, and movement.

• Communication: Detail-oriented with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Collaboration: The ability to work both independently on deep-focus assignments and collaboratively within a high-pressure team environment.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

This is an on-site position in Hillsboro, OR, designed to facilitate the high level of collaborative feedback inherent in story development.

• Physical Demands: Standard digital studio tasks, including sitting for extended periods and using hands to operate standard office and digital drawing equipment.

• Vision: Vision abilities including close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus for intricate drawing tasks.

• Lifting: Ability to lift and/or move materials weighing up to 15 pounds.

• Environment: Typical studio conditions with moderate noise levels and variable indoor temperatures.

Benefits and Perks

• Direct Mentorship: Work alongside industry-leading Directors and Lead Story Artists who have shaped the landscape of modern animation.

• Production Immersion: See how your storyboards inform the work of Puppet Fabrication, Camera, and Animation departments.

• Professional Growth: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the development process within an Academy Award-winning studio environment.

• Community: Join a cohort of interns and professionals who are as passionate about cinema as they are about the craft of animation.

Application Process: How to Apply

Deadline for Submission: Friday, March 27, 2026, by 6:00 PM PDT.

To be considered for the Summer 2026 Storyboard Internship, please submit:

1. Resume & Cover Letter: Detail your academic background and narrative influences.

2. Portfolio/Reel: Provide a link to a digital portfolio. Essential Content: We prioritize portfolios that include sequential storyboards, showing a clear transition from one beat to the next with attention to camera and acting.

3. Accuracy Check: Please ensure your portfolio link is active and not password-protected (or provide the password clearly).

Compensation: This position is paid at a fixed, non-negotiable rate of $20.00 per hour .