How to Get Hired at Disney Television Animation
What Disney Television Animation looks for in artists, how the hiring process works in Burbank, salary ranges by discipline, and how to build a show-ready portfolio.
Get Disney Television Animation Job Alerts →$7/month. Cancel anytime. 13,000+ artists subscribed.
Art Style & Work
Disney Television Animation makes character-driven animated series. The work is appeal-first and show-specific, so range and the ability to draw on-model to a given series' style matter more than any single personal style.
Character Design
Appeal-FirstDesigns must be expressive, on-model and buildable, with clear silhouettes and strong personality that hold up across a whole season.
- Strong silhouettes and appeal
- Expression sheets and turnarounds
- Model-sheet-ready, animation-friendly designs
- Range across ages, body types and species
Visual Development / Background
World & ColourVis-dev and background artists set the look of a show's world through location design, colour scripts and painted backgrounds.
- Location and prop design
- Colour scripts and mood
- Painted, on-model backgrounds
- Consistent, buildable environments
Storyboard
Sequence & StagingBoard artists turn scripts into staged sequences, driving acting, timing and camera. Clear staging and appealing draftsmanship are key.
- Clear staging and readable acting
- Strong draftsmanship and gesture
- Camera and continuity sense
- Comedic and dramatic timing
Color / Design Support
ConsistencyColor stylists and design roles keep a series visually consistent shot to shot, working within an established palette and pipeline.
- On-model colour and palettes
- Consistency across episodes
- Prop and effects design support
- Pipeline-friendly, clean files
The Hiring Process
Disney TV Animation hiring is portfolio- and show-driven. Many roles are union (The Animation Guild) and staffed per production, so timing follows show pickups.
Portfolio Review
A recruiter and art director review your portfolio first. Show range and the ability to draw on-model to different styles, not just your own. Lead with your strongest, most on-model work.
Typical: 1-3 weeksRecruiter Screen
A talent partner covers your background, the specific show and role, availability, and pay expectations. Many roles are Burbank-based and union; ask about on-site, hybrid or remote arrangements.
Typical: 30-45 minutesArt Director / Supervisor Interview
A portfolio walkthrough with the show's art director or supervising producer, with questions about your process, how you take notes, and how you adapt to a show's style.
Typical: 45-75 minutesStyle Test (many roles)
A short test drawing to the show's established style, on-model, from a brief. This is where the ability to match a series' look is proven. Follow the model sheets closely.
Typical: a few days to ~1 weekFinal Interview
A conversation with the production team on collaboration, iteration and fit within a fast series schedule where consistency across episodes is essential.
Typical: 1-2 hoursSalary Ranges
| Role | Level | Pay | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character Designer | Mid-level | $1,900 - $2,700 / week | Burbank, CA |
| Visual Development Artist | Mid-level | $1,900 - $2,800 / week | Burbank, CA |
| Storyboard Artist | Mid-level | $2,000 - $3,000 / week | Burbank, CA |
| Background / Color | Mid-level | $1,800 - $2,600 / week | Burbank, CA |
| Art Director | Lead | $2,800 - $4,200 / week | Burbank, CA |
| Supervising roles | Senior/Lead | $3,200 - $4,800+ / week | Burbank, CA |
Many Disney TV Animation roles fall under The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839), which publishes minimum weekly rates; actual pay is negotiated above scale by experience. Roles are staffed per production, so work can be show-length rather than permanent.
Portfolio Tips by Discipline
Character Designers
- Show on-model range across multiple styles
- Expression sheets, turnarounds and poses
- Appeal, silhouette and buildability
- Adaptability to a given show's look
Visual Development
- Location, prop and colour design
- Colour scripts and mood work
- Consistency and buildability
- A cohesive, curated portfolio
Storyboard Artists
- Staged sequences, not single illustrations
- Clear acting, staging and camera
- Comedic and dramatic timing
- Draw fast and on-model
Color / Design Support
- On-model colour and palette control
- Consistency across episodes
- Clean, pipeline-ready files
- Attention to continuity detail
Draw to the Show, Not to Yourself
Television animation is style-matching work. Art directors hire artists who can draw on-model to an established series look, quickly and consistently, across a whole season. A portfolio of beautiful but off-model personal work is less convincing than one that proves you can adapt to different styles on-model. Show range and consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a job at Disney Television Animation?
Apply through the Disney careers site to a specific role, usually attached to a production. The typical process is a portfolio review, a recruiter screen, an art director interview, a short on-model style test, and a final interview. Range and the ability to draw on-model to a show's style are the strongest signals.
What kind of art does Disney Television Animation hire?
Character design, visual development and background, storyboard, and colour/design support, across 2D and CG animated series for Disney Channel, Disney+ and Disney Jr.
Do they do a style test?
Many roles include a short style test: drawing on-model to a show's established look from a brief. This is where matching a series' style is proven, so follow the model sheets closely.
What salary does Disney Television Animation pay?
Many roles fall under The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839), which sets minimum weekly rates, with pay negotiated above scale by experience. Mid-level artists commonly fall in the roughly $1,800-$3,000/week range in Burbank, with art directors higher.
Is it hard to get a job at Disney Television Animation?
It is competitive, and roles are staffed per production so timing matters. Artists who show clear on-model range and the ability to match different show styles consistently stand out.
Get These Jobs Before They Fill Up
ArtBlast members see the studio, salary info, and the direct apply link the moment a job posts. Apply in the first 24-48 hours, when your odds are best.
Get Today’s Job ListFree to join · Premium $7/month or $60/year (3 months free) · cancel anytime