Storyboard Artist Intern at LAIKA Studios, Hillsboro at LAIKA Studios Hillsboro, OR

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

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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…