Esports
Animator Co-op (Summer 2027 - 8-months - Sports Tech)
Pre-career
Vancouver, Canada
in office
Internship
Job description
About the Role
EA SPORTS Tech is seeking an undergraduate Animator Co-op student to join its Character Animation Research Team (the A-Team) for an 8-month internship beginning in May 2027. The intern will receive mentorship from a Senior Technical Animator and collaborate with experienced animators, engineers, and ML experts to help shape the future of character animation. Unlike a traditional game team animation role, the internship involves working directly with the team that builds animation technologies shared across EA.
Key Responsibilities
- Become familiar with EA's proprietary Frostbite Engine.
- Refine and polish motion capture animation to AAA game quality.
- Learn to build modern animation systems such as state machines, motion matching, and node-based programming.
- Brainstorm and collaborate side-by-side with engineers and UX designers to design and refine animation workflows and pipelines.
- Learn how partner game teams work across EA by assisting with tool adoption, debugging, and workflow feedback.
Required Experience & Qualifications
- Must be legally authorised to work in Canada for the entire internship; visa sponsorship is not available.
- Must be enrolled in an accredited degree programme and return to school for at least one semester following the internship with EA.
- Must be graduating in May 2028 or later, including the time needed to complete the internship (for example, returning to school for at least one semester following the co-op with EA).
- Currently pursuing a degree in Animation or a related technical discipline.
- Entry-level experience, including prior internship, coursework, or personal projects in animation.
- Experience creating high-quality character animation.
- Solid foundation in character animation principles and body mechanics.
- Familiarity with industry-standard 3D software tools such as Autodesk Maya, MotionBuilder, or equivalent.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to quickly identify and resolve issues.
Preferred Skills
- Interest in motion capture data, rigging, or scripting (Python/DCC tools).
- Python scripting.
- Node-based programming.
- Interest in vibe-coding and using AI agents in their work.
Benefits & Perks
- Mentorship from a Senior Technical Animator.
- Relocation support may be available if specific eligibility criteria are met.
The Application Process
Candidates from all backgrounds who meet the core requirements are encouraged to apply, even if they do not meet every qualification. Candidates must clearly indicate their expected graduation date in their resume to be considered. Applications should include a portfolio or demo reel, examples of major contributions, and a cover letter.
- Indicate expected graduation date in resume.
- Submit a portfolio or demo reel with animations.
- Provide examples of projects, games, or tools to which you made major contributions; if collaborative, describe your specific role.
- Share interest in games through game jams, mods, engine projects (e.g., Unreal, Unity, Godot, or your own), or clubs.
- Share involvement in extra-curricular activities or clubs.
- Submit a cover letter explaining interest in the position with EA.
About the Company
EA SPORTS is one of the most iconic brands in entertainment, connecting hundreds of millions around the world to the sports they love through a portfolio of industry-leading video games. The team's technology is shared across multiple EA games, including FC, Madden, NHL, skate., Battlefront, Dragon Age, and more.
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