At WonderCon this weekend, I had a fun time covering the Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Television Animation: Careers at Disney Animation panel with Camille Eden (Manager, Recruitment), Matt Roberts (Artistic Recruiter), and Brooke Keesling (Director, Talent Development) who shared some of the different creative roles that help make animated films and television shows. The discussion was moderated by Disney animator Darrin Butters, who worked on Big Hero 6 and Frozen, and offered a behind-the-scenes look at this amazing art form. The panel began with a short screening showcasing Disney Studios’ most popular film and television animation and ended with an audience Q&A.

The panelists talked about the different approaches of each studio; what it’s like working within a vertical studio where everything is done in-house; the development process in the studio pipeline; the collaborative, fast-paced, and fun working environment; how art and technology are combined; how everyone working at Disney contributes to the process; the importance of staying true to the vision of the entire organization; why they want applicants with a strong sense of appeal, aesthetics, and storytelling; their training program and internship opportunities; what they look for in an applicant’s portfolio; the best entry-level positions for recent college grads; and the importance of peer support and honest feedback.