CG Short Production Program | Asians in Animation

Asians in Animation (AIA) is excited to announce its first CG Short Production Program, as part of their Animation Industry Immersive Lab initiative, a program designed to equip early and emerging Asian animation professionals with the skills and experience needed to thrive in the professional animation industry.

AIA is excited to offer a by-application-only production program with hands-on training for participants.

With the ability to work with the top emerging talent of Asians in Animation, participants will creatively contribute to a 9-month, hands-on animation industry simulation and produce a professional-level 3D animated short film alongside a full production crew and industry mentors.

Continue below for more application and program candidate information.

Key Information

Project: Developed during AIA’s 2025 Development Lab, is an untitled CG short about the following: A spirited boy's imagination takes him through a war-torn Yemen's past, present, and future - and his place in it.
The Program will run from January 2026 - September 2026.
The short film will be 1 to 2 minutes long with no dialogue.
Everything will be designed, modelled, and animated in a 3D space, as well as pre-prod/design work done in a 2D space.
No AI usage is permitted.
If you are accepted into the program, there is a $35 one-time program fee. If you have already paid your annual membership dues (dues paid in 2025 are good for the membership year through September 2026), are an AIA volunteer, or mentor, you are exempt from this. Payment of this program fee counts as your membership fee for 2026. Please contact: [email protected] if you have further questions.
Participants will receive credit for parts of the film that include their contributions, with approval from the Line Producer and AIA. They are encouraged to display their work on their portfolio and social media after the film has been publicly released.
Program participants will work together in a pipeline to bring a concept to life. We are looking for enthusiastic creatives who are dedicated to flexing their skills in telling a unique and empathetic story.

Dates & Times

The production will run from January 2026 - September 2026, with participants expected to work a flexible 10-20 hours per week.

Program Dates: January 2026 - September 2026
Work Hours: Flexible 10-20 hours per week
Core Working Hours are between 8 AM and 9 PM PT, with a majority of meetings taking place in the evenings, Pacific Time

Application Dates & Deadlines:

All Apps Open: January 12th, 2026
Deadline for Leads, Production, and Pre-Production (Story & 2D Design): January 30th, 2026
Deadline for Animation & Post Roles/All Other Roles: February 6th, 2026
Applicants must be available for virtual interviews to be accepted into the program.
Priority may be given to earlier applicants. We encourage you to submit as early as you can.

Eligibility

You must be an AIA member. We will prioritize active and engaged members ready to take their next step as production-ready professionals.
AIA’s mission is to champion and uplift Asian voices, and this is an incubator geared towards Asian talent. However, we are open to those of all backgrounds participating in a crew (non-leadership) capacity and will evaluate candidates on a skills and fit basis.
This is not intended to be a program for beginners who need extensive training.
This is intended for current industry or industry-ready applicants ready to move up to the next level in their careers. Industry experience is preferred, but not required. Previous filmmaking experience is preferred, but not required.
Candidates from any location are welcome to apply. This program is 100% virtual; however, core hours will be based around Pacific Time.
Candidates must be available for the full program duration, but are not expected to work every day. (Please see the full schedule for more clarity.)
Applicants should have a strong understanding of how their role is applied to a production pipeline and be eager to create.
We are seeking individuals who are ready to put their artistic and teamwork skills to the test under a swiftly paced production schedule.

Participant Goals & Objectives

Connect with established Asian professionals in the animation industry, akin to an internship mentorship, to gain insight into what it’s like to work on a fast-moving production.
Hone technical skills & artistic instincts within an industry-level CG pipeline to prepare for a successful career in animation.
Create an imaginative short film to build professional experience.
Foster strong professional relationships & creative communication practices between departments.

Have Questions?

Please check out our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.

For any additional questions, please reach out to the AIA Program Team at [email protected]

Applications

Application form can be found here starting January 12th, 2026! Please read all information thoroughly on this page before applying!

Apply Here!

Open Positions

Duties for all positions may shift as needed throughout the production under the guidance of the Asians in Animation.

Leadership Crew

Production manager: (LEAD) [deadline 1/30]

Requirements:

Strong leadership skills in project coordination
Familiar with a CG production pipeline
Strong written & verbal communicator
Ability to assess needs, work collaboratively and flexibly with a wide range of people to keep the production on schedule and maintain a healthy working environment
Understanding and ability to implement common industry tools and production practices such as breakdowns, taking notes, exports, etc.
Experience in the implementation of digital asset management, pipeline building, and scheduling.

Duties:

Support the Line Producer in leadership & department coordination, including managing the production team, delegating tasks, tracking asset management, and creating and implementing workflows
Lead the production team and serve as a point person for many crew members and leads across departments and AIA
Work closely with leads via regular check-ins to review progress, address issues and align goals
Plan and attend meetings for upcoming weeks
Track production schedule and department progress and help ensure deadlines are met sustainably by keeping track of bandwidth and productivity
Establish strong communication channels between departments and people.
Delegate, train and help with Production Team tasks such as breakdowns, asset tracking, note-taking, and more
Cultivate a healthy, creative environment and team relations
Track time sheets and send out timesheet reminders to crew on a weekly basis
Ensure delivery of a high-quality CG short

Production Coordinator: (LEAD) [deadline 1/30]

Requirements:

Strong leadership skills in project coordination
Strong written & verbal communicator
Ability to work well in a high-paced team environment
Familiarity with the CG production pipeline
Ability to assess needs, work collaboratively and flexibly with a wide range of people to keep the production on schedule and maintain a healthy working environment
Understanding and ability to implement common industry tools and production practices such as breakdowns, taking notes, exports, etc.
Experience in the implementation of digital asset management scheduling

Duties:

Support the Production Manager in leadership & department coordination.
Owns specific department deadlines and deliverables, and knows the status of everything in the department
Prep for and drive meetings, including making agendas based on priority, and ensuring calendar accuracy
Coordination of various aspects of production by department and resolving unexpected challenges as they arise
Oversee the daily production schedule and adjust weekly milestones as needed
Tracks assets and key information for their specific department
Conduct regular check-ins with the department to review progress, address any issues, and plan action items for the next day
Ensure deadlines are met sustainably by keeping track of bandwidth and productivity
Establish strong communication channels between departments and people, and respond to messages from other departments in a timely manner
Train and help with Production Team tasks such as breakdowns, asset tracking, note-taking, and more
Attend meetings regularly and serve as a point person for their department
Cultivate a healthy, creative environment and team relations and ensure delivery of a high-quality CG Short

Production assistant: [deadline 1/30]

Requirements:

Basic professional skills
Strong written communicator and teammate.
Familiar with the CG Production Pipeline and/or willingness to learn about production and the pipeline
Knowledge of Google Suite, including Drive, Calendar & Meet

Duties:

Handles day-to-day tasks
Taking and distributing artist-friendly notes for the department
Assisting production coordinators in tracking small details, asset information, and project progress for the department
Assist in various production tasks as needed to support the overall production process
Responsible for updating the production calendar as needed and managing scheduling conflicts
Track outages and other major dates for the team
Assist with onboarding/offboarding as needed
Serve as liaison between production team and artists
Check in with artists and attend to any needs, conducting routine check-ins with artists to review progress and address any issues
Help the crew meet their deadlines sustainably by keeping track of bandwidth and productivity
Communicate and flag concerns to the Production Coordinator and leadership as needed
Complete Production Team tasks such as breakdowns, asset tracking, note-taking, and more
Attend meetings to stay up to date
Cultivate a healthy, creative environment and team relations

Art director: (lead) [deadline 1/30]

NOTE: We will prioritize candidates who have prior animation industry production experience for this role. However, we are open to those who have experience in cultivating strong visual development for stories. We are looking for a strong, steady leader and communicator to accurately convey the creative vision for the project to others, make sure that all artistic choices serve the story, and set a calm tone for the rest of the team. Our ideal candidate is looking to take the next step on their animation leadership journey.

Requirements:

Experience in leading and supervising a design team including delegating, giving feedback, and providing constructive criticism to creatives
Strong understanding of how to visually communicate themes through design & environment
Emphasis on traditional painting techniques in watercolors and plein air painting for cinematic storytelling is a plus
Proficient in crafting a cohesive, industry production-level visual look for the CG production within the scope of the project
Strong knowledge of color theory, lighting, staging and perspective
Significant painting and drawing experience necessary with proficiency in style of project
Strong organization and time management skills with proven ability to meet deadlines and keep a team on schedule
Prior experience working in CG animation preferred
Ability to mentor artists
Candidates must be able to provide applicable portfolio samples

Duties:

Define the overall visual style, including lighting, to guide storytelling, mood, and emotion
Work with the leadership to discuss creative vision and producibility for the project
Develop and communicate a clear design vision (including Characters, Locations, Props, Backgrounds, FX, Lighting, and Color) that will support the overall creative vision for the story and style of the project
Lead the visual development and design teams to develop a grounded world rooted in story
Create Key Art for lighters and provide guidance to push a painterly feeling in lighting to bring emotion, depth and atmosphere to scenes
Produce color keys and lighting concepts to establish the film's overall look, and collaborate with the team to design sets, implement textures, and make final creative decisions
Provide drawovers & suggestions to other vis-dev artists
Prepare for and lead design handouts by communicating overall direction, design requirements, and expected level of polish to the artists
Participate in design and color reviews, provide clear notes for revisions, and assist with revisions as needed
Ensure high-quality world building & character exploration
Report and review progress with leadership, address any challenges, and plan action items for the next day
Serve as the primary point of contact during creative reviews.
Work with EP, Producer, and other Creative Leadership to provide status updates, review progress, address any issues, and plan tasks
Participate in the talent acquisition process with the EP and Producer to review portfolios and tests, interview candidates, and provide detailed feedback
Guide and make sure art is on model
Mentor and support the artists and cultivate positive team morale

Head of story: (lead) [deadline 1/30]

NOTE: We will prioritize candidates who have prior animation industry production experience for this role. However, we are open to those who have experience guiding a story team from pre-production to completion. We are looking for a strong, steady leader and communicator to accurately convey the creative vision for the project to others, make sure that all artistic choices serve the story, and set a calm tone for the rest of the team. Our ideal candidate is looking to take the next step on their animation leadership journey.

Requirements:

Familiarity with Storyboard Pro, including Exports and Conforms
Strong drawing, layout, and cinematography skills with a demonstrated sense of storytelling, comedy, staging, composition, blocking, and character acting
Feature story sensibilities: comedy and heart.
Eye for continuity and tracking characters and layouts in a 3-dimensional space
Ability to limit and assess shot count by storyboarding efficiently and consolidating sequences while maintaining creative vision
Match boards to radioplay of dialogue
Ability to mentor storyboard artists in draftsmanship, camera, and character performance
Lead a team, of board artists and revisionists giving feedback and mentoring artists
Proven ability to meet deadlines and keep a team on schedule
Excellent communication skills
Excellent organizational and project management skills
Able to work independently and set appropriate priorities
Take direction when needed and also take the initiative where applicable
Prior Directing or professional Storyboarding experience preferred
Candidates must be able to provide storyboard samples and/or test

Duties:

Collaborate with the EP/Director and other Creative Leadership to discuss creative ambitions and artistic direction for the project
Execute creative vision of story; aligning bridge sequences handouts into one coherent character story, tone, and journey
Ensure delivery of a high-quality CG short film by assisting the story team in meeting deadlines
Conforming characters to stay on model
Ensure delivery of a high-quality CG short
Run story room meetings and board pitches
Provide drawovers and suggestions to plus boards
Report and review progress with leadership, address any challenges, and plan action items for the next day
Serve as the primary story point of contact during edit reviews
Remain aware of the scope of the project and available resources, and keep in mind resource allocation and making decisions on story and art
Work with storyboard artists to limit shot count and storyboard efficiently
Troubleshoot storyboarding issues
Delegate sequences and organize storyboard and revision handouts based on the story artist’s strengths to ensure overall story quality
Assist in edit sessions and provide input on timing and pacing
Report and review progress with leadership, address any challenges, and plan action items
Participate in the recruiting process with the EP/Director and Producer to review portfolios and tests, interview candidates, and provide detailed feedback
Participate in music & sound design spotting sessions, mixes if requested/as able
Take part in design reviews as needed to make sure the design is within scope
Mentor and support artists and cultivate positive team morale

Head of animation: (LEAD) [deadline 1/30]

NOTE: We will prioritize candidates who have prior animation industry production experience for this role. However, we are open to those who can help amplify others’ 3D animation performances and manage a team.

Requirements:

Ability to lead 3D animators in principles, camera, and performance
Ensure cohesive character storytelling based on boards
Feature animation performance sensibilities: authentic, comedic, and full of heart
Experience with Unreal Engine is a plus
Strong understanding of animation principles and applying it to a 3D workflow
Proven ability to meet deadlines and keep a team on schedule
Excellent communication, organizational and project management skills
Able to work independently and set appropriate priorities
Take direction when needed and also take the initiative where applicable

Duties:

Lead and mentor the animation & layout team
Working to realize the vision of the Director and leads and to implement the animation style and practices for the show
Supervise and support a team of Animation artists in executing all hero and crowd performances within the animation and design style of the show
Set the creative and technical vision/expectations for artists and is responsible for seeing that vision through
Liaise with the animation mentor to craft the strongest animation performances possible on screen
Delegate shot assignments based on animators’ strengths and address production progress with the Producer
Provide drawovers and suggestions to plus and polish performances, maintaining character consistency
Run animation review meetings
Ensure delivery of a high-quality short film
Mentor and support artists and cultivate positive team morale
Keeps the team informed with context for show-related changes and updates

unreal engine technical director: (LEAD) [deadline 1/30]

Ability to address Unreal Engine technical challenges during production
Ability to troubleshoot issues and optimize workflows
Bridge art, code, creating tools, shaders, and workflows in Unreal Engine
Experience with Unreal Materials, Niagara, and Rigging experience is a plus
Experience with Perforce etc., is a plus
Strong math and programming skills
Ability to support (non-technical) artists
Proven ability to meet deadlines and keep a team on schedule
Excellent communication skills
Excellent organizational and project management skills
Able to work independently and set appropriate priorities
Take direction when needed and also take the initiative where applicable

Duties:

Manage tech and software
Supervise Development Teams and offer technical supervision and guidance
Ensure and establish standards and procedures
Optimize assets and pipelines for performance and visual quality
Provide support for procedural content and technical art
Assist in establishing the show’s goals and strategize on future technical infrastructure on the show
Work closely with various departments including Editorial, Art, Story, Assets, and the Production management team to streamline and further the production workflow
Propose, design, implement, test, and support extensions to existing studio pipelines
Assist artists with troubleshooting and debugging of production issues
Maintain internal and user-facing documentation

cg supervisor: (lead) [deadline 1/30]

Experience in creating 3D environments, characters, and fx based on material provided by visual development team
Ability to mentor other modelers, surface artists, FX, CFX, lighters etc.
Ability to catch potential problems with models
Experience with Unreal Engine required
Experience with Lighting required
Proven ability to meet deadlines and keep a team on schedule
Excellent communication skills
Excellent organizational and project management skills
Able to work independently and set appropriate priorities
Take direction when needed and also take the initiative where applicable

Duties:

Collaborate with the EP/Director and other Creative Leadership to execute the creative vision for the project
Oversee modeling, surfacing, lighting, & provide feedback to artists
Act as a liaison between the artistic team & production overheads
Ensure all 3D environments, props, & characters have the best & most efficient quality
Assess the technical and aesthetic content of the script from premise to final draft and inform leads of any concerns
Collaborate with production management to ensure the technical and creative team is meeting schedule and quota goals on a weekly basis
Communicate any concerns proactively to the Producer and/or Production Manager
Help determine and schedule resource requirements with representatives of Production, Technical, and Artistic Departments
Facilitate technical and aesthetic aspects of animation production (Including rigging, animation, lighting, texturing, design, and FX)
Hold regular team meetings to give feedback/approvals
Responsible for developing a strong, flexible CG pipeline. This includes developing, maintaining (or approving) CG techniques
Provide additional technical support and training to production teams as needed
Evaluate and recommend relevant external shaders/plugins/scripts

asset supervisor: (lead) [deadline 1/30]

Requirements:

Experience in creating 3D environments & characters based on material provided by visual development team
Ability to mentor other modelers, surface artists, FX, CFX, etc.
Ability to catch potential problems with models
Strong understanding of how to rig a 3D character
Ability to create high-performing rigs
Strong understanding of how joints affect the character’s movement so for good deformation
Experience surfacing and texturing characters and environments
Experience with Unreal Engine is a plus
Proven ability to meet deadlines and keep a team on schedule
Excellent communication skills
Excellent organizational and project management skills
Able to work independently and set appropriate priorities
Take direction when needed and also take the initiative where applicable

Duties:

Collaborate with the EP/Director and other Creative Leadership to execute the creative vision for the project
Act as a liaison between the artistic team & production overheads
Oversee modelers, surfacing/texture artists, riggers & ensure there are no problems with the assets
Assesses scripts, early concepts and briefs and other reference material to help breakdown Assets requirements and bid out appropriately
Hold regular team meetings to give feedback/approvals
Creates and maintains training and discipline documentation, as needed
Craft, orchestrate and realize an Asset Workflow vision, mission, strategy and implementation schedule across multi-functional teams
Communicate any concerns proactively to the Producer and/or Production Manager

fx supervisor: (lead) [deadline 1/30]

Requirements:

Strong understanding of creating complex 3D FX animation
Ability to create efficient, art-directable FX setups
Experience with Houdini
Duties will include destruction, some procedural modeling,
CFX and some volumetric FX
Experience with Unreal Engine (Niagara)
Proven ability to meet deadlines and keep a team on schedule
Excellent communication skills
Excellent organizational and project management skills
Able to work independently and set appropriate priorities
Take direction when needed and also take the initiative where applicable

Duties:

Collaborate with the EP/Director and other Creative Leadership to execute their vision through defining and implementing FX and best practices for the show
Act as a liaison between the artistic team & production overheads
Participate with the Asset Supervisor to create an FX assets
Hold regular team meetings to give feedback/approvals
Creates and maintains training and discipline documentation, as needed
Communicate any concerns proactively to the Producer and/or Production Manager

editor: (lead) [deadline 1/30]

Requirements:

Must have access to editing software, Davinci Resolve preferred
Prior short film editing or television animation editing experience is preferred
Ability to articulate creative ideas
Experience with video and sound editing software and equipment
Knowledge of story structure, story pacing, timing, composition, camera work, color balancing, and sound theory
Strong attention to detail and excellent auditory and visual skills
Ability to interpret scripts and translate them into effective audio content
Ability to build an animatic from storyboard exports
Ability to build a final picture from renders and/or composites
Prior experience leading other artists including delegating, giving feedback, and providing constructive criticism to creatives
Strong organization and time management skills
Proven ability to meet deadlines and keep a team on schedule
Candidates must be able to provide applicable portfolio samples and/or test

Duties:

Work closely with EP/Director, Producer, and Casting Director to build and edit both an animatic and final picture that aligns with the creative vision
Receiving, organizing, and importing materials such as SFX, music, storyboards, renders/composites, etc. and building and editing the Animatic and Final Picture
Compile board reels for animators and deliver the final cut and export of the project
Create temporary sound design for reels, including finding temp tracks and SFX
Additional compositing help and/or sound editing as needed
Collaborate with Music Composer and Sound Mixer to marry sound to picture
Attend regular meetings for check-ins, review progress, address any issues, and plan tasks for the next day
Manage the day-to-day activities of the editorial team
Run editorial sessions to review and address editorial notes with Creative leadership
Reading and interpreting scripts, storyboards, and SFX notes
Editing and refining to ensure clarity and continuity
Ensuring a well-balanced and synchronized picture with visual content and sound effects
Creating and maintaining a comprehensive sound effects library
Attend writing and story-related meetings as needed
Partner with other art Leads to manage, mentor, and inspire a team of artists
Compile & edit BTS footage/assets for social media as needed

General Crew

Story artist: [deadline 1/30]

Requirements:

Strong storytelling skills and understanding of narrative structure
Ability to operate in a story-based production setting and take ownership of sequences
Strong understanding of camera use in visual storytelling.
Feature story sensibilities - looking for emotional storytelling with deep themes
Works under the Head of Story to align sequences with the project's creative vision

Duties:

Elevate story beats visually through a few rounds of feedback (thumbs, basic boards, polished boards)
Pitch boards to mentors and peers
Incorporate notes into board revisions
Basic board timing and exporting
Ensure project’s priorities and deadlines are met in a timely manner

designer (2d): [deadline 1/30]

Requirements:

Proficiency in creating detailed and visually appealing designs, including characters, backgrounds/environments, props, and FX
Ability to convey story and personality through design for CG animation
Ability to develop and iterate upon designs
Ability to collaborate with a variety of people and implement creative feedback

Duties:

Assist in producing assets such as backgrounds, sets, characters, costumes, props, FX, and other designs, collaborating with the EP/Director, Art Director, and other Creative Leadership
Create designs that maintain consistency with established color scripts and artistic style and provide a strong base for CG artists
Address feedback provided and make necessary revisions to achieve the desired look
Exhibit professional production practices such as clean layer organization, following naming conventions, using file templates, etc.
Ensure all artwork is properly backed up and stored appropriately with proper naming conventions
Ensure work is delivered in a timely manner

3d animator: [deadline 2/6]

Requirements:

Ability to bring characters and objects to life authentically
Attention to detail
Ability to exaggerate and create performances using Unreal Engine
Experience with animating athletic sports and prop rigging is a plus
Preferred: Prior experience in computer 3D character animation

Duties:

Animate characters based on storyboards, focusing on details and plussing performance
Craft visually interesting performances that serve the character and story
Ensure each character stays on model
Address notes for each revision round (blocking/layout, inbetweens, polish)
Liaise with Visual Development artists to assist with coloring character animation before project deadline
Collaborate with Rigger and Lighting teams to ensure all animations translate cleanly in final shots

composer: [deadline 2/6]

Requirements:

Ability to articulate creative ideas
Experience with music composition, orchestration and sound editing software and equipment
For this film, we are looking for someone proficient in Arabic music, with a few string and percussion instruments in mind for the score (oud, dumbek/darbuka)
Knowledge of story structure and music theory
Preferred: Proficiency in audio mixing and mastering but not required.

Duties:

Create an original composition for the film in collaboration with the EP/Director, Head of Story, and Editor on behalf of the creative team
Adjust and refine the score according to feedback
Deliver music project files and final exports of music ready to marry to picture

sound mixer / sound designer: [deadline 2/6]

Requirements:

Ability to articulate creative ideas
Proficiency in audio mixing and mastering.

Duties:

Collaborate with the Head of Story and Editor to mix audio levels of the project to enhance the story in one mix session
Receiving, organizing, and importing materials such as SFX and music
Creating and maintaining a comprehensive sound effects library
Create temporary sound design for reels, including finding temp tracks and SFX as needed
Deliver export of final mix to production team

cg environment modeler: [deadline 2/6]

Requirements:

Ability to translate 2D environments & props into a 3D world
Strong understanding of the 3D world & how to create appealing & efficient assets
Ability to address notes from overhead teams in an efficient manner
Experience with Look Dev using a combination of sourced and custom materials in a PBR workflow to be used in Unreal Engine

Duties:

Receive and complete assignments from Modeling Supervisor
Build 3D assets required for production in an efficient & quality manner
Collaborate with surfacing, lighting, and art teams to maintain visual consistency across environments
Ensure assets meet quality and performance standards for Unreal Engine
Support delivery of final environment assets for the project

cg character modeler: [deadline 2/6]

Requirements:

Ability to translate 2D character into a 3D world
Strong understanding of the 3D world & how to create appealing & efficient assets
Knowledge of anatomy and expressive facial modeling
Ability to address notes from overhead teams in an efficient manner
Experience with Look Dev using a combination of sourced and custom materials
Hair groom creation in Xgen or Houdini is a plus
Experience with Unreal Engine and Metahumans is a plus

Duties:

Receive and complete assignments from Modeling Supervisor
Build 3D assets required for production in an efficient & quality manner
Collaborate with surfacing, rigging, and animation teams to ensure characters are production-ready
Address feedback and revise models as needed to maintain consistency with the short film’s visual style
Ensure character models meet quality and performance standards for Unreal Engine
Support delivery of final character assets for the short

cg rigger: [deadline 2/6]

Requirements:

Experience in creating rigs for 3D characters & props
Strong understanding of joints & human movement within a 3D character
Experience rigging in Unreal Engine

Duties:

Create 3D rig for character or add to Metahuman rig
Ensure there are no faults in the rig for smooth animation
Collaborate with animators to ensure rigs support performance needs
Address feedback and make adjustments to rigs as needed
Maintain consistency and usability of rigs throughout the production process

surfacing / texturing artist: [deadline 2/6]

Requirements:

Experience with Unreal Engine materials
Familiarity with CG surfacing and texturing workflows for animated productions

Duties:

Create materials and look development in Unreal Engine for 3D assets
Apply textures that align with the project’s visual style and tone
Collaborate with lighting, modeling, and art teams to ensure materials are correct in final shots
Adjust and refine materials based on feedback to maintain consistency
Help ensure all surfacing work supports the final look of the CG short

fx artist (environment and/or character): [deadline 2/6]

Requirements:
Experience in creating FX shots for animated sequences

Experience with using Houdini Destruction & Vellum for CFX
Experience with Unreal Niagara is a plus

Duties:
Create effects for certain shots based on storyboards

Ensure FX remains visually consistent across sequences
Collaborate with directors, lighting, and artists to ensure FX supports the overall mood and story in each shot
Address feedback and make revisions to FX as needed
Support the delivery of FX for the short

Lighting artist: [deadline 2/6]

Requirements:

Experience with lighting a scene in an animated sequence
Understanding of how light affects objects within a 3D space
Experience with Unreal Engine
Experience with Unreal Materials, Look Dev, and painterly lighting and painting experience

Duties:

Create lighting & atmosphere within a scene, depending on the mood of the scene
Light shots with attention to visual continuity across the film
Collaborate with directors and other artists to define lighting directions for scenes, characters, and cinematic moments
Adjust lighting based on feedback from directors, leads, and mentors
Collaborate with compositor/renderer to ensure lighting translates effectively in final shots

compositor / renderer: [deadline 2/6]

Requirements:

Experience with rendering 3D animated sequences
Strong understanding of Unreal Engine and how to create high-quality renders of shots
Comfortable reviewing shots for visual consistency and overall quality in a CG short-form animated project

Duties:

Render animated shots to ensure the highest quality
Review rendered shots for visual consistency across sequences
Experiment with rendered visuals to execute the creative vision
Adjust renders based on feedback from directors, leads, and mentors
Help identify and flag render, lighting, or visual issues with shots that may impact the film
Collaborate with lighting, animation, editing, and production teams to address issues
Support preparation and delivery of final rendered shots for the CG Short

technical artist: [deadline 2/6]

Requirements:

Strong understanding of Unreal Engine & Niagara
Strong ability to troubleshoot and problem-solve
Strong teamwork and communication skills

Duties:

Optimize assets and pipelines for performance and visual quality
Assist in pipeline improvement, procedural content, and technical art support
Assist in resolving technical bottlenecks that affect delivery of the CG Short
Support artists by helping troubleshoot technical, performance, or workflow issues and communication with production team
Collaborate with artists and leads to help maintain visual quality while meeting project constraints
Metahuman and Unreal Engine rigging experience is a plus

perforce / dev artist engineer: [deadline 2/13]

Requirements:

Strong understanding of Unreal Engine & Perforce/DevOps
Best practice knowledge for productions working across multiple locations
Depot hosting and troubleshooting knowledge required
Knowledge of GitHub is a plus

Duties:

Manage and scale our source control infrastructure for Unreal Engine
Ensure a responsive, stable, and efficient development environment, specifically for handling files and workflows for cinematic production
Assist with troubleshooting or workflow issues that impact the team
Help maintain consistency in file structure and project setup throughout production
Support artists and production by helping keep assets organized and accessible
Work closely with the production and technical leads to support day-to-day operations
Support the delivery of the CG short by helping ensure assets are properly managed

Frequently Asked Questions

program overview

What is the CG Short Production Program?
The Asians in Animation CG Short Production Program is an industry simulation training program, part of the Animation Industry Immersive Lab initiative, designed to provide experience to emerging Asian animation creatives with the skills and experience needed to produce an animated project at a professional industry level. The idea and leadership were selected through the 2025 Development Lab.

Participants will walk away with a completed 1-2 minute CG animated short. Through training and mentorship, individuals will gain both creative and professional leadership and team practices.

This program is meant to be a fellowship training program or course to mimic the standard animation pipeline for educational purposes. It is being run by industry professionals with consulting & mentorship by senior-level industry professionals.

Has AIA done something like this before?
This is a new program being developed by AIA, based on similar Immersive Lab projects such as the 2024 and 2025 2D Short Program, 2025 Development Lab, and 2025 TV Pre-Production Program.

What are the 2026 CG Program dates?
Hiring and Interviews will take place in January & February 2026. The program will start in late January/early February and run until approximately September 2026. Different roles will have different active times, based on the CG pipeline.

What are the 2026 CG Program hours?
The primary hours of work and communication will be between 8 AM - 9 PM PT, Monday - Friday. This does not mean you are expected to be available or work the whole time, just that these are the main times the chat will be active and meetings will take place. You are able to work asynchronously at other hours or days.

Who can apply to the 2026 CG Program?
This program is only open to active registered AIA members. We are looking for people with some previous pipeline experience.

I'm not Asian, can I still apply?
AIA’s mission is to champion and uplift Asian voices and this is an incubator geared towards Asian talent. However, we are open to those of all backgrounds participating in a crew (non-leadership) capacity and will evaluate candidates on a skills and fit basis.

Can I apply to this program if I am a part of the AIA volunteer team?
Yes! However, understand that this is not considered part of your volunteer duties.

Is there any cost to participate in the CG Program?
Yes. There is a $35 one-time program fee. If you have already paid your annual membership dues (dues paid in 2025 are good for the membership year through September 2026), are an AIA volunteer, or mentor, you are exempt from this. Payment of this program fee counts as your membership fee for 2026. Please contact [email protected] if you have further questions.

I'm interested in joining this program, but I'm not currently an AIA member. If I apply to become a member now, would I still be eligible for the program?
Yes. Upon completion and submission of the AIA membership form, you will meet the eligibility criteria to participate in the program: https://bit.ly/aiamemberapplication

Is the Program open to candidates who reside outside of the United States?
Yes. This program is completely virtual, and we welcome all candidates regardless of your location. It is the responsibility of each applicant to provide their schedule and attend meetings or watch recordings/read notes on any they miss.

What is the story & art style?
The story is about a young boy using his imagination to cope with the war-torn world of Yemen. It is based around the effects of real-world conflict on children, with some magical realism. Visually, we are going for realistic detail and lighting, with stylized characters and a painterly, watercolor finish.

application process

When does the application period open and close?

CG Program Applications open on January 12th, 2026, and close on January 30th for Leads, Production and Pre-Production (Design/Story) roles and on February 6th for all other roles.
Preference may be given to applicants who submit earlier.

How many positions can I apply for?
You are welcome to apply for multiple positions. Please be clear about your preferences and goals.

What is the application process for the CG Program?

Review all program details available on our website, including position descriptions and requirements.
Complete and submit your application through the provided Airtable link. Please note that the application form does not auto-save, so write your answers on a separate document before filling it out.
Read and agree to the Program Participation Agreement document linked on the application form. By submitting your application, you agree to abide by the terms outlined in this document.
Once your application has been screened, selected candidates may undergo a virtual screening process. This interview will allow us to further assess your eligibility for the role. Alternatively, leads may reach out with additional questions or requests.
When the review process is completed, selected participants will receive an email from AIA. This email will confirm your acceptance into the program and include any additional details or instructions.
Failure to complete the required onboarding tasks will forfeit your participation in the program, and we will move applicants off the waitlist.

What are the portfolio requirements for applying to this program?
Applicants for artistic roles are required to provide a portfolio website link showcasing a minimum of 3 to 5 relevant work examples corresponding to their chosen position.

For non-artistic roles, candidates can optionally submit production planning documentation or samples demonstrating organizational proficiency.

Does this program require previous experience?
No professional industry experience is required, though it is preferred. We are looking for applicants with some production experience who are ready to take the next step towards becoming a leader. Applicants will be reviewed based on their form answers, resumes, and portfolios, if applicable.

Which software programs are recommended for the CG Program?
We are planning to use Google Suite (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, Tables, Sites, Calendar, etc.) for files and Discord for communication, and encourage participants to download the Discord and Google Calendar mobile apps, and Google Drive for desktop apps, as well as use or create a Gmail account.

Artists will likely have to provide their own software, but we are open to using free or low-cost versions of software, so long as they are compatible with the standard formats of the end product.

Examples of Software:
Maya, Houdini, Blender, Unreal Engine, Substance Painter, Photoshop, Toon Boom Storyboard Pro, G Suite, AirTable, Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, Audacity, etc.

If you don't have access to any of these programs, you can find free resources available to you here: https://bit.ly/aia-lab-freesoftwares

program logistics

What kind of workload can I expect during the CG Program?
Participants can expect a workload of around 10-20 hours a week, which may vary depending on the role and time of the pipeline.

Availability for the entire duration of your role is required, although daily work schedules may vary depending on the department.

Participants are discouraged from working overtime and are expected to communicate with the production management staff to determine delivering work at a healthy and sustainable pace.

Approximate Duties By Role

Producer & Production: Track production milestones for the completion of the script, beat boards/style frames, and visual development, assets, and manage the production team and artists. As well as taking notes and distributing them across departments to keep the larger production in sync.

Art Director: Manage artists and create visual development work, and establish the artistic style of the project.

Head of Story: Manage storyboard artists, create Beat Boards and Style Frames per major moment of the piece, (10-20 estimated), do draw overs for artists in department to guide them towards strong composition and a good flow of movement that will cut together in the edit, guide board artists towards a cohesive vision that’s aligned with leadership and agreed upon showstyle.

Design Team: Create 2D art and designs for all characters, backgrounds, and moments that can be used as references later down the production pipeline as we model, rig, and light. 2-4 pieces each week.

Asset Supervisor:
Guide the process of asset model and look development based on Visual Development art. Guide the team in environments and character modeling to create high-detail models for cinematic production. Provide base assets for FX to work with as well.

Character Modelers
Bring vis dev art to life in 3D models that are fit for rigging and animation. Create and source textures where applicable. Sculpt corrective blendshapes that stay on model. Create Hair Groom.

Environment Modelers:
Create hard surface environment and prop models based on Vis Dev.

Rigging Supervisor:
Guide the rigging team on best practices for workflow and participate in rigging characters and props.

Rigging Artist:
Rig characters and props.

FX Supervisor:
Responsible for creating procedural FX like destruction, CFX and Volumetric FX. Guide the FX team by creating or assisting in key setups for use in shots.

FX Artist:
Create or put into use FX setups for destruction, CFX and Volumetric FX on shots.

Animation Team: Create character, prop and camera animation that brings out the emotion and character indicated in the animatic. Keep the character on model and push poses and movement for maximum effect.

Animation Supervisors:
Convey the vision of the Directors in guiding the animation team in creating camera layouts and character performances to tell the story in the most engaging manner possible. Convey technical needs to Rigging and other relevant departments.

Look Dev/Surfacing Artist:
Create or use textures provided for characters, props and assets with materials to achieve art direction of film.

Lighting Supervisor:
Work with color keys from the Art Director to bring the emotions and story to life through lighting and rendering. Guide lighters in maintaining a consistent cinematic vision. Create Sequence lighting setups.

Lighting Artist:
Work with sequence lighting setups and customize per shot to bring out the story intention of each shot.

Technical Artist:
Support artists in technical processes related to software use, ie, Maya, Unreal Engine.

Perforce/DevOps Engineer:
Create and maintain a Perforce depot for the project. Figure out hosting, and help artist with technical issues and best practices.

CG Supervisor:
Assist in the overall CG process, working with each department to help guide the process of creating the intended vision of the film. Main emphasis is on working with department supervisors to ensure that final scene assembly is correct and focus on lighting and final comp.

Editor:
Update edit with boards to create the animatic and continue to refine throughout the production process.

Composer:
Use culturally appropriate instruments and music for the score of the film. Bring out mood and emotion with the score.

Sound Designer:
Create sound design to help tell the story. Foley sounds and sound effects, as well as final mixing with the score.

What is the time commitment/What if I have a full-time job?

We aim to be accessible to those with full-time jobs and similar commitments, and will work to schedule meetings based on participant availability.
However, availability may affect placement based on the majority of the participants' schedules.
We hope to provide an asynchronous option for many meetings and reviews if participants can't attend a particular meeting; however, participants should make attending meetings when possible a priority.
If there are times when you cannot make meetings, you will be expected to catch up on what was missed and still submit feedback/work if expected by your role. Another participant may be assigned to step up to fill your role temporarily, or in cases of recurring absences, permanently.

What happens if I am not able to fulfill the duties expected of my role during the CG Program?
If you fail to fulfill the tasks expected of you during the program, you may not receive credit on the final product and may be asked to leave the program.

How will the team communicate with each other once accepted into the program?
The team will communicate with each other through Google Meet, Email, and Discord.

How much will AIA be involved?
You can think of AIA like mentors or execs at the studio. We will provide feedback and guidance, and in uncommon cases, steer the production for the sake of the bigger picture. The AIA team aims to make sure that you can make your creative vision a reality, smoothly and effectively, with the available resources and people. AIA does expect full transparency and an open and safe working environment. This includes communication with weekly updates, periodic check-ins, and milestone deliverables with notes and implementation.

post program

What will you do with the end product?
The short will enter the festival circuit, then be put on AIA’s social and YouTube channels after that run.

We may create marketing materials or small merchandise based on the product, with all proceeds going back to AIA's non-profit funding for future initiatives.

Can I use my work in my portfolio/socials? What will be shared publicly and when?
Yes! After the completion of the program/with creative leadership go ahead, the main goal of the program is to give people simulated industry experience and build their portfolios with a chance to get multiple rounds of feedback/notes on their work. All work should contain proper and clear credit for who worked on which aspects, as well as reference back to the organization.

We will share both the final products, WIP designs, as well as production material (such as breakdowns, notes, schedules, etc.) to serve as education on the AIA and/or program sites after completion of the program.

Who owns the IP and materials created?
AIA owns the film and IP as it was created during the Development Lab. We work closely with the creative teams to make sure that they are able to bring their vision to life and with future marketing and distribution. Materials produced for production are encouraged to be used in portfolios and on social media after the proper dates in coordination with film and festival releases.

CG Program Team

Production Program Team
Chief Creative Officer & Program Executive Producer - Saira Umar
Head of Production - Alice Jiang
Program Team - Faith Baptista, Ashley Whang, Lucy Kirkpatrick, Jennifer Vu, Brynn Straley,
Andrew Velazco, Vivian Le, Mackenzie Endlich, Harini Shree Uma Pachaiyappan, Gaby de la Cruz, Kim Quach

CG Short Production Team 2026
Directors: Adnan Hussain, Madison Lin
Line Producer: Brittaney Chang
Writer: Amir Agoora

Special Thanks
Lexie Chu, Katie Dizon, Anna Maria Folsom, Kaitlyn Chen, CJ Tugade, Abigail Setera, Bethany Tong, Dani Yuan

2026 CG Short Production Program

Key Information

Dates & Times

Eligibility

Participant Goals & Objectives

Have Questions?

Applications

Open Positions

Leadership Crew

General Crew

Frequently Asked Questions

CG Program Team