Animator Co-op (Summer 2027 - 8-months - Sports Tech )

Description & Requirements

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.

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.

EA’s Character Animation Research Team (known as the A-Team) is a small team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. We’re committed to advancing the field of Character Animation. Our vision of the future is one where video-games characters not only look believable, but move convincingly, as well. Our technology is shared across multiple games in EA including FC, Madden, NHL, skate.™, Battlefront, Dragon Age and more.

We're looking for an undergraduate Animator Co-op student to join our EA SPORTS Tech A-Team for an 8-month internship beginning in May 2027. You'll receive mentorship from our Senior Technical Animator and collaborate directly with experienced animators, engineers, and ML experts to help shape the future of character animation.

Unlike a traditional game team animation role, this internship offers the unique opportunity to work directly with the team building the technologies that power animation across EA. You'll gain hands-on experience with these tools and systems, develop an understanding of how they're created and improved, and build valuable skills that can translate to virtually any game team.

Responsibilities:

• Become familiar with EA’s proprietary game engine, the 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/pipelines.

• Learn how partner game teams work across EA by assisting with tool adoption, debugging, and workflow feedback.

We encourage candidates from all backgrounds who meet the core requirements to apply, even if you do not meet every qualification.

Requirements:

• You must be legally authorized to work in Canada for the entire internship - visa sponsorship is not available. 

• You must be enrolled in an accredited degree program and return to school for at least one semester following your internship with EA.

• You must be graduating in May 2028 or later, including the time needed to complete your internship (for example, you must be returning to school for at least 1 semester following your co-op with EA). 

• Relocation support may be available if you meet specific eligibility criteria.

Qualifications:

• Currently pursuing a degree in Animation or a related technical discipline.

• Entry-level experience; 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.

• Interest in motion capture data, rigging, or scripting (Python/DCC tools) is a plus.

Preferred Technical Skills (Nice-to-Haves)

• Python scripting.

• Node-based programming.

• Interest in vibe-coding and using AI agents in their work.

Application Information:

• You must clearly indicate your expected graduation date in your resume to be considered.

• Submit a portfolio/ demo reel with your animations.

• Please apply with examples of projects, games or tools you've made major contributions to (links welcome). If multiple people worked on a project, describe exactly what your role was.

• Are you interested in games? Let us know! Game jams, mods, engine projects (Unreal, Unity, Godot or your own) and clubs all count.

• Are you involved in any extra-curricular activities or clubs? We want to hear about them!

• Submit a cover letter and tell us why you’re interested in this position with EA!

Pay Transparency - North America

• British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria) *$60,000 - $65,000 CAD

Pay is just one part of the overall compensation at EA.

About Electronic Arts

We’re proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.

We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.

Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.

General Information

Locations: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 

Role ID

216233

Worker Type

Intern - Temporary Employee

Studio/Department

EA Studios - SPORTS

Work Model

Hybrid