LAIKA Studios
Job Overview
- Company: LAIKA Studios
- Job Title: Costume Fabrication Intern
- Job Type: Internship (Temporary)
- Location: Hillsboro, Oregon, USA
- Work Model: 100% On-Site
- Seniority Level: Internship / Entry-Level
- Required Experience: Junior/Senior Standing or Recent Graduate (within 12 months)
- Salary Range: USD $20.00 per hour (Fixed / Non-negotiable)
- Reporting Structure: Reports to Costume Fabrication Lead / Shop Supervisor
- Industry: Motion Pictures, Animation, and Textile Arts
Company Overview: Crafting the Miniature World
LAIKA Studios is a world-renowned leader in the art of stop-motion animation, dedicated to the belief that hand-crafted stories possess a unique soul and enduring magic. Located in Hillsboro, Oregon, LAIKA Studios operate at the cutting edge of cinematic innovation, merging centuries-old artisanal techniques with state-of-the-art technology. Every character we create is a masterpiece of engineering and artistry, designed to perform under the intense scrutiny of the camera lens.
Inside LAIKA Studios Costume Fabrication department, we don’t just “make clothes”; we engineer miniature garments that must withstand the rigors of frame-by-frame animation while maintaining perfect scale, silhouette, and movement. We are a community of specialized creators—tailors, painters, and engineers—who thrive on precision and creative problem-solving. As we move forward with our latest feature-length production, we are seeking a Costume Fabrication Intern who shares our obsession with detail and our passion for the textile arts.
Role Overview
The Costume Fabrication Intern is an immersive production role designed for an emerging artist with a strong foundation in garment construction and a keen interest in the specialized world of stop-motion puppets. Unlike traditional fashion or theatrical costuming, stop-motion costume fabrication requires an understanding of how fabrics behave at a 1:5 or 1:6 scale.
As an intern, you will work alongside some of the industry’s most skilled professionals, gaining “hands-on” experience in every facet of the fabrication process. You will be challenged to adapt your existing sewing and patterning skills to the unique demands of animation—where a costume must not only look beautiful but also hide complex mechanical armatures and support the specific, repetitive movements of an animator. This role offers a rare glimpse into the “renowned stop-motion expertise” that defines our studio’s visual identity.
Key Responsibilities & Production Duties
The successful intern will be integrated into the workshop workflow, assisting with both the creative and technical aspects of costume development.
I. Patterning and Construction
Technical Fabrication: Follow complex reference images, character designs, and construction notes to fabricate costumes and individual costume elements with extreme precision.
Pattern Manipulation: Assist in patterning garments using various techniques, including draping on miniature forms and flat pattern manipulation.
Intricate Assembly: Execute extremely fine hand sewing, cutting, fusing, and gluing. The scale of our puppets requires a level of detail that traditional garment construction rarely demands.
Understructures: Assist in the creation of support structures (both hard and soft). This includes integrating wires and rigid forms to manage fabric “memory,” as well as foam and fabric linings that enhance character performance.
II. Textile Artistry & Embellishment
Surface Design: Assist with the embellishment of fabrics using techniques such as embroidery and specialized textures while ensuring the fabric remains pliable for animation.
Dyeing and Color: Participate in the dyeing and color-mixing process to ensure textile colors match the established character palette under production lighting.
III. Documentation & Shop Operations
Process Documentation: Help maintain detailed, concise, and easy-to-follow instructions for all patterns and fabrication processes to ensure consistency across multiple versions of a single puppet.
Workshop Upkeep: Contribute to the general maintenance and organization of the costume shop, ensuring a safe and efficient working environment for the entire team.
Instruction Adherence: Accurately translate verbal instructions and design feedback into physical prototypes.
Required and Preferred Qualifications
Academic and Professional Requirements
Educational Standing: Currently enrolled as a Junior or Senior in an accredited college or university, or a recent graduate (within the last 12 months).
Field of Study: A major or concentration in Fine Arts, Film, Fashion Design, Costume Design, or a related field is required.
Technical Portfolio: Applications without relevant samples, portfolios, or reels will not be considered. We are looking for work that demonstrates high-level sewing skills and a deep understanding of fabric.
Technical Skills & Competencies
Garment Construction: A basic but solid understanding of fabric properties, pattern cutting, draping, and professional sewing techniques.
Color Theory: Basic knowledge of dyeing techniques and the ability to mix colors accurately.
Digital Literacy: Preliminary knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for the purpose of reviewing designs and assisting with digital textile design.
Soft Skills: Strong organizational abilities, a collaborative mindset, and excellent communication skills are essential for success in our studio environment.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
Costume fabrication intern is a physically engaging role that requires a high degree of manual dexterity.
Physical Demands: While performing these duties, the employee is required to stand, sit, and use hands to operate specialized equipment. Precision work requires the ability to reach, balance, and stoop.
Vision: The role requires exceptional close vision and the ability to adjust focus for finely detailed tasks (e.g., threading needles or micro-stitching).
Lifting: Ability to lift and/or move materials weighing up to 15 pounds.
Environment: Work is performed on-site in a professional studio workshop with typical office noise levels and variable indoor temperatures.
Application Process & Important Deadlines
Application Deadline: Friday, March 27, 2026, by 6:00 PM PDT.
To be considered for the Summer 2026 cohort, please submit the following:
Resume & Cover Letter: Detail your relevant experience and your interest in stop-motion.
Portfolio: Provide a link to a digital portfolio showcasing your best work in garment construction, embroidery, or textile arts.
Accuracy Check: Please read the job description carefully to ensure your materials highlight the qualifications mentioned.
Compensation: This position offers a set, non-negotiable rate of $20.00 per hour.
To apply for this job please visit www.laika.com.