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Breaking In: Breaking Into Animation/Games Industry as a 2D Background Artist Post Graduation
Details
Breaking In: Breaking Into Animation/Games Industry as a 2D Background Artist Post Graduation
APPLICATION GROUP 1
Applications Open:
January 28, 2026
THIS CIRCLE IS PERFECT FOR
- Recent grads
- People attempting to break into the industry
- People looking for a career change
WHAT TO EXPECT
- Portfolio reviews
- Information on what the art production industry is like
- What hirers look for + branding
- The mental side of being an artist
WHAT NOT TO EXPECT
- Learning software/drawing from scratch
- Learning animation, sound design, project production, or other areas in detail
- Job offers
Qualification Criteria
Aspiring Professional (0 yrs of experience)
Day / Time
Times Per Month:Â TwiceÂ
Day / Time:Â Saturday 1PM
Timezone: CST
* You must meet the qualification criteria AND be able to attend the posted day/time of the circle (please note the timezone posted)
CIRCLE DESCRIPTION
Your portfolio is out there, you’re applying to jobs, you’re full of excitement, and you’re hearing nothing back. What next?
In this circle, you will learn everything you need to know to:
- Â Set your portfolio apart from the average applicants.
- Find jobs you may not even know exist that you might love.
- Narrow in on weaknesses in your portfolio and develop a plan on how to overcome them for better returns in the future.
- Â Develop an attitude of resilience and confidence that will make you a better candidate for your goals.
- Learn how to handle that interview/art test.
- Know how to protect yourself and be prepared for the curveballs the industry can throw you.
This circle will be best suited for people focused on 2D background career paths in animation/games (background painter, layout artist, concept artist, vis dev artist, etc) who have graduated recently with a body of work available to review.
ADDITIONAL Application Requirements
Please submit the following as part of your Application Profile:
*(AFTER you click to apply, you must go into your member profile and complete the member-specific portion; these requirements should be submitted through that profile):Â Â
- N/A
Circle Leader
Ashley Lange
Hi! My name is Ashley Lange. I am a background artist at Powerhouse Animation Studios in Austin, Texas. I’ve been fortunate to have clients such as Sega, Epic Games, Netflix, Blizzard, Devolver Digital, Viz Media, Airship Syndicate, and many others. Despite how overjoyed I am to be doing the work I do today, getting to where I am now was never guaranteed. My journey was slow, difficult, and required a massive amount of leaving my comfort zone, teaching myself new skills, leaning on friends, and meeting new people to get there. Hopefully, through WIA, I can help others do the same to get to where they’d like to be!
