We receive a lot of emails and messages asking for work, internships, and opportunities of any kind. It’s absolutely astounding how many of these messages are lazy and spammy. This is a surefire way to exclude yourself from ever working with the places you’re messaging.
This week, we received a particularly alarming message from an aspiring animation student, and we thought it would be a good learning opportunity to help aspiring students write better emails and messages to studios.
Here’s the message we received. We’ll explain why this is really bad and then help you write a better one :)
"Hi, I am a second-year animation student at Portsmouth University, and I really love what your studio does. I am inquiring to see if you have any internship opportunities next year. I would love to offer my perspective and experience to your company while learning everything I can from your current staff. If you want to contact me further, please use this email address: Email@gmail.com"
If you’re serious about wanting an animation internship, it’s so important to stand out in the right way.
The message we received is a good example of what not to do. It is the first impression a studio or representative will have of you, and it screams lazy!
This is not what you want to convey. If you are lazy in your outreach and don’t put in the effort to write a thought out message, they will not give you a chance.
What Went Wrong and How to Fix It:
"Hi, I am a second-year animation student at Portsmouth University, and I really love what your studio does."
Who is writing the email? What’s their name? Always introduce yourself. Address your message to someone specific. If you can’t find a name, a warm, professional greeting like “Dear (Studio Name) Team” works better than nothing.
Not friendly enough. There’s no “I hope you’re well” or “I hope this message finds you well.” Start with something polite and positive to set the tone, like “I’m really excited to reach out to you.”
Studio? What studio? Be specific! What does this studio do that you love? Mention a specific project or detail that connects you to their work. This shows it’s not just a generic copy-paste message.
BIG RED FLAG: For those who know Lupin House, we offer character animation mentorships for acting in feature film. We are not a studio. Don’t call a business something it’s not. Show that you’ve taken the time to understand who they are and what they do.
If you don’t take the time to make your outreach specific, I would recommend not reaching out at all. Even if the odds of a reply are slim, putting in effort and research is essential.
"I am inquiring to see if you have any internship opportunities next year. I would love to offer my perspective and experience to your company while learning everything I can from your current staff."
Vague request: Saying “any internship opportunities” is unclear and puts the burden on the recipient to ask follow-up questions. Be specific! If you’re looking for a character animation internship, say so. This makes it easier for them to see if you’re a fit.
Unclear timeframe: “Next year” is too broad. If you’re in school, you likely have a tighter timeframe. Specify the months or dates you’re available.
Overestimating your offer: As a second-year student, your perspective and experience are not your best selling points because you won’t have much of either yet. Focus on your attitude, passion for learning, dedication, and any previous projects you’ve worked on.
“Current staff” is too vague: What staff? Animators? Lighters? Riggers? Be specific about who you’re hoping to learn from and why.
"If you want to contact me further, please use this email address: Email@gmail.com."
Friction and effort: Asking them to reach out to a different email address adds an unnecessary layer of friction. Don’t make them work harder to contact you.
Instead, suggest next steps or ask a soft question that might get a easy response. Example below.
Tone matters: A positive, professional tone can make a huge difference. Show that you’re enthusiastic, serious, and eager to learn while remaining humble.
How to Write a Better Email
There’s no “perfect” email or message, but here’s an example of a more thoughtful, professional, and specific approach. This example uses Fortiche for inspiration with minimal research. Please don’t copy it, but feel free to use it as a guide.
Subject: Internship Inquiry - John Doe
Dear Fortiche,
I hope this message finds you well! My name is John Doe, and I’m a second-year animation student at Portsmouth University focusing on character animation. I recently watched the Arcane series, and I was inspired by how stylized and polished the animation was. The shot where Jinx hugged Vi was incredible! I can’t imagine how complex that was for the animator and, it was so beautifully animated. I would love to know who animated that shot!
After watching Arcane, I explored your other projects and love how artistic and stylized ALL your work is. I really enjoyed the Rise music video.
I’m reaching out to see if you might have any internship opportunities for character animators between July and September. It would be a privilege to learn from Fortiche’s talented team and contribute to your projects in any way I can.
Since I started learning animation, I’ve been digging my teeth into everything I can to improve. Alongside my university studies, I’ve taken mentorships and courses to improve faster. I’m extremely passionate and determined to make it in this industry, and I’d love to dedicate myself to learning from you and helping your team.
I’ve attached my showreel, where you can see my work from Portsmouth University as well as the additional mentorship shots I created during my 9 -week mentorship at Lupin House.
I would love the opportunity to discuss any potential openings you might have.
If there are no positions available between July and September, I’d appreciate knowing the best time to apply in the future.
Thank you so much for your time! I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
John Doe
As mentioned above, Lupin House is a school focusing solely on character animation and we don't teach outreach. This example may not be perfect, but it represents what we’d like to see if you were to message us, as it ticks many of the right boxes.
It shows that you’re passionate, dedicated, and willing to put in the extra work to succeed. It demonstrates that you’ve researched the studio and appreciate their work. The email is specific to the studio, friendly, and professional.
It makes clear:
Who you are.
What you want.
When you want it.
Why you want it.
It also makes it easy for them to answer you.
At the end, you ask for a response, so even if they don’t have an opportunity for you, they might reply with alternative dates or suggestions.
This message has a friendly, professional tone and leaves a positive impression.
We hope this helps! Good luck out there!!!
" Do the work that others won’t, and you’ll achieve the results they don’t have."