Where could I find an animation internship?

Disney.

Pixar offers stellar animation and design internships, but you really have to jump on them early.

Check with your local affiliate TV stations.

Pixar and Disney are only going to take the best of the best.
And, you will still have to take a number.
by all means go for it

But, if you are great. You will eventually be working for them.
Right now be realistic and practical. Your goal is to spend more time doing and less time dreaming.

I attended RIT for design. I had two different peers who interned at Disney. Internships aren’t jobs. They are training sessions…sometimes paid…most times not. You do alot of the grunt work for other people in the environment that you would eventually like to work in. The bigger studios take on alot of interns. Send applications to any venue you find out about and don’t hesitate to take a shot at interning for any of the bigger studios. Part of achieving your dreams is to understand that there is a process to getting there and not letting anyone deter you.
Make sure you have your professors review your resume and portfolio before you forward it.

It would help to know whether or not you have any skill in animation.

@GeorgeGee – assuming I do. Just looking for studio name suggestions . . .

@ChazMaz and @Joybird – yeah, I’ve conditioned myself to not expect too much from this first venture . . . do you happen to know of any smaller studios that might be more open to interning art-school students?

If your education were worth anything, you would already have had a history of animation course and would know who the major players are.

@GeorgeGee There are many minor players around, though, who are just as good for building experience. History =/= future. With the diversity in the industry, there are more places to go.

What kind of animation do you do? What area do you specialize?

@shadling21 – I prefer working in 2D, hand-drawn and digital, or but I have experience with Flash, and a little of 3D (mostly modeling and texturing).

I should’ve been more specific in my question . . . I am looking for smaller, lesser-known studios whose names people might not know off the top of their head (Laika, Cartoon Saloon, etc.). I appreciate all the helpful comments so far :)

@GeorgeGee – That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

“the major players”, the meat and potato ones. Are usually off the radar.
Plenty of times you stumble across them.

@efritz – A good resource is the Chamber of Commerce. They will have a listing of all the Post Production and Video Production Houses in your area.

@ChazMaz I know quite a bit about this business, thanks; I have been involved in computer animation since before most people had even seen a computer. Most firms do not hire interns unless they’re quite well informed, fluent in Maya and/or 3DS Max, and knowledgeable about the industry. So pointing out that one should have already had a history of animation course in which to learn who the major players are saves a lot of slammed doors in one’s face. Regardless of which, here are some of the major players, which SHOULD be obvious to anyone who is actually ready for an internship:
Pixar Animation Studios, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), PDI/Dreamorks, Blue Sky Studios, Dreamworks Feature Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Sony Pictures Imageworks, LucasArts, Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Rhythm and Hues Studios, Tippett Studios, Digital Domain, and Reel FX Creative Studios are among the major firms. Have a look at magazines such as Computer Graphics World for a more comprehensive list.
Someone who is not nearly so far along in animation skills might consider work with a law firm doing “forensic animation,” for instance recreating accidents. The competition isn’t nearly as stiff and the results don’t need to be nearly so perfect.

My boyfriend is finishing his training in 3D animation. For 2D, he recommends finding work through www.motionographer.com – look at the 2D videos and find out what companies created them. 2D work is mostly in commercials, so that’s your best bet. 3D is less hard to get a job in. The key is having a great demo reel.