Hi Ling! Welcome to Focus! It’s nice to have you here with us!
1. Please describe your journey to animation and directing. What drew you towards this field?
My journey into 3D animation began with self-learning in China. After working in Beijing for a year, I realized that my skills needed further development due to being self-taught. This led me to San Francisco, where I studied 3D character animation at the Academy of Art University. After securing internships with both AE and Disney; two of the major companies in our industry; I started wondering how I could push myself further and challenge myself to become a better artist. Directing and completing a short film seemed like the perfect goal to help me grow. It
was an opportunity I hadn’t explored before, and I was excited about the chance to push myself and evolve as an artist.
2. How did you balance your roles as director and animator for your project? Do you think one influences the other?
Absolutely, as a director and an animator, these roles influence and complement each other. In practice, I didn’t do much animating for our project; instead, I focused on providing feedback to our animators based on my own experience as an animator. I learned from how my supervisors gave feedback to me. I applied those insights to my animators and help them improve their work. Being an animator gives me a better vision for refining the quality of the animation, which I believe enhances my effectiveness and professionalism as a director.
3. How do you go from concept to final animation? Can you walk us through the creative process?
The process began with a rough idea of the story and a basic vision for the character design. I started by sketching and then pitched my vision to friends who were more experienced in the field. Their feedback helped refine the design and storyboard, transforming my initial concepts into something more polished.
We progressed from a rough story to a final storyboard, and from initial character designs to their final versions. For example, we spent a lot of time discussing details like the pattern and color of the spider. This involved researching and collaborating with teammates to ensure the final design was both accurate and visually appealing. Once we had the final 2D designs, we moved on to our 3D work, which included modelling, texturing, surfacing, and rigging. During the rigging process, we tested how well the rig functioned, focusing on details like the movement of our characters’ eyebrows, antennas, eyelids, limbs, and other features to ensure they matched our vision. After the animation was complete, we moved on to lighting. Beyond ensuring the lighting was beautiful, we focused on the focal points of each shot, making sure the overall lighting setup highlighted these key areas. Our goal was to guide the audience’s attention directly to the intended focal point in each shot, ensuring that the storytelling
remained clear and impactful.
Finally, we integrated the music and sound effects. We worked closely with the music team to ensure the audio complemented the storytelling and enhanced the overall experience. Throughout each step, we faced
challenges but strived to ensure everything looked fantastic in the final film. Below is an example of how we developed our spider character: Reference, brainstorming, and rough design stage: Final 2D design of our spider: Modeling, rough texturing, and rigging stage:
4. What are your biggest challenges that you faced while making this animated movie, and how did you overcome them?
I would say that every step of the process was very challenging for us. We faced difficulties in building the team, presenting and pitching ideas to artists and friends, and even convincing them to join our project. Sticking to the schedule was another major challenge. We often fell behind and struggled to keep up with our timelines because most of the team members were quite busy. We only worked on the project in our spare time, which was very limited. Another significant challenge was working remotely. It made communication difficult, and there were technical challenges as well. For example, one of the rigs was never fully finished or satisfactory, so we had to bring in another rigging artist to help. This caused problems for our animators, who had to work around these issues. Lighting was also a big challenge. We had to adjust the environment and character designs during the lighting process because we didn’t have the technology to fully achieve my initial vision. In the end, we had to
compromise and make the best of the situation.
5. How did you collaborate on your vision with the team? Was it challenging, or did you guys glide smoothly?
When each teammate joined our project, my producer and I always conducted an onboarding presentation with them. This was something we did every time, right from the start. We wanted to show how we had progressed from the initial 2D concept to the stage we were at. It was important to convey to the new team members that we were serious about this project. This wasn’t just an assignment or a random project. We were genuinely committed. If someone wasn’t interested in fully contributing, they had the option to leave. But for those who wanted to
stay, this presentation was our way of making sure they understood the level of dedication we expected.
During the presentation, I would show them our designs for the short film and demonstrate the quality we were aiming for, using my spider animation test as an example. Our goal was for the final animation to surpass that test in quality. No, from what I remember, things never went smoothly. There were always challenges, as I mentioned before. Sometimes they were technical issues, but other times they arose from our own limitations as artists. We weren’t all professionals, so our quality sometimes fell short of the vision we aimed for. However, we kept pushing ourselves to improve. I did my best to motivate and challenge our artists to meet our goals. So, while it wasn’t a smooth journey, we kept moving forward, making compromises as we went along, but never losing sight of our goal.
6. If not animation, then what would have been your true calling?
I honestly don’t know. Animation has been my passion for my entire life. I can’t imagine what I would do if I weren’t in animation; it’s hard to picture. Sometimes, I think about other things I enjoy, such as hiking or cooking; maybe I’d become a chef. Or perhaps I’d be a gym coach since I love fitness. But honestly, besides animation, I’m not sure what my true passion would be, so it’s difficult to imagine anything else.
7. What do you think makes an animated character memorable?
I believe what makes an animated character memorable is empathy. When watching a film, if you can relate to the characters; if their situations or experiences remind you of your own personal memories; it creates a strong connection. This connection makes the audience remember the character and believe that the character is alive.
For example, in our film “CHAIN”, the mantis is striving to achieve her goals. At the end of the story, she realizes that a larger challenge, represented by the bird, is awaiting her. This conveys the idea that even when we overcome obstacles, there are often even bigger challenges ahead, much like the continual difficulties we face in life. I wanted to communicate this message to our audience through “CHAIN”, hoping they would resonate with the characters.
Similarly, in Inside Out 2, the character Anxiety’s emotions are relatable, which makes the character memorable and endearing in an emotional way.
8. How do you approach the design and development of animations and make your movie stand out?
Regarding design, we start with a rough concept, but after the initial pass, we conduct extensive research to ensure the design is believable. We gather materials, consult with more experienced artists, and continuously iterate on the design. Every detail matters; whether it’s a pattern, the color of the eyes, or the shape of the eyebrows. We keep
polishing and refining these aspects to make the character better and more engaging. I’m not sure if our movie truly stands out, as we faced challenges like a limited budget and less advanced technology, which affected the quality
of our work. However, we did our best with the resources available to us. My hope is that the audience can see the dedication and effort we put into the project. Even if it isn’t the best they’ve ever seen, we want to convey the passion we have for our work. Our goal was to create something meaningful and heartfelt, and I hope that resonates with viewers.
9. As technology is evolving, so is animation. How do you see the animation industry progressing, and what is your plan to adapt to the changes in your work?
Currently, technology in animation is advanced enough to achieve nearly any vision we have. However, that’s not quite the case for our project, as we had a limited budget and resources. We were a group of passionate, emerging artists who were still learning. In a broader context, the animation industry is facing significant changes. With the rise of AI, companies are reconsidering their need for traditional artists. Recent strikes have highlighted these challenges and the uncertainty within the industry. Despite these changes, my personal goal is to continually improve as an artist and animator, striving to offer something that AI cannot replicate. My plan is to focus on creating life and depth in characters through traditional hand-key animation. While I might explore AI as a tool in the future, for now, my focus remains on honing my craft and staying true to the art form.
10. How do you integrate storytelling into your animation work?
Integrating storytelling into animation involves understanding and conveying the director’s vision shot by shot. As an animator, I focus on capturing the specific emotions and story details required for each scene. I make an effort to understand the character’s feelings; whether they are confused, happy, or experiencing other emotions; and translate that into my animations. By following the director’s storytelling approach, I aim to bring each shot to life in a way that supports the overall narrative.
11. Considering you are a first-time filmmaker, what are your future plans and goals?
As I mentioned previously, my immediate goal is to continue improving as an animator. In the future, I hope to collaborate with other passionate animators and artists on short films. However, for now, my focus is on honing my craft and developing my skills further. While I don’t have a detailed plan at the moment, I’m open to opportunities and collaborations that may arise, particularly if we have the resources to achieve higher-quality animation.
12. We loved working with you. I hope you too feel the same. We wish you the best for your future!
Thank you so much for the interview opportunity this time and for supporting our team and our film. We are truly grateful for the chance to share our work and insights with you. It has been a pleasure working with you, and we appreciate the platform you’ve provided to showcase our project. We wish you continued success and look forward to future opportunities to collaborate.
