Today we’d like to introduce you to Bijiao Liu.
Bijiao, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was studying business and law in undergraduate back in China 3 years ago, but now, I’m a graduate student studying animation at UCLA, life became much more boring when it’s more predictable. In China, most of the people think it’s for the best if they can find a stable job after graduation, but I’ve changed my mind after I experienced a volunteering program in Europe.
I was a teaching assistant for an art high school in a small town in Portugal, I always wanted to pursue my passion for art, but always stepped back since I spent all my time studying science instead of drawing like other art students, but right there at the high school, the students are feeling no fear to express themselves. No matter whether they have the perfect perspective or anatomy skills, I felt deeply in touch with their powerful paintings, also I had the chance to travel around Europe at that time. I felt like the world is so big and full of possibilities, I should not just live in the box.
So after I went back, I started to change my mind and think about another way out. I chose animation is because when I was little, I was a big fan of all kind of animations, my mom always like”why are you so obsessed with it “I answered”you are an adult, you will never understand” but my mom said”but animation is made by adult as well”, I was shocked and whispered to myself “damn, you are so right”, so it made me make up my mind to be that kind of adult when I grow up too, I forgot my dream for a while during high school and college, but after I graduated, I finally found it back again, and luckily, I got the offer from UCLA. That’s how my journey starts.
Has it been a smooth road?
No, it was and it is still super challenging. I still remembered my first day at school, everyone had a sketchbook and keeping drawing stuff all the time. My classmates are all super talented artists, most of them are from different backgrounds but they already had many years of drawing experience, even though before I applied. My experience at Portugal tells me that everyone has the right to pursue their dream no matter how good they are, but once I got the chance to be professional, the skill is still the most important thing to have. I am always jealous of the artists when every time I read their interviews, they are all like,” I started to draw since I was a kid”, I loved drawing when I was little, but I was focused to quit because I have more “important” subjects to study, like math and biology….
I was fell behind so much when I went back to art, and they still keep improving themselves, it did make me feel upset for a long while, but after I thought thoroughly about it, even though it may takes me longer to learn, but as long as I have patience and willing to invest my time in, I still could acquire the skill at the end. I read a twitter and still find it so right” Anyone can learn to draw, it’s just a skill. But it’s a skill we teach so rarely and so poorly that it seems like a gift from the fates.”
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Bijiao Liu – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am an animator, I already had two short animations now, and currently working on my thesis film, I’m really proud that my first short film had 3 winner & 6 nominations from California International Festival,Columbus International Film Animation Festival, Best Short Competition etc film festivals, it is about a boy falls into a game world, and my second year film is about the character is playing game but at the same time the game is playing him as well, I’ve always fascinated by the concept of game, and I’m always curious about all the unknown stuff outer space, but most importantly, I want to make audiences laugh and have fun when they are watching my films.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I like the most about the city is that we have all kind of chances to meet the people in person we might only had a chance to see them on the internet before, all the artists I admire, the directors I love, all the famous actors and actresses, we have chance to see them talk with them, and even could work with them, all kind of fair, expo, film premiere that makes me feel so close to the industry I love.
I like it the least is the huge difference when I drive through the “rich” neighborhoods and “poor” neighborhoods, I feel so bad for all the homeless when I see rich dump the decent meal they can’t finish, and the quality of the road change so fast in-between the two neighborhood, I thought California is the most democracy state in the US but even their road is not democratic enough.
Contact Info:
- Website: bijiaoliu.weebly.com
- Instagram: akuma689
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