Connect
To Top

Meet Daun Kim

Today we’d like to introduce you to Daun Kim.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Daun. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
After high school, I was accepted into college as an engineering major and spent a year focused on mathematics, physics and programming, even though I did not have any specific engineering specialty to focus on at the time. At the end of the first year, It was not interesting for me, so I started thinking about what I really wanted to do with my life, which I had never done before. I begin by observing and asking myself: What do I enjoy without getting bored? What am I passionate about? When do I feel happiest and most satisfied?

In the meantime, “Frozen” got released. I went to a theater to watch it. I watched “Frozen” more than four times in: 2D, 3D, IMAX and even 4D. Sitting in the theater, I was overwhelmed by the aesthetic of the film and the depth of the visual storytelling. I also found myself inspired by watching how the audience of different generations reacted to the animation. I have watched so many films and animations before, but this was a new and different experience that I never felt before. Since then, I started dreaming of being part of the animation industry, and not just a fan of it.

In 2015, I discovered Ringling College of Art and Design through an internet search, applied, and was accepted. For four years, I worked hard on my education in Computer Animation, mastering my required classes that contributed to where I am today. Their rigorous and challenging program trained me well in programs like Autodesk Maya, that are used in the professional animation industry. I had to study not only animating but also the overall pipeline of making animation; idea pitch, storyboarding, visual development, modeling, rigging, layout, texturing, shading, lighting, composting and editing. This hard work accumulated towards my thesis, the short animated film called ”Don’t Croak.” (Which won Best Animation Series at the College Television Awards 2020)

After graduating Ringling College, I moved to California and started working as a Previs/Layout Artist in the LA area.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It was challenging to learn the many demanding new programs, master the artistic skills and complete the overwhelming amount of assignments that were not in my native language. Not to mention the physical exhaustion due to staying up late to meet the demanding requirements of the rigorous Ringling professors. Although my education was a struggle, it was enjoyable and satisfying and prepared me well for a job in the industry.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I worked as a director, writer, and producer for my short film “Don’t Croak” which won multiple awards, including the Best Animation Series in College Television Awards 2020. Although I enjoyed working on all aspects of “Don’t Croak”, I developed a deeper interest in camera and cinematography through this project and it directed my career path to be a layout artist after graduation. Working as a Previs artist at The Third Floor Inc., I had amazing opportunities to participate in multiple big company projects such as Disney, Marvel and Warner Bros. I recently worked at Pixar as a Camera & Staging Intern in the Layout department. I am currently working as a freelance previs/layout artist, animator, and CG generalist.

The biggest reason why I like being a previs/layout artist is because they tell stories through the camera. The camera is like a bridge that connects the audience and the world behind the screen. It decides how the audiences view a scene and support them to get absorbed in the story. The other reason is that it has a lot of collaboration with other departments such as story, editing, set, and animation. On a personal level, it is exciting to confront all the diverse challenging problems that may arise, and find creative solutions by collaborating with innovative teammates who have the same goal: To make a great film.

What’s your favorite memory from childhood?
Although there are a lot of memories that I cherish from my childhood, I would say my favorite one is the day I met my dog, Rookie. That was 12 years ago. While I have been away in the US, she is living with my family and her son in Korea. Last week was her actual birthday, haha. I was begging my parents to have a puppy for more than five years at the time and they refused to let me have one. One day, I was at home watching TV, as it was summer vacation, and I got a random phone call from my dad saying a white baby poodle will be at our home soon. At first, I thought he was joking, but later I found it was real! His coworker’s dog gave birth to several puppies and he was giving them up for adoption. I was so thrilled and slept on the floor with my puppy for three months until she learned how to jump on to my bed and sleep with me. I think that is the reason why she thinks of me as her friend, or sister, rather than her master. She is a bit confused about the pecking order. And that’s fine with me.

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Daun Kim

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in

  • Portraits of the Valley

    It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them...

    Local StoriesJanuary 20, 2025
  • Portraits of Hollywood

    It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them...

    Local StoriesJanuary 20, 2025
  • LA’s Most Inspiring Stories

    Every neighborhood in LA has its own vibe, style, culture and history, but what consistently amazes us is not what differentiates...

    Local StoriesJanuary 20, 2025
  • Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know

    Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a...

    Local StoriesDecember 30, 2024
  • VoyageLA Gift Guide: Services Spotlights

    Our goal as a publication is to encourage more folks to spend their dollars with small businesses, artists and creatives.  Our...

    Local StoriesDecember 15, 2024
  • VoyageLA Gift Guide: Experiences to Consider

    Our goal as a publication is to encourage more folks to spend their dollars with small businesses, artists and creatives.  Our...

    Local StoriesDecember 15, 2024
  • VoyageLA Gift Guide: Products from the Community

    Our goal as a publication is to encourage more folks to spend their dollars with small businesses, artists and creatives.  Our...

    Local StoriesDecember 14, 2024
  • Portraits of LA

    It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them...

    Local StoriesNovember 18, 2024
  • Podcast: Your Journey As An Actress

    We’re so lucky to have a great guest with us today to discuss your journey as an actress and so much...

    Partner SeriesOctober 22, 2024