Rising Stars: Meet Daria Khil of Glendale, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Daria Khil.

Hi Daria, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up in Ukraine, I was that kid always making stuff up, creating imaginary worlds, characters, and stories. I didn’t even doubt my path as an artist until my grandpa said that art wasn’t a real job. To prove I could make it work, I started freelancing, illustrating children’s books when I was 14. My career path was all over the place — illustration, 2D animation, game concept art, even directing commercials. Each gig helped me realize I was meant for animation, like when I kept sneaking animation even into my concept art for games.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
After my Bachelor’s, I took a huge risk, quit my job, and moved to the US to chase my dream. I had to hustle through SCAD’s Master’s program in one year because, well, living here isn’t cheap. The job search felt like forever, especially when I had to turn down my dream job offer for the trainee program at DreamWorks. But I kept at it and finally landed at the studio as their first Story Artist Intern. Now, almost three years in, I’m working on Dog Man and Forgotten Island. All the amazing people and creative vibe at the studio keep me going, and I’m excited to contribute to fun and inspiring stories from here.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What keeps me hooked as a story artist is the chance to wear a million hats. I’m happiest diving into all sorts of tasks. Besides shaping stories, I get to design characters and worlds, set up 3D scenes for epic action shots, or cut animatics that feel like editing a mini-movie. Sometimes, I even animate cinematic moments packed with cool effects. I love pushing boundaries, trying new tools, and blending skills I picked up from my previous experiences.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Despite all the challenges the animation industry is going through these days, I’m excited for what’s to come. I feel like the audience is craving fresh and unique stories and visuals. I see the movies that make experimental choices become more and more popular. Indie filmmakers and small teams who share their stories with the world are a big inspiration for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dariakhil.blogspot.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daria_khil