Today we’d like to introduce you to Pearl Low.
Hi Pearl, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi! I’m Pearl Low (they/them) a Cantonese/Jamaican Director, Storyboard Artist, Writer and Founder of Orange Blossom Studios. I’ve worked in animation for over 10 years, and have worked in publishing for 5. My cultures and love for animation have shaped me into a storyteller. I’ve always been drawn to stories with magic – the magical girl genre had a huge influence on me as a child– and seek to create fun art that reminds us of our humanity, and how we can grow with one another.
When I was a child, cartoons/anime were like a second parent to me. I am an only child, and grew up in an abusive household. I turned to television for a lot of comfort, guidance and an escape. The shows I watched back then (Cardcaptor Sakura, Inuyasha, Pokemon, Ghibli Films..) were so inspiring to me. They made me feel excited, hopeful, and that I too, could go on amazing and magical adventures!! Animation gave me so much joy and made me feel safe, and I wanted to give that feeling to others too.
I started to draw probably at the age of 7, and just never stopped. In high school I learned that REAL PEOPLE made animation!! Not just some machine! I wanted to be a part of a team that made my favourite shows come to life, and so, I just kept drawing, trying to learn more about my craft. When I was about to graduate from high school my mom did the Asian Immigrant thing and did not allow me to study animation in college. I was so upset; I had no interest in being a doctor, lawyer, or engineer! Though, I was super lucky that the parents of one of my high school art classmates had Storyboard Artists as parents! Her parents heard I wanted to go into animation and they set up a coffee date with my mother and I. They laid out how a real career could be built in animation (it was a different time, sigh). My mom was convinced with the evidence they presented and allowed me to study animation in college, haha.
I did a two year program at Capilano University, and got my first job at Kickstart Entertainment. Honestly, looking back I’m so grateful for the people who believed in me. After graduation, no recruiters contacted me to hire me for work, except for one: Heather Puttock. I started my job right away!
Fast forward a decade I’ve been able to work on some incredible projects with incredible people. I’ve become the Director and Creator of my magical girl meets sports anime series, “Wheels & Roses”, and have directed at Sanrio and Studio Smokescreen. I have storyboarded on projects such as Hair Love (Sony Pictures Animation), Craig of the Creek (Cartoon Network), #1 Happy Family USA (A24) and Canvas (Netflix). My work has earned myself an Oscar for Best Animated Short film for “Hair Love”, an NAACP Award for Outstanding Short Film for my work on Canvas, an NAACP Image Award nomination for my episode “A League of Maya’s Own (Craig of the Creek)”, and an Annie Award Nomination for Best Writing TV/Media for my work on the episode, “Whose Dimension is it Anyway?” (Craig of the Creek).
In Publishing, I have worked for Scholastic adapting two volumes of the series, “The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids” into graphic novels. I’ve also worked for OwlKids magazine and Great Books Foundation creating educational and engaging illustrative materials for children in grades 2 to 5.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The animation industry is tough, especially with the identities that I have. For me in particular, I feel like people are incredibly comfortable using my creative ideas/expertise as a free resource, but will not accept me into roles where I am qualified. I’ve been in pitch meetings with major feature film studios, and at the end of the meeting receive a round of applause. “Wow, we have no notes on your pitch. We never have no notes!” the executives told me, but I still did not land the role of director. There are many things out of our control, but when it comes down to experiencing the -isms (racism, colourism etc.), it feels a particular kind of hurtful.
Due to the many intersections I also exist at, I’m not easily placed into one category, and sometimes, neither is my work. From what I’ve experienced of American culture so far, it’s that being “categorizable” is favoured. That’s just not who I am though! Life is so colourful, and so are the people that exist in this world, and I try to reflect that in my storytelling. I love genre-bending– which is what Wheels & Roses is all about! I love speaking from my personal Asian and Black experience. I love calling on my experience being queer as I create too.
Sometimes people tell you, “no” because what you’re doing is outside of the definition they have for you as a creator. ESPECIALLY when you’re a (queer) Black woman, I feel this is true.
I know I’m a great creator, and regardless of what people tell me, I will continue to live my truth. Not out of defiance, but out of respect for myself! I am a storyteller, and genuinely growing and improving my craft is really important to me.
Plus, I just want to have FUN making cartoons!!! Haha.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I wear many hats (Founder, Executive Producer, Director, Creator…) but overall I would say that what I do is Storytell. Creating art to explore the world, myself, and the people around me is what I strive to do in my artistic practice! I specialize in Animation (Directing and storyboarding in particular) and also in graphic novels. I’m a character-driven creator, and I love telling stories that depict character growth and self-discovery. Throughout my work (Hair Love, Craig of the Creek, Canvas…) I really try to bring my characters to life by treating them like real people. Characters in stories are bits and pieces of all of us, and so in a way, they are real people.
My most notable work would probably be with Sanrio directing their Hello Kitty, Kuromi and Cinnamoroll ASMR shorts, Hair Love, Craig of the Creek and Canvas. My work on Hair Love won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. I’ve received an NAACP Image Award nomination and Annie Award Nomination for Best Writing in TV for the episode, “Whose Dimension is it Anyway?” on Craig of the Creek. My work on Canvas also won an NAACP Award for Best Animated Short Film!
Anyone who knows me also knows that I love MAGIC– especially the magical girl genre. What I’m most proud of is creating something my independent animated project Wheels & Roses. It’s an idea I’ve had for around 6 years, and it’s a piece of art that I’ve created from the heart. My indie animation studio Orange Blossom Studios teamed up with indie animation studio NuBoom Studios, and we have created something AMAZING (if I do say so myself)! Our proof of concept trailer drops January 2026 on Youtube, and I’m so excited to show the world what we’ve been able to create. Wheels & Roses has been such a labour of love, and it’s taught me how powerful I can be as a creative, and how I can become even stronger when including others on this journey too.
I would say what sets me apart from others is my unique sense of creativity, and how I inject joy into every story I tell. I have a super specific lived experience, and I do not shy away from including that in my art; I think that’s what makes my work special!
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Believing in myself. My colleague AJ Howard often says to me, “trust the vision” and I really take that to heart. If no one else will believe in my vision, I at least got to have my own back!! I have to believe in my own art. Like I mentioned earlier, sometimes people tell you, “no” because what you’re doing is outside of the definition they have for you as a creator. A “no” from someone just means, “not from them”. It is not the end!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Pearllow.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orangeblossom__official/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pearl-low-%E5%8A%89%E5%AF%B6%E7%8F%A0-they-them-37232696/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OrangeBlossomStudios
- Other: https://www.orangeblossomstudios.com/
Image Credits
For the animated screenshots:
Credits: Orange Blossom Studios & NuBoom Studios
