Life & Work with Christina Oyebade

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Oyebade.

Hi Christina, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in the Bay Area. As a child, I was always extremely busy trying to look good for college, but few things I did genuinely gripped my interest and brought me joy the way drawing did. In the small moments between band and sports and STEM and whatever other of the 1000 things I was participating in, I would draw. I’d always relegated art to being a guilty pleasure, so the moment I found out that I could pursue art as a career, I worked earnestly for what felt like the first time to get into art school. Add a few wild years of art school and self-discovery, combined with a Pixar internship, and here I am!

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?
I would say my journey hasn’t been as easy as I’d hoped, but it’s been better than most. Financial obstacles weighed heavy on me– my immigrant parents worked hard and made many sacrifices to get me to college. Couple that guilt I carried with my initial lack of film knowledge, and I felt I had to work harder than anyone else and put myself through hell in order to make my degree “worth it” and be able to pay my parents back. It took months and months of conscious work on my end and support from my friends to unlearn that guilt-ridden “hustle mentality”. Unfortunately, I suspect my story isn’t unique. Otherwise, I’m blessed to be a part of many different communities that support each other and give each other resources to succeed!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a Character Designer and Illustrator working in the Animation industry! Right now, I’m working with a wonderful team at Titmouse on a comedy series. I’m also involved with designing an independent short film called Mmanwu, about a Nigerian-American teen returning to Africa after the death of her grandfather.

I’m known for my unusual, iconic shapes and warm colors! When I interned at Pixar, my mentors told me that I was good at creating energetic and charming character interactions as well as breaking and remaking rules in design to create punchy characters that felt real. Understanding the interaction between rhythm and shape across all media is a unique pleasure of mine, and experimenting with design logic is like magic to me. I’ve been heavily influenced by Japanese animation, manga, and music since I was little, and while I’m always inspired by all kinds of media nowadays, those design sensibilities still peek through!

When not designing for animation, I also illustrate in children’s literature. I’m currently working with the Kerengende Foundation on a children’s graphic novel series focused on empowering children. I’m busy, I know.

What are your plans for the future?
At the moment, the animation industry is in dire straits. The looming threat of AI combined with myopic, greedy executives more interested in profit than sustainability makes it difficult for workers who love their craft to see a real future for the medium they love. Who knows if the animation industry will still be in California in a few years? I’m willing to fight to make that happen.

For now though, I’d love to dive into feature work and look into Art Direction. I feel I need to learn what it means to be a “director”, and that comes with time and experience. Of course, I take just as much joy in the journey getting there as I do in arriving at the destination. It all sounds good to me! Either way, I hope that I’ll still be able to draw all day and get paid for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chroyeart.wixsite.com/website
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiff_pippi/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-oyebade/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kiff_pippi
• Other: https://linktr.ee/kiff_pippi