Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuxin LI.
Hi Yuxin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Like many parents in China, mine started “hot-housing” me from a young age. I was no exception. Since elementary school, I’ve attended various extracurricular classes, starting with recitation and piano, then moving to drawing. Looking back, I’m grateful that my parents spent time and money to explore my interests from a young age. I studied recitation for less than a year, realizing I had no interest in it, and that there was no need for such dramatic speech in daily life. Piano, in hindsight, feels like a regret. My parents spent a lot on the piano, I still remember my piano teacher commenting on my long fingers being suitable for playing. But after years of repetitive practice, playing the same piece over and over until I could almost play it backward, I lost interest. The pressure from my mom and the lack of understanding of its purpose made even sitting at the piano painful. Eventually, the only thing I continued was drawing. I don’t think I had innate talents like Picasso or Van Gogh, but starting from fourth grade gave me enough time to build confidence, leading me to pursue a bachelor’s in art and design. It wasn’t until I was about to enter the industry that I realized my deep interest in Japanese and American animations and sci-fi movies from a young age. During my undergraduate studies, I gradually realized that I actually had a deep love for animation. This realization was the driving force behind my decision to continue studying animation in the United States and eventually led me to enter the visual effects industry.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Actually, from my time in school to my work life, I’ve always considered myself quite fortunate, having not faced many struggles. However, the recent Hollywood strike has impacted my job. I am concerned about the development of AI and the future prospects of our industry. But before all this, I am truly grateful and feel lucky to have entered this industry right after graduation. I’ve encountered many colleagues and leaders in the company who were willing to help a newcomer like me, and I’ve learned a lot about industry processes and animation for visual effects in film.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a 3D artist. I graduated from the Animation program at SCAD. I mainly focus on 3D animation now. I joined a visual effects company right after graduation, where I was responsible for character animation. What makes me particularly proud is that I got to be involved in some major projects as soon as I joined the company, such as La Brea 2, One Piece, and Let the Right One In, etc. Being a foreigner in both my school and company, I’ve turned my diverse cultural background into a strategic asset. For instance, my graduation project was an animation inspired by traditional Chinese shadow puppetry. This diversity is a cultural asset and a source of creative inspiration. On the other hand, having studied fine arts and design since elementary school fuels my ability to come up with innovative design ideas consistently.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Try to meet as many people as possible. It’s important to make friends in school because it’s hard to find so many peers of the same age after graduation. The friendships formed in school are the purest, free from any conflicts of interest. Beyond school, it’s also vital to maintain your hobbies. For instance, I’ve made many friends through fishing. Even though they’re not in the same field as me, I find that people with similar interests often share similar personalities and values. Some of them are older and have more life experience. I really enjoy talking to them; I can learn from their experiences and stories, which helps me make better choices in life and avoid unnecessary detours.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://usen3danim.myportfolio.com/work
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yusencaughtafish4909/videos
