Today we’d like to introduce you to Serena Cheng
Hi Serena , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Rena is an animator and illustrator with a deep passion for artist alleys at anime/comic conventions, where she showcases and sells fan-made merchandise featuring Hololive EN VTubers and VOCALOID singers. With plans to expand into new themes, she continually explores fresh creative avenues.
When it comes to original work, Rena draws inspiration from the punk and heavy metal scenes, often depicting girls with a bold, rebellious aesthetic. Growing up in Hong Kong, she often felt out of place in a culture that emphasised conformity. This led her to gravitate toward the unconventional – finding beauty in what stood apart from the norm.
As she approaches graduation, Rena is preparing to step into the animation industry, eager to bring her distinct artistic voice to new projects.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like anyone’s journey, mine hasn’t always been smooth. Growing up in Hong Kong, it was difficult to find others who shared my love for punk and heavy metal music or aesthetics. Sometimes, people even made fun of me for it. Whether at school, work, or among friends, I often felt like the only one with these interests. But after moving to the U.S. for university, I finally found a community of people who love the same things I do. The concert scene here is wild and way more abundant than in Hong Kong – I’ve been having the time of my life going to as many shows as I can. The people I’ve met in these spaces have also been incredibly kind and welcoming. Hopefully, one day, Hong Kong will have a bigger and more visible community for this culture too.
As an illustrator and animator, creative struggles are inevitable. It’s never a matter of finding ideas – if anything, I have too many. The real challenge is finding enough time to bring them all to life. I often have to prioritise the pieces I’m most excited about within the time I have. But at the end of the day, I just hope that people connect with my work and enjoy what I create.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an illustrator and animator who specialises in bold, rebellious character designs inspired by punk, metal, and emo aesthetics. My work is heavily influenced by the music I love – bands like Pierce the Veil, Spiritbox, The Clash, and Babymetal – and I often imagine animated music videos set to their songs. Over time, I’ve developed a cast of original characters that embody these influences, and I’m working to bring them to life through a series of illustrations (and hopefully more in the future!).
What I believe sets me apart is that I rarely see other Hong Kong artists creating characters inspired by punk and metal aesthetics like mine. Growing up, I struggled to find people who shared my love for these styles, so my work became my way of expressing that passion. I think my work carries a unique blend of influences – shaped by my upbringing in Hong Kong while also drawing from Western punk and metal culture. Since moving to the U.S. for university, I’ve found a community that shares my interests, which has inspired me to push my art even further.
Right now, I’m a little proud of my recent portraits of my original characters. They represent a style and attitude I’ve been refining and searching for for years, and they feel uniquely me. My goal is to develop these characters and ideas into something even bigger – something that fuses my love for illustration, animation, and storytelling.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Recently, I started reading A Clockwork Orange after watching the film, following a professor’s recommendation to study its storytelling techniques. The novel’s distinctive writing style has been a huge source of inspiration, showing me the power of unconventional narratives. Its success has also reinforced the idea that breaking away from the norm isn’t just okay – it can be groundbreaking. I hope to create work that challenges the status quo, pushes creative boundaries, and, one day, resonates as deeply as A Clockwork Orange has.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/glitched_rena/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glitched_rena/
Image Credits
glitched_rena
Carina Wu
Ebelle Shum
Alice Leung
