Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuxin Feng.
Hi Yuxin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a story artist at Pixar Animation Studio in the Bay Area, California. Originally from Hangzhou, China, my hometown is renowned for its rich history and breathtaking scenic spots. Growing up there, I was deeply influenced by the artistic and storytelling traditions of the region. Moreover, my mom has always been my biggest supporter, encouraging me to pursue my passion for art from a young age.
My journey began when I enrolled at the China Academy of Art in 2011. Surrounded by talented artists, I found constant inspiration and had the opportunity to explore various forms of fine art, such as wood printing, Chinese traditional art, watercolor, and sculpture. It was during this time that I first delved into animation and created my short film, “Mayfly.” After graduating, I joined the video department at Netease Games, one of China’s top gaming companies. Here, I further shaped my skills in storyboarding and 3D animation. After a year, I had the privilege of directing some of their CG trailers.
However, my true passion lay in feature animation rather than gaming. In 2019, I made the decision to come to the United States and pursue further education at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. Two years later, I was fortunate to secure an internship at Pixar Animation Studio, and eventually, I transitioned to a full-time position as a story artist at Skydance Animation in Los Angeles. My time in LA was incredibly fulfilling due to the inclusive atmosphere and the vibrant artist community. Although my stay was only a year, the city’s energy never failed to inspire me, and I formed lasting friendships along the way. While I have since returned to Pixar as a story artist in 2023, I will always cherish the memories and experiences I had in the LA community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
At this point in my life, it’s pretty much a one-track journey. I’ve always known that I wanted to be in the animation industry from a very young age, and now I’m here. I feel incredibly blessed to have the support of my family and friends on this road. Without their help, I wouldn’t have been able to overcome the obstacles that came my way. However, I believe that nowadays we’re facing an even bigger challenge with AI art in the future. It requires us to be more creative and innovative, telling captivating stories that audiences would love to experience in theaters. I realize that I need to learn more than just focusing on my draftsmanship. One film that I truly love and find inspiring is “Spider-Man: Cross the Spider-Verse” because it’s refreshing and shows us the potential about what we can explore in the future.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am responsible for creating storyboards and providing creative ideas based on the script. I work closely with the Story Supervisor and a team of other story artists to translate a screenplay into a visual medium. Utilizing all elements of animated filmmaking – including screenwriting, cinematography, editing, illustration, and animation – I develop, produce, and pitch imagery and storyboards to execute the Director’s vision. As a story artist, being consistently creative is essential to excel in this role.
In 2022, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Riot Games on three short film projects. Director wanted me to use an innovative vlog-style approach. So we decided to storyboard the story in a way that mimicked a real vlog, with visuals designed to reflect the protagonist’s perspective and provide a firsthand experience of their journey and emotions. By bringing the story to life in a relatable and immersive way, we were able to connect with the audience on a deeper level. This resulted in nearly 5 million hits on YouTube and gained us a global following.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the best pieces of advice I can offer based on my own journey is to actively build connections. I used to be quite shy and hesitant to ask others for advice, especially online. However, as an international student in the US, I didn’t have as many local resources available to me. Therefore, I had to push myself to reach out to people more frequently, seeking their experiences and hoping for advice on my portfolio. Stepping out of my comfort zone was intimidating, but it turned out to be the most valuable thing I’ve ever done.
I discovered that people are usually very open to helping others, and reaching out often leads to work opportunities as well. When you decide to connect with someone, remember to be polite and organized about the reasons why you’re reaching out to them. However, it’s important to keep in mind that being rejected once or twice is entirely normal. Don’t let it discourage you from continuing to seek out connections and opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.yuxinfstory.com
- Instagram: @yuxin.draws
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fengyuxin/
