Conversations with Ashley Tahilan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Tahilan.

Hi Ashley, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Henlo~ My name is Ashley Tahilan and I’m a story artist and writer in animation! I was born and raised on the west side of a little rock in the middle of no where (Oahu, Hawaii).
My art journey started at a very young age, I was always drawing on the edges of my papers and the paper bag book covers on my textbooks. (This must age me since I heard that kids now days don’t do that now!) Keeping me from drawing was near impossible! There was even a time as a kindergartener, I broke my drawing arm falling down some stairs and I just kept drawing. Nothing could keep me away from doodling with and on anything I got my grubby little paws on.

I’ve always been a huge fan of film, especially animation! Every weekend my mom would take me to the library to pick out books and a movie to watch that week. Despite her trying to push me to read novels that were for kids reading level grades higher than my own, I always ended up bringing home comics or manga and some movie that gets replayed on repeat. (Sorry mom!) That said, I don’t think I would be the type of artist I am today without me being the stubborn kid I was (am?) back then.

If it wasn’t obvious already, I am a huge fan of anime! I am particularly inspired by the anime coming out in the 90s and the early 2000s. I tried to consume as much anime as the internet could provide. Whether it was burned CDs with full seasons of Full Metal Panic and Mahoromatic or trying to watch Naruto episodes split into 7 parts on old youtube, I was there trying to absorb all I could at the time. It is not hard to spot all the anime references I’ve sneaked into the shows I’ve been heavily involved with. I just love… anime!

(Shout out to my all time fave Tengan Toppa Gurren lagann)

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?
Growing up in Hawaii, I always felt like a big fish in a small pond. Not to say I was The Best Artist™, but I always knew there were people outside our tiny island that were making some of the coolest stuff!

I saw the beginnings of the big art boom communities on the internet such as oekakis (browser based drawing message boards), online forums, deviantart, and especially Newgrounds. I posted lots of art, I joined many communities and it was humbling to know where I stood among my art peers. I wanted to learn more, I wanted to grow into a better artist, I needed to experience life outside the islands!

I was accepted to the animation program at the Art Institute San Francisco (now closed) and that was my ticket to see what the mainland had to offer. When I arrived I was in awe of the range of skill that all my peers had! It was exciting! It was terrifying! I was suffering sketching in my figure drawing class! But most of all it was inspiring! I don’t think I would be the artist I am today with these experiences.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a writer and storyboard artist in animation. I basically write and draw the funny, heartfelt, and awkward moments in some of your favorite cartoons.

I’m particularly proud of my work on Cartoon Network’s show Craig of the Creek. I have been on the show since season 1 and was with it until the end of its run and it was truly one of the best productions I’ve been on. I have been Emmy Nominated for Outstanding Writing for Children’s/Young Teen Animated series for the Craig of the Creek episode Heart of the Forest as well as a GLADD Nomination for Outstanding Kids & Family Programing for the Craig of the Creek episode Fire & Ice.

While those two episodes got the nomination spotlight, I adore every episode I worked on. The episode Fire and Ice involved two girls and how they discover and identify their feelings for each other. This came from my own experience of writing Kingdom Hearts slash fanfiction in high school.

Another episode I worked on with the many Filipinos on our crew is called Sink or Swim. We showcased bits of pieces of each of our family and home life growing up. My board partner and I wanted to put our grandma in the show as a character and we were able to merge them into one! It was a treat to have our families watch the episode.

There were so many episodes I enjoyed working on from writing and boarding a deaf character to writing about three emotionally charged/stunted college boys! But what really helped fuel these episodes was being allowed to be myself and take the characters and push the bar to see what was (reasonably) acceptable!

Thank you to my crew and friends for dealing with my shenanigans. They’re the best support anyone could’ve asked for, I wouldn’t be who and where I’m at without them!

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I’ve been getting into trading card games in this chaotic era of the animation industry! My big game at the moment is the Gundam TCG. I love big funny robots and the boy bands that always accompany them.

I wish I was joking about the boy band part.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.onihat.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onihat
• Twitter: https://x.com/oni_hat
• Other: https://linktr.ee/onihat