Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Cruell.
Hi Victoria, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a 24-year-old artist, animator, and filmmaker, originally from Durham, North Carolina. I have been drawing and working on creative projects for as long as I remember, so art has always been a significant part of my journey. I decided that I was going to become an animated film director at around 11 years old. At that time, I was discovering anime and manga and learning about genres and art styles that I did not know existed. I was struck by the Japanese stories I was consuming, which often featured girls and young women who were exploring complex feelings, relationships, and subject matter, in a way which I had never seen in animation or graphic novels before. The fact that these stories did not shy away from intense topics made them feel raw and real to me, and they created strong cathartic experiences at that age, which made me feel seen, recognized and understood. These works were crucial in defining my artistic interests and goals and my desire to tell stories about emotional experiences, which are often too hard to put into words. Hayao Miyazaki became one of my biggest influences for his array of successful animated films. Back then, I thought: if these works can create such cathartic, life-changing experiences for me, then I want to be able to bring those experiences to people too. I was determined to become a renowned film director myself.
Throughout middle school, I practiced art in my free time, in addition to taking a number of workshops and classes in drawing, painting, and digital media. I started to focus on art more seriously in late high school when I joined my school’s portfolio class and took figure drawing courses after school. I went on to study at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Filmmaking with an Animation concentration. As a freshman, I was a film generalist, so I spent my first year studying live-action filmmaking. I was working on sets, using cameras and lighting equipment, directing actors, production designing, editing, and more. In my junior year, I even worked as an extras coordinator. This was all very new to me and extremely outside of my comfort zone, but I learned a lot and it created a good foundation for me to build on top of.
I decided to continue my animation studies after college and was lucky enough to get into the University of Southern California’s Master of Fine Arts program in Animation. There was the challenge of having to attend remotely in my first year due to the pandemic, but it was still an extraordinary experience. USC turned out to be a dream school for me, where I was able to connect with many skilled artists and learn about the animation industry in a whole new way. Between my first and second year at USC, I was accepted into Gobelins, l’école de l’image’s 2D Animation Online Summer School, where I earned a Certificate of Achievement. Gobelins was also a dream school for me. I was familiar with the brilliant work of Gobelins’ animation students and I had an interest in studying at the school, but I could not think of a practical way to study abroad at the time. The introduction of online schooling that year allowed me to join the program, and it became another eye-opening experience for me.
For most of my school career, I was dedicated to pursuing 2D animation. During my first semester at USC, we had a 2D animation class where we worked traditionally on paper. I have always felt like the traditional way of animating and seeing your sketches come to life is magical. Working this way was challenging, but I enjoyed the class experience so much that I continued animating on paper in a directed study the following semester. In my final year at USC, I realized my passion for still art, illustration, and concept design. I pivoted my focus to designing for the animation and video game industries. Since graduating last May, I have been volunteering as a character designer for a few game projects, in addition to taking art classes to continue developing my skills. I recently started my first professional art job as a character designer for a comic company. Currently, I aspire to invest more time in my personal work. One day, I would love to have my own brand where I can work on multiple projects and share my ideas through a number of creative outlets.
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?
I wish that I could say everything was always smooth sailing, but I have definitely encountered a number of challenges in my artistic journey so far. Many of them have not been directly related to art or external causes and are instead from personal and internal struggles. Art is a very challenging field because of how competitive it is. Since it is also visual and subjective, it lends itself to criticism and comparison. This was especially hard for me at USC because I was surrounded by so many talented people. It was easy for me to grow worried that my art was not on the same level as everyone else’s. As someone who is perfectionistic and cares deeply about the work that I produce, it can be even harder when I do not meet my own high expectations.
At school, there has also been the challenge of being a black girl in spaces where I was often the only black person in the room. That alone brings on its own unique difficulties of feeling different from everyone else. As a quiet introvert, it was hard to stand out, especially when many of my ideas were more psychological, conceptual, and niche. Things are a bit better today, but I remember that when I was young, I saw very few people of color in shows, games, toys, or other media. This contributed to my own biases towards myself and people who looked like me growing up. Lack of representation in entertainment as a whole, made me feel more alone in my experiences.
Mental Health has always been a central part of my stories, and this past year I experienced a huge revelation in regard to my own mental health. Unfortunately, I went a number of years without recognizing the psychological disorders that I have or receiving the full amount of care that I needed for them. As a high-functioning individual, I pushed down a lot of my concerns and buried myself in my work instead. Oftentimes I did not enjoy what I was working on, but I placed my value in how much I could achieve and hoped that the end result would bring me happiness and confidence. I am doing better now, but this is still a continuous challenge for me. Now I really do love the work that I am doing, but I recognize that taking adequate breaks, having hobbies, and personal time, is just as important, even when you love your craft as much as I do. It feels a bit strange to say this, but I feel like I am only just learning who “Victoria” is now in a much healthier way. I am trying to prioritize the things that make me happy.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I recently finished my second thesis film, titled “true_self.exe”. It is about a young woman who becomes obsessed with the perfect alter ego living inside of her computer and how she must embrace her insecurities to free herself from the ego’s overbearing pull. It is a digital, 2D-animated coming-of-age piece about self-image, self-esteem, and identity. I wanted it to feel especially relevant to girls and young women growing up in a digital age who feel the pressure of always being perfect. My hope is that anyone who watches it has an experience that is genuine, cathartic, and heartfelt.
When I started the project, I had the goal of doing all of the animation, art, and visual work by myself. I wanted “true_self.exe” to be a film that I could look back on and wholeheartedly call my own. I actively worked on the film for over a year, through breaks and weekends, nearly all day every day in order to get it done. This is not something I would recommend to anyone ever, but I am super proud of how I persevered and in what I was able to achieve. “true_self.exe” recently had its world premiere at the Student World Impact Film Festival, where it was awarded as a Semi-Finalist in the Best Super Short Film Category!
Outside of filmmaking, I love working on any project which gives me the opportunity to draw, paint, and design. I enjoy works that are deep and psychological, and I try to create art which reflects the inner-emotional experience. I also strive to create works which authentically represent diverse perspectives to empower women and underrepresented communities. I put a lot of care, time, and research into every project that I take on.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I think that going to places which promote networking can make things easier because people attend these events with the expectation of making connections. These places might be animation conventions or conferences, school clubs, social mixers, or other related events. If you are someone who is more shy like me, you can try setting small goals for yourself. Maybe it is talking to at least a couple of people or introducing yourself to someone new. It is also helpful to have some thoughtful questions in mind that may be specific to someone’s work or experiences. Another thing which is helpful to me is to imagine networking as if you are making friends. This can make the process feel less intimidating. Be friendly, sociable, and curious. The great thing about networking is that it often does lead to great connections, friendships, and even collaborations. It may not be easy, but like with any other skill, it gets better with time and practice. Try not to be too hard on yourself if things do not go as planned. I believe that if you approach people with kindness, receptiveness, and an open mind, then you are on the right track.
Contact Info:
- Website: victoriaart.myportfolio.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ophieelia
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-cruell-9169a6232
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@victoriacruell
- Other: www.imdb.com/name/nm9021460/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_1_nm_7_q_victoria%2520cruell
Image Credits
Anh Nguyen
