Conversations with Waner Zhang

Today we’d like to introduce you to Waner Zhang.

Hi Waner, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
Hi, I’m Waner, hailing from the renowned culinary province of Sichuan, China. Raised in a single-parent home, my solitude nurtured a deep affinity for drawing, a solace that blossomed into a lifelong passion. 

During my formative years, Pixar’s “Inside Out” left an indelible mark, propelling me towards a path of creating emotionally resonant works. After graduating from Beijing Film Academy, I continued my animation pursuits at the School of Visual Arts in New York. 

Today, as an experienced multidisciplinary motion designer, I take pride in the journey that crystallized my passion and led me to where I stand now. 

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?
Yes, nothing is smooth sailing, especially the art road. When I went to college, I was surrounded by some of the most talented animation students in the country, and I was so proud of myself that I often felt inferior and even began to think about whether or not I had the talent to learn animation, so I tried a lot of different internships, as a game artist, an illustrator, and even a saleswoman. But thanks to this experience, I realized that I hated all other jobs except animation haha. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m currently a multidisciplinary motion designer specializing in motion design and UX design. I used to work for Tencent and made a lot of user-friendly animation and UI for their educational products. I also worked in many design studios, such as Lava Studio and Seen Vision. Thus, I have gotten many opportunities to work with brands such as Jimmy Choo, Tencent Game, Redmi, etc. In October 2023, my animation work was selected by the Heckscher Museum of Arts to be exhibited, and a light show was used to project my work onto the surface of the museum. 

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
If you’re feeling confused and uneasy about your life, don’t worry; most people are. You just need to try and experience more, and while you won’t necessarily end up finding out what you like, you’ll definitely know what you hate. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wanerzhang.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_waner_zhang_/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waner-zhang-6482b8184/