Today we’d like to introduce you to Mengyuan (Cherry) Guo.
Hi Mengyuan (Cherry), we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello! I’m Cherry, an animator and story artist based in downtown LA. Often you may spot me hunting for good food and books out there. Other times, I’m drawing and animating at home.
To get where I am today, let me walk you through my journey in reverse- I studied computer animation in college in Sarasota, Florida, before I took a road trip crossing the continent to the west coast. I also went to high school in California after I crossed the pacific ocean from China alone at the age of 16 to pursue my dream in the arts in the United States.
I’m always on the go. Everything is temporary. Housing, possession, friends, daily routines- Most of these don’t last. But one thing that has not changed in my life is animation. I’ve always enjoyed animated movies and shows. (Yes, I’ve been in love with anime, manga, and Pixar movies since I was little.) It’s an anchor point in my floating life. It’s where I start and where I want to end up. It’s a toolbox I use to create. It’s a language I speak. And I sincerely hope to create stories, worlds, characters, and experiences that highlight the fun of animation! Just like some of my favorites did: The Tatami Galaxy, My Neighbor the Yamadas, Cars, Finding Nemo… It’s a long way to go alone. But we are getting there!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Timing hasn’t been the strongest aspect of my life and career. I have missed out on numerous opportunities to take a step, make a change, and get on to the next train. Sometimes the other side of things doesn’t line up; other times, it was me that was not ready. Instead of thinking about what I could’ve done, I could’ve done it. Therefore I’m learning to be more prepared, be myself, keep doing what I do, and be active when the next train comes.
I’d love the opportunity to thank my parents, who are, surprisingly enough for Asian parents, supportive! If it wasn’t for them, I would never be able to get where I am today. I will do everything in my power to give them what they gave me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a 3D character animator and story artist! My acting style definitely lies in the comedy/action realm. I’m trained to do 3D character animation and storyboarding while acquiring a comprehensive understanding of the entire pipeline to make a 3D animated film. If you’d like, check out “Tricked,” the animated short film in which I collaborated with two other teammates to make everything you see on screen. It was one of the finalists for the Student Academy Awards® for animated short films. Fun, imaginative projects like this excite me!
When doing more independent projects, I lean toward the gentle, heartwarming side of the world. There are a couple of very, very exciting productions that, hopefully, I can share with the world soon!
At the end of the day, I will always go for “fun and easy to understand.” I hope to make connections with people and the world; the more, the better!
What matters most to you?
What matters to me the most is to share. I’d always like my art to be fun and easy to understand for better communication and connection. Stories are to be shared!
Today, there are so many things to set us apart. We are capable of starting a fight anytime, anywhere, for anything, and against anyone. But I believe that we also have so much in common. We’ll find those things through sharing- movies, music, literature, food, knowledge… We build connections through these shared experiences. (It’s also nice to try the garlic shrimp from your friend’s plate, right?)
So, I want to make animation, tell stories, depict worlds, and introduce characters that are “fun and easy to understand” for everyone. All of this is to evoke feelings that are universal and beyond age, race, gender, and politics. I want to remind us that we all love, hate, laugh, and fear. In any case, I want to bring more happiness to this world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mcherryguo.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mengyuan-cherry-guo-6a24b3b7/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcherryguo/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNIQrBO2eGA
Image Credits
© 2023 Mengyuan (Cherry) Guo. All Rights Reserved.
