Meet Gianna Sellecchia of Los Angeles, California

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gianna Sellecchia.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always been drawn to art—I was definitely “the artist kid” growing up—but I didn’t fully realize how I wanted to apply that until I got to Pratt Institute. I started in illustration, but during my foundation year I became really interested in 3D animation and ended up switching, which led me to learn the full animation pipeline.

During college, I also studied abroad in Japan, which broadened my perspective creatively. In my junior year, I started pursuing internships and joined Open the Portal Studios in post-production, where I learned a lot working in a collaborative environment. That experience led to an opportunity on Smiling Friends Season 3 with ZAM Studios, where I served as a compositor on the team.

We recently wrapped the final episodes, so now I’m at a point where I’m excited to keep building on that experience and continue growing within the industry.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve had to work really hard to reach the level I wanted in my work, especially in school where I was really pushing myself to grow quickly. I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth road, but I think that’s what’s made it more rewarding.

I was also pretty quiet growing up, so learning how to advocate for myself—while still staying open and collaborative—has been a big part of my journey. It’s something I’m still actively working on, but those challenges have helped me grow not just as an artist, but as a teammate and communicator.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a 3D animator and compositor, with a strong generalist understanding of both ecosystems. Recently, my work has leaned more into compositing, and I’d say that’s what I’m currently best known for—especially on Smiling Friends.

That experience is something I’m really proud of. Being able to contribute to a show like that and collaborate with such talented artists so early in my career meant a lot to me. It pushed, and continues to push, me to grow quickly both creatively and technically.

What sets me apart is my commitment to the overall artistic vision and dedicating the time, effort and research to achieve the “look” I’m seeking to create.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is inspiration. I love being moved by an animated film, TV series, or even a single artist—whether through emotion or motivation. Equally, I cherish the moments when I can inspire others. Recently, I attended a WIA (Pratt Chapter) event as a portfolio reviewer for students. One student told me that my critique inspired them to revisit and improve their work. Moments like that motivate me to continue striving for inspiration.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artbygianna.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunnydeu/
• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/artbygianna