Meet Jiaxi Wu of los angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jiaxi Wu

Hi Jiaxi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a director, producer, and 3D animator, currently based in Los Angeles. I started my journey in animation with a deep passion for comics during my childhood, and my interest peaked in high school after I founded an art club.
So, after high school, I pursued formal education in 3D animation at the Academy of Art University(AAU) in San Francisco, where I developed a strong technical foundation such as foundamental art, 2D animation, and the full process of 3D animation using Maya. And I fortunately showcase my work at 2018 Spring Exhibition in AAU. My past work includes 3D TV animation, naked-eye 3D ads for real estate companies, stop-motion animation, and more.
With my improved animation skills after work, I was accepted into USC’s School of Cinematic Arts to pursue a master’s degree in expanded animation, so I moved to Los Angeles in 2023. Currently, I’m experimenting with various forms of animation for my new short films in USC.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The path to pursuing my passion for art has been filled with both rejection and opportunity. Although I loved drawing from a young age, I was rejected from joining an art club in middle school due to my skill level. Later, at a new high school without an art club, I took the initiative to create one and gathered like-minded individuals. Similarly, not all universities accepted my applications for undergraduate studies. I came close to attending my dream school, but my language scores fell short. While they offered to keep my portfolio and give me an extra year to prepare, I ultimately decided to enroll at the Academy of Art University.

During my junior year, COVID-19 interrupted my studies, and I paused my education to seek work as a 3D animator in Shenzhen, China. Despite not having my degree, my college portfolio earned me a position at a tech company as a 3D animator, where I worked on the original TV series *Poem Recounter*. Unfortunately, the project was canceled due to operational issues, and my work was never released. However, I was fortunate to be invited by director Qingchang Kong（孔庆昌） to join *Larva in China* as an executive producer. In this role, I managed everything from external studio testing to contract signing and oversaw full production communications. After the project concluded, I returned to complete my degree at AAU and successfully applied to my dream school, the University of Southern California.

Although there were some twists and turns, my passion for animation also gave me opportunities. Studying at USC will be a good start for me to transform from a 3D animator to an independent animation director.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Monument is my first independent animation at USC, a stop-motion short film, which tells the story of using trees to memorialize lives in war. It has received multiple awards, including the Best Shorts Competition Award of Merit and Best Screenplay at the ASTERFEST International Film Festival. This paper-cut animation has also been selected for screenings at prestigious festivals like the Global Peace Film Festival, the Bay International Film Festival, the Indie Short Fest, and the Treasure Coast International Film Festival.

For my second short film, I try to combine animation with commerce. I have closely researched various media and set my sights on the 3D billboards that have emerged in recent years. Fortunately, I found Lanwan Real Estate Company who had content needs. I have worked with them for several months to develop a naked-eye 3D advertising animation, “Kitty”, which is currently being screened on their 3D billboards on the commercial street.

In addition, I’m in the pre-production phase of my new animated documentary, “3%”, which explores my personal experience with amblyopia, a condition affecting 3% of children. I believe that it will be the most moving animation of all my films.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was an positive and introverted person. I’ve always been more of a slow-paced individual, needing extra time to complete tasks. This has worked to my advantage, as I’ve developed a strong sense of patience and attention to detail, which has helped me in creating art that requires careful refinement over time. However, my introverted nature did bring challenges, especially when I founded an art club in high school and later worked as a producer. Both roles required leadership and collaboration, and while I found these rewarding, I also needed time alone to recharge.

Creating art, especially in animation, can’t be done in isolation—it requires constant interaction with evolving industry techniques and collaboration with others. So I’ve learned to push myself to engage more with my peers, share my work, and seek feedback. This balance between independent creativity and collaborative growth has been key to my development as an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wujiaxiart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiaxiart/

Image Credits
Jiaxi Wu