We recently had the chance to connect with Paris Baillie and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Paris, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
The farmers market and spending time outside brings me a lot of joy. I go on a long walk or hike every morning to start my day, and then I cook an elaborate breakfast. The sun feels so good in the morning, and the nature in LA is so beautiful. There are amazing farmers markets all over the city. Getting creative in the kitchen with seasonal produce is so much fun. I find baking to be really meditative, and then I have so many treats to snack on while I’m working. Happy days! Nature is so cool!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a stop motion animator and artist from Los Angeles. I direct and animate shorts that focus on my own community of characters and their own worlds. My paintings and sculptures are still extensions of my animated worlds. The main characters in my practice are called Tulpas, and they are tall, lanky, creatures with giant plump bellies because their hearts are their biggest organs. So far, none of my characters have faces because I am interested in communicating through body language to translate stories and feelings in a more universal way. My most recent short film, “Humantis,” is a stop motion animation that focuses on human and mantis hybrid creatures. One of the flower Humantises unexpectedly goes through a physical transformation, and is in denial abut going through change. Eventually it learns how to embrace its new appearance as a leaf, but the change is still complicated. The film premiered at Annecy Animation Festival in 2024, and screened at AFI Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Seattle Film Festival, Ann Arbor Film Festival, London International Animation Film Festival, Palm Springs Shorts Festival, Brooklyn Film Festival, and more. “Humantis” won the jury award for best animation at both AFI Festival 2024 and Brooklyn Film Festival 2025. My next film is in development, and has been supported by the artist residency, Yaddo. The plot is still a secret, but here are some hints: trees, agoraphobia, bones, and Hollywood.
Currently, I am working on a new film with my stop-motion-soul-sister, Jenny Nirgends. The short follows different women driving around Los Angeles, inspired by our own experiences of driving alone. When we aren’t working on the film, I animate or work in the art department for different stop motion studios in LA. Independently, I also work as a freelancer animating commercial work.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents work so incredibly hard, and I am always inspired by their work ethic. They taught me that any job, big or small, should be executed in the best way possible. Having high standards can be fun and challenging – in a healthy way, of course. My parents work together, so I grew up hanging out in their office everyday after school when I was a kid. I learned a lot growing up in a working environment, and for that I am thankful.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I think suffering is a learning experience whereas success is a reward. I’m not saying you get rewarded for suffering, and I don’t believe you need to suffer to make great art. I love the Buddhist idea that suffering is a part of life, so how can we learn to accept and embrace it. I wouldn’t say that I am suffering through my work, but working hard towards my goals has influenced me to care more. I worked really hard on my film, “Humantis,” and I probably did suffer through those all nighters to finish it. Those moments of suffering have been beautiful moments of growth and learning. Trying something new can be scary difficult and it comes with some mistakes which can feel like suffering. But once the suffering is over, you did the thing! Success! I never expected my film to do well in the festival circuit, so it feels like an amazing reward for all of the hard work. I am not saying suffering leads to success – I think the way to look at it is that suffering can help with growth towards success.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
Ghosts. I believe in ghosts so badly that I don’t think they want me to know they are real. To my knowledge, I have not encountered a ghost. I love ghost stories, and I am envious of anyone who has had an intense paranormal experience. Ghost stories almost sound like people recounting a dream they had, because they can’t really be proven to be true.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I actually do feel like I am finally doing what I was born to do. I was a very creative and strange kid, and stop motion animation requires all kinds of strange creativity. I loved theater, dance, photography and painting. When I was applying for colleges, I wasn’t sure what I would major in because I had so many interests… I felt like my interests were all over the place, so my dreams felt like too much. Stop motion is an experimental medium that requires all kinds of skills, so I can exercise everything at once. I love it, and I’m so happy to be a stop motion animator and artist- challenges and all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.parisbaillie.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pbfarts/?hl=en
- Other: https://vimeo.com/parisbaillie
Image Credits
Portrait by Priscilla Mars
