Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nia Veal. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nia , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?
Something I have struggled lot with in my career is my job title. I went to school for animation and fell in love with preproduction. I came to LOVE animation design. However professionally landing a design role hasn’t been the easiest. I’ve come to an understanding now that your job title doesn’t define you, but early on in my career, especially fresh out of college, I would rack my brain on how I kept landing roles in everything except the ONE thing I would have loved to do. My professors always stressed the importance of a portfolio that really spotlights what you are passionate about. I believe I tried hard to lay clear where my passions lay. In the same breath, school taught me LOTS about filmmaking. So I’m a bit of a jack of all trades in the animation world. Therefore, I took on a variety of different gigs just to get a foot in the world of TV animation. More often than not, my passion for design took a backseat professionally.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am Nia Dragon, (aka Nia Veal), and I am a multidisciplinary artist + designer with an interest in character design. As a child, I dreamed of becoming a writer, but I also had a strong passion for art. It wasn’t until my dad introduced me to anime that I realized visual storytelling could fuse intricate narratives with compelling artwork. Unlike the episodic, comedic American cartoons I had seen, anime demonstrated immersive worldbuilding possibilities. This revelation sparked my ambition to someday create my own animated television series. With my parents’ encouragement, I pursued studies in animation and graduated from the University of the Arts in 2020.
I now currently enjoy a bustling career in TV Animation. I work professionally as a compositor, which in short, means I am responsible for creating visual effects and determining the final aesthetic of a television show before it airs. This magic typically happens alongside a crew of others. I have experience working on animated shows for both children’s and adult audiences across various platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, Max, and Adult Swim. Most recently, I was the composite lead for the newest season of Aqua Teen Hunger Force – a show I grew up watching alongside my dad. It is, to date, one of my proudest achievements working in the world of TV Animation.
Outside of my work as a compositor, I pursue my personal creative interests through my art business, Pretty Magical. Born out of a desire to explore my own artistic passions beyond the shows I work on professionally, Pretty Magical allows me to design original characters, produce lighthearted TikTok videos about art and life, and sell my sticker creations. Through this side business, I can tap into creative realms and aesthetics that differ from my compositing projects, serving as an outlet to fulfill my interests in character art and whimsical design.
Though the path was winding, I have found ways to pursue my dual interests in visual storytelling and character art through both my professional compositing career and personal endeavors with Pretty Magical. While I am grateful for the fulfilling animation jobs I have worked on, creating toys and animations independently brings me a different kind of creative fulfillment and allows me to tap into my own voice. As I look ahead, I hope to continue exploring imaginative projects that align with my unique passions—whether through client work, personal art, or someday, perhaps, even my own animated series. Above all, staying true to my creative spirit by fusing writing and visual art remains my compass, wherever the journey leads next.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I entered the animation industry during a turbulent period of widespread layoffs and project cancellations. I managed to get my foot in the door, but pivoting into design professionally was a challenge. I faced constant rejection. Additionally, seeing talented artists struggle to stay afloat dimmed my optimism and self-belief. Though I loved character design deeply, I started to doubt whether my work would ever be deemed “good enough” for television by some all-powerful art director out there.
These experiences caused me to shelf my creative interests for a while, as pursuing them professionally seemed to only lead to disappointment. But during moments to myself after work or between projects, I would sketch a silly little character and feel a spark of joy again. I realized that even if I couldn’t channel my passion for character design through traditional animation jobs, I could still explore it independently.
That mindset shift led me to create Sadserve – an “emo” ice cream cone who secretly loves skateboarding. On a whim, I partnered with a manufacturer to produce a 4-inch resin Sadserve toy and created a companion animated short film, “Home Before Dinner.” I often stayed up past midnight trying to complete the film, fueled by the kind of creative fulfillment I hadn’t felt in years. Bringing this idea to life marked a pivotal moment, as I realized I could pursue my true passions on my own terms, without needing validation from gatekeepers in the industry. This experience also ignited an interest in the intersection of character art and toy creation that I’m eager to continue exploring.
These days, I’m discovering unexpected creative mediums like 3D printing, crochet, and knitting as new ways to bring my character designs to life tactilely. I never could have predicted my passion for digital art would lead me to making things with my hands. But life isn’t linear, and I’m grateful to be expanding my horizons beyond the computer screen into these physical crafts. Though my path has meandered, I’m excited to explore wherever this journey takes me next.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
On the surface, my story might seem like one of triumphing against the odds and “making it” in the animation industry. After all, I managed to build a career in TV animation and stay afloat during intense periods of industry turmoil and layoffs that sank many dreams. In that sense, I climbed the mountain and reached a peak many aspire to.
However, I’m still searching for my true calling and purpose – my ikigai. While I can execute client work competently, I struggle to share my unfiltered creative voice with the world. After facing so much rejection and uncertainty earlier on, I battle lingering self-doubt and difficulties embracing my unique artstyle outside of professional jobs.
Though I’m proud of the animation work I’ve done and persevering through volatile times, inner confidence can’t be earned through achievements alone. My climb up the mountain was largely fueled by external motivations to prove myself. Now at this summit, I have a new view that reveals how much further I need to go on the inner journey of embracing my passions without fear or need for validation. I’m still nurturing the courage to put my vision out into the world and confidently create from the heart. My next ascent is about creating for the sheer love of it and believing wholly in the value of what I have to offer.
Contact Info:
- Website: niaveal.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/niadragonart
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/niaveal
- Youtube: niadragon
- Other: tiktok: @niadragonart