We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hope Hemsley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Hope, thanks for joining us today. Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?

Hayao Miyasaki is definitely one of my biggest heroes. The films that he’s made with Studio Ghibli, as well as his personal story, have inspired my art and how I view filmmaking. In reading his biography, I discovered he had started as a regular animator for a large studio. He soon became dissatisfied with the current media, seeing a desperate need for healthy children and young adult animation. So he stepped away from it all to create a vision that he was passionate about, eventually running his own studio whose animation would go on to inspire millions around the world. His work is beloved by all, young and old, because the stories and visuals speak with such beauty and power. It presents a gentle confrontation on important issues while relaying peace, joy, and hope. The beauty of his animations has greatly influenced how I paint, and his story has inspired me to see my career differently. Like Miyasaki, I perceive a lack of quality in today’s animation, especially regarding uplifting content for young adults and children. Animation is a powerful medium that, if used right, can spark great change in the world. Miyasaki encourages me to not just be a cog in the mainstream animation industry machine. I can truly pursue making something unique and beautiful to me that will positively impact generations to come!

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.

My name is Hope Hemsley, and I’m primarily a story artist, visual development artist, and illustrator based in SoCal. I knew I was created to be an artist ever since I was little, but wanting to work in animation has been a fairly recent discovery. Animation has always had a special place in my heart because it was something I would watch with my entire family – it’s what bonded us together! The animated films and shows I grew up watching (including those from Disney, Studio Ghibli, Cartoon Saloon, etc.) shaped how I saw the world, expanding my imagination to great heights. There was something about the handcrafted beauty of 2D animation that accentuated the storylines and moral themes of the piece. I began researching the idea of visual development in high school, and after having the opportunity to create concept art for a few short films, I realized my love for pre-production and started pursuing it independently.

I’m now a senior at Biola University studying illustration, and I’ve gained significant experience in not only visual development, but also background painting, storyboards, art direction, and freelance illustration. Throughout my education, I am actively pursuing internships and on-campus projects involving animation. I jumped on several student films in the art department, and they solidified my calling in that area. Additionally, for the past two years, I’ve been an intern at Creator Films as a visual development and story artist for their animated kids show, as well as an illustrator for their children’s book. I am very proud of these accomplishments, but also of the films I’ve had the recent honor of art directing. One of these projects allowed me to manage an artistic team in producing an animatic. I crafted a vision from the script, created concept art for the film, and delegated tasks among my team to maximize efficiency. I am also in the process of art directing my senior thesis, which will be a 6-minute animated short film! As a naturally strong visual storyteller, my skills prepared me well for these roles.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I want to see beautiful, meaningful 2D animation thriving again! My dream is to be an art director for my own films, ones that particularly inspire young adults and children. This generation is being constantly bombarded by destructive messages, and through my work, I want to allow them to rest from it all and find hope for their futures. I want to make work that my kids would enjoy one day, and that I will love as well. Many films today have also lost their sense of creativity, both in story and artistic vision, and it’s something I believe people are thirsting for. I want to make films that are saturated with visual beauty and life-giving messages; ones that speak truth into darkness and give hope to those who don’t have any. I believe that’s the purpose of animation in the first place!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

One of the most rewarding aspects for me is seeing the results of collaboration! My favorite part about animation is that it’s not just one artist going off and making something by themselves. You’re bringing a team around you full of unique passions and skill sets. We’re made to work together! Especially when it comes to storyboarding, it’s impossible to do it all on your own. If everyone’s unified under the same goal, we can make something world-changing. Working with a team and seeing the magic we create together is a huge reward for me. Part of what I love about my career as well is that I get to pour into other creatives and help them develop their passions!

Another thing I find to be rewarding is seeing the emotional responses of people who view my work. Whether it’s a painting or a rough animatic of a story I’ve created, I’ve witnessed my friends and family being touched and giving me notes on what it meant to them. Giving that joy to others is what I live for. People being positively affected by my work is the greatest reward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hopehemsley.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/hope.hemsley.art
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/hope-hemsley