Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Kim.

Hi Tony, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

I am Korean and majored in textile design in Korea. During that time, I had the opportunity to work briefly at a fashion company, which provided me with various valuable experiences. However, the work environment there felt intense, almost like something out of The Devil Wears Prada, and I realized it wasn’t the right fit for me.

Around that time, I happened to watch the animated movie Frozen. Up until then, I had no interest in animation and wasn’t even aware of the existence of careers related to 3D animation. But after watching Frozen, I fell in love with animation. Although I didn’t know what an animator did back then, watching countless animated films gave me a vague sense that this field would align with my creative sensibilities and vibe.

Determined to learn animation, I decided to study abroad in the United States. I enrolled in the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, a school known for efficiently teaching practical skills in a short amount of time. The school had legendary Pixar animators teaching classes, and I learned so much there. With the hope of someday working alongside my incredible teachers, I studied diligently and eventually had the opportunity to intern at Pixar after graduating.

Following a valuable 12-week internship, I was hired at Pixar as a Fix and Crowd Animator, where I worked for about two years. It was like living a dream! I was able to work alongside the teachers I had admired and learned about Pixar’s unique pipeline, which cannot be experienced anywhere else.

After two years at Pixar, I heard the news that director Bong Joon-ho was creating his first-ever animated film in Korea. Feeling that this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I decided to leave my life in the U.S. behind and returned to Korea in 2024. Currently, I am working as an animator with director Bong Joon-ho.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

Of course, it wasn’t an easy journey! As an international student in the U.S., I had to secure a job right after graduation. For someone like me who had never studied animation before, three years of learning wasn’t a very long time. Learning something entirely new in a foreign country, in a language that wasn’t my native tongue, was certainly not easy.

However, I was incredibly fortunate to meet many friends at school who were willing to help me. These friends were not only talented but already very skilled, and they generously shared their knowledge and techniques with me. Thanks to them, I was able to learn so much within just three years.

Even after graduating, the language barrier remained a challenge! However, Pixar’s culture was exceptionally accommodating to artists whose first language wasn’t English. Everyone was so supportive—they would patiently explain things to me multiple times if I didn’t understand, and they kindly answered any questions I had.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I am an animator, and animators are the people who bring characters to life on screen. We move characters like puppets and make them act. That’s why the most important thing for an animator is their acting choices. Even when creating the same motion or movement, how well a character’s emotions are expressed depends on those acting choices.

Although I am still a third-year animator, I have learned so much during my three years of working with legendary animators. The time spent discussing and debating even the smallest actions with others to determine the best acting choices has been the most valuable experience for me and, I believe, my greatest strength.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?

Of course, being skilled at animation is the most fundamental and important part of the job. However, I believe animation is a profession that involves working closely with many people. That’s why I think becoming someone others want to work with is also incredibly important as an animator.

When I first became a Pixar animation intern, the first thing my mentor told me was this:
“You’ve already been accepted as a Pixar intern, so everyone knows you’re capable of doing animation to a certain level. If you have areas where you’re lacking, other animators will help you. So focus on becoming someone other animators want to work with.”

That was the first piece of advice my mentor gave me.

When I first joined the company, I sometimes felt competitive and even jealous of my peers. But ultimately, that only ate away at me, harmed my work, and didn’t help my relationship with my peers at all. I’ve come to realize how important it is to grow together, support one another, and collaborate. I also want to emphasize how crucial it is to create a positive culture together with the people around you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tonyanim.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonykim94/