Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aimee Chen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Aimee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I studied arts all the way from elementary school to graduate school, but my initial dream job was to run a candy shop of my own because I liked the colors and the casual delight mood since I was young. Soon after, while learning arts in school, I focused on painting skills, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do in the future, and I forgot about my original dream job. It wasn’t until I got into university to study animation that I rediscovered my passion. I saw my professor share a lot of European animation work, and I also attended classes in different departments such as film shooting, cultural arts, and new media. During my time at the university, I experienced freedom and joy in the art world for the first time, which made me consider pursuing a career as a creative person.

Aimee, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Taiwanese 2D and 3D motion designer based in New York with four years of working experience. I started my first job by making visuals for Taiwanese film festivals after my university graduation film was selected for some of the big animation festivals. Soon later, I saw there was a huge potential opportunity to make animation short films, So, I started my freelance career as a Cel animator and graphics designer. At that time, my main clients were the Taiwanese government, and I did some graphics and comics when I was free. Gradually, in order to extend my art journey not just working for the government, I learned 2D motion and soon learned 3D motion skills when I went back to school.

My artistic focus is on the whimsical interplay between humans and animals, elevating the visual narrative to celebrate enchanting multispecies interactions. Drawing inspiration from my own canine companion, I place animals as the central protagonists in my creations. The essence of my artistic vision lies in simplifying motion performance textures to exalt both animals and humans as endearing creatures.

My work is a nuanced exploration of temporal cultural landscapes, echoing the aesthetics of 20th-century illustration. My distinctive approach involves infusing a nostalgic color palette with bold graphic shapes. Navigating between the dimensions of 2D and 3D, my animations utilize illustration concepts as my foundational tool for initial concept development and layout, weaving together various graphic styles.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I have a story to share with people who have just started their own art journey with clients. During my time working for the government, I dedicated myself to learning soft skills such as negotiation and bargaining, especially in situations involving limited budgets, urgent needs, and political complexity. Meeting the needs of clients often meant finding creative solutions, sometimes requiring flexibility in our artistic vision due to cultural and regulatory constraints, prioritizing local religion and rules. Before initiating a project, it’s essential to schedule a formal meeting either in person or online, followed by a promptly sent greeting memo email. The key is delivering finished work with a formal description punctually and accompanied by a polite greeting. I would describe this as a challenging and lengthy path, particularly during the initial three years, marked by struggles with unstable clients and income. However, stability eventually comes with establishing a personal client base and adopting a consistent working style.

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

My art career was an unexpected surprise journey. During my university years, studying animation was enjoyable, but I never took it very seriously, as I was at an age focused on exploring and trying out everything. My graduation film, “Puppy Love,” arose from a situation in which my professor mentioned that she had been invited to be a jury member at the Zagreb International Animation Festival, and if my film were selected, I could attend. Intrigued by the prospect of traveling inexpensively, I decided to become a traveler by creating an animated film, and this casual decision turned into my after-career.

Contact Info:

• Website: aimeeslaveinanima.com
• Instagram: @aimee_slaveinanima
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/aimeeslaveinanima

Image Credits
Aimee I-Wen Chen