We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chun Chun Chang. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chun Chun below.

Chun Chun, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Yes, I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work. Initially, I freelanced for a few years after relocating to California. I was fortunate to participate in various projects, such as Samsung campaigns, Sprite rebranding, Getty Unshuttered events, HBO documentary series, GM, TNT, and more. Freelancing allowed me to quickly experiment with different creative projects—ranging from projection mapping and films to commercials and branding—helping me identify what suited me best. Eventually, I secured a full-time job that let me focus heavily on exploring ideas.

Looking back, I don’t think I could have sped up the process, as the diverse project experiences I had enriched the range of what I can provide in my current position. Focusing on building a diverse portfolio and staying updated with industry technologies helped me adapt to different projects easily.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Chun Chun Chang. I’m a 3D generalist and an independent filmmaker. I create a wide range of animations, from hand-drawn and 2D to 3D and technical animation, and also dabble in visual design and storytelling. Currently, I work as a motion designer at Turner Duckworth, creating animations for brands like Samsung, Sprite, McDonald’s, and others.

I was born in Taiwan and later pursued a master’s degree in animation at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. Like most animation enthusiasts, I grew up watching Disney and Cartoon Network. I loved doodling and eventually discovered my passion for 2D animations. As I delved deeper into the craft, I shifted my focus to 3D animation because it provided the flexibility and efficiency to create complete pieces on my own.

However, I have always been fond of the warmth and imperfection of hand-drawn artworks that first captivated me. Therefore, my personal work focuses on applying that softness and warmth to my 3D creations, including independent shorts, motion graphics, and projection mapping. My animated shorts have been fortunate enough to be selected for festivals such as LA Shorts Fest, Encounters Film Festival, RiverRun International Film Festival, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Adobe Design Achievement Awards, and so on.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One lesson I had to unlearn was focusing too much on honing my technical skills. While these skills helped me stay competitive in the creative industry, spending too much time trying to keep up with creative trends and technologies sometimes made me forget that my unique creative style was what set me apart from other artists. Therefore, when working on my personal creative work after hours, I often remind myself of what initially motivated me to create animations and what kind of visuals move me the most. By doing that, I can reconnect with the original passion that drove my creativity.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect is not only the solitary process of crafting a work until it matches my vision but also witnessing how a project evolves through collaboration with other artists or creatives. Working alongside designers and creatives in my professional environment has often opened my eyes to new perspectives, such as a stronger emphasis on visual communication or attention to intricate details, which complement my dynamic and cinematic approach. Similarly, collaborating with composers and musicians on independent shorts has shown me how their music can enhance and evoke deeper emotions from the stories. These creative surprises from the beginning to the end of projects bring me immense satisfaction.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chunchunchang.wixsite.com/chun
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chun-chun-chang
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11002251/

Image Credits

N/A