We recently connected with Gwen Gunyung Lee and have shared our conversation below.

Gwen Gunyung, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My most meaningful project is the “And Then” project. As its title suggests, it helped me take the next step forward in my journey. “And Then” is a 7-minute-long 2D animation that I wrote, directed, and produced.

The idea for the film came from a personal habit of frequently losing things due to carelessness, accompanied by excuses like, “My key must have grown legs and walked away.” The film explores how and why people lose valuable things and how they feel afterward, using a whimsical chain reaction to visualize these emotions.

In the story, the main character’s denial of responsibility triggers a metaphorical domino effect, symbolizing their emotions and guilt. The chain reaction begins with a small domino made of detergent powder after the character loses a sock. As the character loses increasingly valuable items, the dominoes grow larger, reflecting the mounting guilt. Finally, when the character admits their fault, the dominoes stop falling, signaling resolution and self-awareness.

This project holds special significance for me because it’s my first film featuring a human character that mirrors my own thoughts and experiences. It took nearly two years to complete, including intricate character animation and background design. The film is also in Korean, my mother tongue, which made it deeply personal.

After its completion, “And Then” received recognition as an Award Winner at the Korea International Short Film Festival 2023 and was officially selected for the LA Shorts International Film Festival on July 4, 2023. It was screened at Regal LA Live in Los Angeles and CGV theaters in Korea. Additionally, it was shown in New York through Film Night on Fulton and aired on SBS’s Animation Gallery in Korea, allowing my family to watch it on TV.

These milestones made the project incredibly meaningful to me. It represented a turning point in my career, showing me the power of storytelling through animation and inspiring me to take on my next creative challenge.

You can check out my film here : https://vimeo.com/796786550

Gwen Gunyung, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a director, animator, and illustrator passionate about exploring the connections between experiences, memories, and places through animation. I have directed two animated films, And Then (8 min, 2023) and Cache-Cache (5 min, 2020), as well as two stop-motion films, 2028 (3 min) and How to Wear Socks (3 min, 2019).

My work examines the simplicity and repetition of everyday experiences, such as being late for school or spilling coffee on a desk. These seemingly mundane moments often go unnoticed, but I aim to reframe them, offering a fresh perspective that allows the story to expand beyond the initial experience.

For example, Cache-Cache was inspired by my personal journey of losing a pet and learning to embrace a new one. Through abstract storytelling, the film captures the sorrow of loss and the bittersweet excitement of welcoming a new dog, using simple colors and geometric shapes to convey these emotions.

Currently, I am a background artist for the animated feature film Rip Off at Awesome + Modest Inc., a story about an animator navigating life in Los Angeles. I also contributed as a visual development artist to the game Gold Lining, which is now available on Steam.

You can explore the game here : https://store.steampowered.com/app/3036500/Gold_Lining/

Have you ever had to pivot?

I grew up in South Korea, where I initially studied Fashion Design in college. During that time, I discovered my true passion for animation and illustration. That passion kept growing, and I eventually decided to take a leap of faith by attending the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) to study Experimental Animation. It was one of the best decisions of my life and completely transformed my path.

At CalArts, I was immersed in a world of diverse cultures and met incredibly creative individuals brimming with brilliant (and wonderfully quirky) ideas. Those experiences inspired me deeply, and I’m still profoundly grateful for my time there. CalArts shaped who I am today and instilled in me the resilience and determination to keep pursuing my dream of becoming an artist.

After graduation, however, reality struck. The writers’ strike disrupted the animation industry, leading to the cancellation of many ongoing projects. Every job application felt like a shot in the dark, competing against thousands of incredibly talented artists from around the world. Rejection became a familiar companion, with emails that began, “I regret to inform you…” followed by polite encouragement to “keep going.” The word hope started to feel like an empty concept, only serving to emphasize how far I still had to go and how much I needed to grow.

But one day, amidst all the uncertainty, a glimmer of opportunity appeared. A small game studio offered me a visual development job. It felt like finding a tiny dandelion in a field of rocks. I gratefully accepted the role and successfully completed the project. That experience reignited my belief in hope and my confidence in the future.

Shortly after, I was offered a position as a background artist for the animated feature film Rip Off at Awesome + Modest Inc. Working on Rip Off has been a rewarding journey, not just professionally but personally. I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with amazing, down-to-earth people like Sean Donnelly, the talented director of Rip Off; Alexis Demetriades, a gifted background artist and color expert; and JHT, a master of perspective drawing. Even though I work fully remotely, every collaboration with this team is an opportunity to grow—not just in drawing techniques, but in creativity and teamwork.

This journey has taught me that every step, no matter how small, moves you closer to your dreams, as long as you keep believing and moving forward.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I am currently working on a personal project, creating animation using the punch needle technique. My process involves designing 6- to 12-frame looping animations, transferring the sketches onto fabric canvases, and then weaving the designs using punch needle embroidery. Once the frames are complete, I photograph them to bring the animation to life.

My goal for 2025 is to complete five short looping animations. This technique requires significantly more time than traditional 2D animation since each frame must be carefully handwoven, but I am excited to explore the unique textures and tactile qualities it brings to the medium.

The project is still a work in progress, but I can’t wait to share the results soon!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gwenyunglee.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gwenyunglee/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwengunyunglee/
• Other: Vimeo : https://vimeo.com/gwengunyungleeEmail : [email protected]

Image Credits

1. Still from the film ‘And Then’
2. Still from the film ‘And Then’
3. Thumbnail artwork from the film ‘And Then’
4. Title image of the film ‘ And Then’
5. Garden background for the film ‘Rip Off’
6. Kitchen background for the film ‘ Rip Off’