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

Jennah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

In 2022, I worked on “My Tiny Friends,” a 3D short animated film in the fantasy genre. This movie delves into the inner world of the protagonist, Sasha, as she undergoes a journey of self-acceptance through her relationships with friends in her imagination. The film has garnered recognition with awards from the New York Independent Cinema Awards, Hollywood Burbank Film Awards, Boston Independent Film Awards, European Film Festival, and Los Angeles Independent Women’s Film Awards. It has also been selected for screening at 15 other film festivals.

When I set out to create this project, my aim was to tell a story that resonated with my experiences as an artist. Have you ever hesitated to embrace your own thoughts? I often find that accepting the thoughts in my mind takes considerable time, and this process feels like the agony of creativity to me.

While I appreciate avant-garde thoughts in contemporary art, I have always believed in the importance of conveying precise meaning in my work. This conviction is particularly crucial when creating animated shorts, where the completeness of the plot is paramount. However, as an animation director, I wasn’t inclined toward delivering a tangible and straightforward narrative. Therefore, when crafting this project, I pondered extensively on how to convey my struggles while infusing the unique joy of 3D animation, emphasizing the magical feelings derived from color and music, and avoiding a clear-cut message to allow for open interpretation.

Through conversations with many artists, I discovered that there are numerous individuals who share similar sentiments. The character Sasha in this film directly confronts and grapples with these inner thoughts, symbolizing the journey of acknowledging and embracing one’s struggles, ultimately moving towards a broader understanding of the world. This portrayal aligns with the direction I strive for as an artist.

Jennah, 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 was born in Seoul and moved to New York in 2019 to pursue my dream of becoming an animator. I graduated from the MFA Computer Arts program at SVA. Currently, I continue my personal projects as a 3D artist and work as a motion designer at Nickelodeon.

The vibrant energy of New York and the work of many studios here have greatly influenced my animation style, making it more colorful, playful, and joyful than ever before. I particularly strive for stylized work, enjoying the act of associating and simplifying objects and expressing magical details through texturing.

In Korea, I had been working with a realistic style, leaning more towards VFX. However, during my studies in New York, I began to question whether reproducing reality using 3D tools is an artistic act, and I found that simply expressing realism or informative aspects didn’t satisfy me as an artist. I delved into stylization, focusing on design and fantasy elements when modeling and texturing. I pondered a lot about the balance between commercial and artistic aspects. I believe these aspects constitute the most beautiful and powerful elements of 3D art. They are prominently reflected in my personal projects and contribute to the love my work receives from the audience at my job.

Additionally, I have a keen interest in design-oriented interior items and ceramics, drawing inspiration from them. I envision my space filled with cute items, and I particularly love abstract items with soft lines. New York provides ample inspiration in this regard.

As a side note, I developed an interest in painting last year and have been practicing since. Observing people painting on canvases and visiting galleries around me has inspired me a lot. Recently, as I doodle various things, I realize that my perspective on canvases is akin to creating style frames within an HD screen while working on animations. I’m capturing moments of movement with paint. My mind is brimming with ideas, and I hope to produce some fantastic work in the near future.

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

As an artist, my greatest strength lies in the ability to unveil the stories I want to tell to the world. I believe that this storytelling can convey meaning to someone, broaden people’s perspectives, and simultaneously have a profound impact on their thoughts.

As a video creator, I consider the power that visuals hold over people to be significant. People enjoy gathering around the medium of film, sitting together in a shared space, and engaging in discussions to share their thoughts. The act of sharing my unique stories, eliciting emotions, and fostering a sense of connection among individuals through my work holds deep meaning for me.

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

I aspire to be an artist and individual who can bring positive influence and uplifting energy to others. This aspiration aligns with both the direction I seek in my creative works and my personal inclinations. As mentioned in my introduction, I enjoy creating joyful visuals and crafting bright, magical animations using 3D animation. My goal is to evoke an infinite sense of wonder in ordinary people, even if it means exploring abstract or conceptual themes. I want to open the doors of imagination and stimulate people’s curiosity through my work.

Throughout my journey building a career as an animator, I have listened to and received help from many individuals. I’ve come to realize that assistance is crucial in diverse situations, and my small acts of support can become a significant source of strength for others. The completion of my animated shorts often relies on the sincere advice from numerous individuals, checking if my story resonates well or if I am not getting too lost in my own thoughts. Their genuine advice, often derived from a single keyword, serves as inspiration. Moreover, I’ve received valuable guidance in areas such as job hunting and career paths. Just as I have been inspired and aided by many, I strive to grow into someone who can inspire and directly assist others. Currently, I am actively involved as an advisor for students creating animation projects, and I eagerly look forward to participating in mentoring opportunities to help people who just got into this industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jiyoungparkmotion.com/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jennah.park
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jiyoungpark188

Image Credits
1,2,3,4 – My Tiny Friends, 2022, Jennah Park 5 – Jennah Park and SVA BFA Fine Arts students 6 – Nickelodeon_Rubble & Crew custom animation, 2022 Animation Director : Rob Kohr Character animation : Lilly Chin Hong / Amanda Knickerbocker Character texturing/lighting : Sebastian Rosero / Andrew Noh Background modeling/texturing : Jennah Park Compositing : Jennah Park 7 – Nickelodeon_Tiny Chef Show ID, 2022 Logo model – Jennah Park / Annie Chien Texturing/lighting – Jennah Park Footage shoot by Nickelodeon Compositing – Jennah Park 8 – Lico – Hwang-gu SNS promo series, 2019 Character model/design – Lico Character texturing/animation – Jennah Park Compositing/2D – Jennah Park 9 – The Tide, 2018, Jennah Park