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

Jordan, 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.

The first sign I wanted to pursue a creative path when I was ten and wrote my own version of Percy Jackson. I loved that world and that kids could have powers —however, I was a bit misplaced when none of these characters were described to look like me. So, I tried my hand in writing a version of Camp Half-Blood, straddling the clouds of my imagination, attempting to fill the hole of seeing myself in a fantasy world. Yet, this is a world already established and meant for the characters already established, so it made my efforts in trying to be seen didn’t matter. In the early 2010s, there weren’t many black and brown protagonists in any child form of media and so that desire to see more of those protagonists in fantastical/ superhero settings drives me to be in animation. However it wasn’t until 2021, when I was a senior in college that I got the courage to pursue this profession professionally. As I used to daydream in between classes about creating black and brown stories, it felt that it was impossible to pursue because there wasn’t readily information about how to get into writing and producing for animation. Until an odd day in March where I got recommended to attend a virtual summit called Afro-Animation. Attending that summit opened the door into this seemingly gated community as panels were discussing the very topics I had questions about and people like me who had the same drive to be in animation. So, I thought if there’s others like me pursuing this, I have a chance.

Jordan, 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?

Of course! I was born and raised in San Francisco, California. I grew up in a barrio named the Mission and its walls held colorful murals that told the stories of the residents that I wish I would have seen on tv. Fast forward today, I live in Los Angeles and work as an Artist Management Trainee at Sony Pictures Animation. My usual tasks entail onboarding new hires, tracking their beginning and end at Sony and taking notes in Production Tracking and Staffing Meetings. It’s honestly a thrill to be working at a studio that aligns with my philosophical belief that creativity needs to be driving every project. However, my favorite part of the job is meeting every new face that comes through the front doors and knowing the folks behind each project. Honestly, I am so happy to have Sony as my first studio because the people are really nice and driven to be in animation no matter what title. Outside of work, I am the Events Director of Black N Animated, an organization focused on empowering and advocating for black creatives in animation. I love the community and I am driven in creating events that will elevate and empower our members. What I am usually doing in this role is creating events connecting members with their community, animation professionals and studios. Though the majority of my time is focused on animation, I love to write, roller skate and crochet outside of working in animation.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My particular mission that drives my creative journey is supporting and creating diverse and colorful stories in animation. The world of animation should reflect the diversity and richness of our world as there’s a lot of uncharted worlds and characters we have yet to explore. What’s so cool about animation is that anything is possible in creating a world and it’s something that captures all ages. Not only that but I feel that even different perspectives and worlds to explore are equally as important to highlight and I hope within my career I can explore all those faucets.

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

In 2020, I was a junior in college. COVID-19 hit, and the stressors of the world and doing college online made me feel like there wasn’t a lot of hope. I was pursuing a degree in anthropology, however, deep down, I knew I got into anthropology because I thought it was a safe route. To write stories, I used to research different places and cultures, so I thought it was a happy medium. It wasn’t, and I became very consumed by not knowing whether I should take the leap. Eight months into COVID, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, and my life radically changed. As an Afro-Latina, I come from two cultures that have a difficult relationship with mental health and, in general, health. Historically, black and brown communities were denied adequate health care let alone mental health care so many didn’t know how to deal with it. I also had many misconceptions as well as much as my family was learning how to deal with my new reality so was I. Through therapy, I slowly relearned how to live life with anxiety and to live intentionally in every step. That was being in animation and helping produce other shows that were more colorful. Gradually, with the changing world, I was able to add more to my plate and graduate on time, which I don’t say lightly was through sheer will. Mental health is such a beast, and I still deal with it every day, but I have learned so much about myself and the need to live intentionally. What I have learned is that I can exist with anxiety and still pursue my greatest dreams.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: gurlnativetothemission
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-hackman/

Image Credits
Myself