Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ling Han. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ling, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
Thank you for having me, and I’m thrilled to be here to share my experiences. To answer your question, I’ve had a passion for animation from a young age, but I never thought it could become a viable career. During my undergraduate studies in printmaking, I started to question if it was the right path for me. It was only when my roommate introduced me to 3D software, specifically 3Dmax, that I had my “aha” moment. After creating a few pieces in 3D, I realized that animation was my true calling.
I embarked on a two-year journey of self-teaching various CG software and eventually secured my first job as a rigger at Dr. Red Animation. In 2018, while at Dr. Red Animation, I had the opportunity to work on “The Little Zombie” project. I was responsible for rigging and animating special emojis created for WeChat. These emojis gained incredible popularity, with over 8.43 million sent by April 2023.
However, after a year in this role, I knew that I still aspired to be an animator. To chase my dream, I made the decision to come to the United States to learn character animation professionally. Following my studies, I was fortunate to work for major companies in the animation and gaming industry, first at EA and currently at Disney. This journey has been both rewarding and exciting, and I take pride in what I’ve learned and contributed to the industry.
Ling, 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?
Currently, I’m directing an animated short film called “Chain,” which involves over 30 talented artists. In this role, I provide feedback to our team members and closely collaborate with StudioX, where Derek Flood and Michael Parks supervise the production. I also want to extend my gratitude to our project producer, Tzu-Ying Ho, without whom our project wouldn’t have reached its current stage. Directing “Chain” has proven to be a more challenging role than I initially anticipated. It’s been a great opportunity to develop my soft skills, especially in communication and providing constructive feedback. I also feel fortunate to be learning from my fantastic teammates who have been doing an incredible job.
Additionally, I’m the founder of AnimDaily, a Chinese animation community on WeChat. This platform has grown to over 3,000 followers, including both professionals and animation students in the Chinese animation industry. At AnimDaily, we create content like animation analysis, covering topics such as Body Mechanics, Acting Choices, and Camera Language to share knowledge within the community. Teamwork is essential, and I collaborate frequently with my teammates to improve our content. In the past two years, we’ve produced more than 340 articles.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I’ve learned a valuable lesson that I won’t forget. It’s about asking for help rather than trying to solve problems alone, especially when dealing with feedback from team. It’s also important to adapt and focus on keeping things running smoothly rather than getting frustrated. Instead of being too direct, it’s better to express your thoughts carefully.
From my experience, I’ve realized the significance of being a team player and adjusting to work well with others. It’s important to be observant, sometimes staying quiet when unsure, and not rushing to be the first to speak up. Furthermore, it’s best not to commit too quickly and to keep your plans a bit private. Wait until most people seem to agree before sharing your ideas, especially if you’re new to the team. This helps avoid personal issues and disruptions.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
Certainly, the internet is a fantastic tool for learning, with YouTube being a goldmine of free tutorials, especially for technical skills. When you’re starting to learn something new, searching on YouTube is a great way to get insights. While Google can give you more information, some resources might cost money. YouTube, on the other hand, offers lots of free video tutorials, making it a perfect place to begin. By starting with free resources, you can test your interest before thinking about paid courses. In my own experience, I initially spent a lot on private tutorial programs, only to realize that I actually learned more from the wide range of content available on YouTube. For example, I improved my Maya skills by watching Autodesk’s tutorials on their YouTube channel. They regularly share a series of tutorials to help artists master Maya and boost their creativity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://liberiohan.wixsite.com/mysite-1
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linghan_anim/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ling.Han.Ani
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ling-han-161165141/
Image Credits
The last picture is from WISH, a Disney 2023 animation feature