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

Alright, Nat thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?

I recently completed my storyboard artist internship at Illumination Entertainment, the studio behind beloved films like Despicable Me, Minions, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. I chose to fly out to Santa Monica for the in-person experience, and I’m so glad I did.

What made this internship truly unforgettable were the lessons I learned, not just about storyboarding, but about working in the animation industry and growing as a creative professional. Talking to people across departments: story artists, producers, marketing, finance, HR, and more, taught me things I’ll carry throughout my career.

Some of the most important lessons I took away were:
• Don’t take critiques personally. Feedback is there to help you grow, not define your worth.
• Build connections and nurture them. Relationships matter just as much as skills in this industry.
• Stay in touch with the people you’ve bonded with.
• Be open to change and new experiences because they often lead to unexpected growth.

The team at Illumination was incredibly generous with their time and insights. Weekly “randomizer” events paired interns with employees from different departments, which gave me the chance to learn about areas I knew little about and have conversations I might’ve been too shy to start on my own. These interactions really expanded my understanding of how a studio operates and what it takes to bring a film to life.

Of course, I also deepened my skills as a storyboard artist and gained a better understanding of the feature storyboarding pipeline, thanks to guidance from all of my awesome mentors. But above all, this internship helped me grow as a person. I’m grateful for every conversation, every piece of advice, and every moment that pushed me out of my comfort zone.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi! My name is Nathanich Chantharojwong (Nat), and I’m a Thai-American storyboard artist. I grew up in Thailand and only recently moved to the U.S. to further pursue my passion for animation and storytelling. My career journey has been anything but traditional, and every step has shaped the artist I am today.

From a young age, I was always drawn to storytelling, even more than drawing, but I never considered myself a strong writer. As a visual learner, I didn’t realize that careers in visual storytelling beyond screenwriting even existed. So, for my undergraduate degree, I chose to study Communication Design. During that time, I had a small opportunity to explore storytelling, which eventually led me to create my first animated short film, “Opened”, a project I completed by teaching myself all the technical aspects from scratch.

To my surprise, Opened went viral on YouTube and currently has nearly 7 million views. It won Best Animated Short of the Year in Thailand, along with multiple awards in the U.S., Taiwan, South Korea, and more. I was honored when aspiring animation students began reaching out to me for advice and even interviews.

That recognition helped me land my first job as a storyboard artist in Thailand. I got to work on Peacock’s animated TV series: Team Mebots Animal Rescue and Tea Town Teddy Bears. The team there was incredibly talented, supportive, and I learned a lot. However, I began to realize that it was difficult to grow further in Thailand, where creative careers often aren’t fully valued, and the animation industry remains very small.

Wanting to take the next step, I moved to the U.S. to pursue an MFA in Animation at SCAD, and for the first time, I formally studied animation. SCAD has been an amazing experience; it’s where I’ve truly learned the power of collaboration, artistic growth, and being part of a creative community that supports and aspiring young artists.

Most recently, I had the great opportunity to intern as a storyboard artist at Illumination Entertainment, the studio behind Despicable Me, Minions, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. This internship was a major milestone in my journey. I not only sharpened my storyboarding skills in a professional feature film pipeline but also learned invaluable lessons from people across departments, from story and production to marketing, HR, and beyond. It was an experience that helped me grow tremendously, both professionally and personally.

Now, I’m channeling everything I’ve learned into my upcoming thesis film, and I’m excited to share it with the world soon. Thank you for following along, and please look forward to what’s coming next!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Among my projects, Opened (https://youtu.be/n6BvlDdH84E?si=lc2Da-ZbzZi43YuH) has been my most successful film, not just in terms of awards, but in the conversations it sparked across cultures and communities around the world.

Opened is an animated short that explores how parenting styles and environmental factors can shape a child’s eating behavior. The film was created to help parents better understand picky eating, not as a simple “phase,” but as a complex issue that can impact a child’s long-term development and well-being.

What’s been most rewarding is seeing how the film resonated with audiences on a personal level. Many viewers, especially former picky eaters, left heartfelt comments under the video, sharing their own experiences and how they overcame the challenges growing up. Others expressed how the film helped them see the issue from a new perspective—some even mentioned that it changed the way they and those around them approached food and parenting.

Knowing that Opened not only raised awareness but also touched people’s lives and shifted perspectives has been one of the most emotionally fulfilling experiences of my career.

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

My ultimate goal is to become a director for animated feature films. I hope to create stories that reach audiences around the world, just as animated movies did for me growing up. They taught me important lessons, shaped my worldview, and helped me become the person I am today. I want my films to do the same: to inspire, connect, and leave a lasting impact on others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://natnathanichstory.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram: @natc_tofu
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nat-chantharojwong-69079a213/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Natnathanich
• Other: https://www.nathanichc.com