We recently connected with Xiaochen Zheng and have shared our conversation below.
Xiaochen, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
When I was 9 years old, I stayed at a boarding elementary school. It was a rough time — I had to deal with peer pressure and was often marginalized and bullied by some of the other kids. Combined with deep homesickness, it became overwhelming, and I would often end up spending time with the school’s mental health teacher.
She was the first person who encouraged me to draw my emotions — to put whatever I was feeling onto paper using just crayons and color pencils. I remember one time, after crying so hard, I filled the entire page with a blue ocean and raindrops falling from the sky. And whenever I felt a little happier when I know my parents are gonna pick me up from school, I would draw flowers, sunshine, and people holding hands. Those images helped shape my feelings, supporting and soothing me. Art could be so approachable and I love how interactive art and drawing can be. It started to become a part of my life.
Over time, I realized how powerful image storytelling could be. It became my way of communicating when words weren’t enough. That early experience planted the seed for what would eventually grow into my passion for illustration and animation. It was the first time I truly understood that drawing wasn’t just an activity — it was an expressive, healing, and transformative tool. And that’s when I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Over the years, I have explored a wide range of artistic mediums — from traditional illustration and painting to 2D and 3D animation, visual effects, and 3D printing. I studied Illustration at Parsons School of Design (The New School) and later earned my Master’s degree in Computer Arts from the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York.
My passion for animation grew naturally from my love of storytelling. As an illustrator, I was fascinated by how moving images could deepen emotional expression and bring stories to life. Animated films like Soul by Pixar had a profound impact on me, inspiring me to reflect on the meaning of life and the small moments we often take for granted. They made me realize how powerful animation can be in connecting with people on a deep emotional level — and that’s the kind of work I aspire to create.
Today, I focus on building heartfelt animations, stylized 3D environments, and narrative-driven visuals that blend strong design with emotional resonance. I offer services ranging from 3D animation production to character and environment design, with a special care for storytelling at every step.
What sets my work apart is my adaptability and collaborative spirit. Having taken on multiple roles in production — including pre-production design, modeling, rigging, texturing, and animation — I understand the full creative pipeline and can adapt quickly as projects evolve. I also take pride in my ability to build strong connections with other artists, from music scoring collaborators to texture specialists, making teamwork a key part of every project.
Even as I continue to explore new tools like VFX and AI, I stay grounded in creating work that feels genuine, human, and meaningful. For potential clients, collaborators, or followers, I hope my work offers more than just visuals — I aim to create experiences that inspire reflection, spark emotion, and tell stories that stay with you.
For potential clients, followers, or fans, I want them to know that my work is built on authenticity, empathy, and a deep love for storytelling. Every piece I create — whether it’s a style frame, an animation, or an original illustration — is made with the intention of connecting with people’s hearts. My goal is not just to create something visually beautiful, but to craft experiences that inspire reflection, healing, and joy.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My goal is ambitious but heartfelt: I hope to create meaningful short animations that resonate with people on an emotional level. I aspire to share these stories with a wider audience and, with hard work and growth, hopefully earn recognition through awards that would help the work reach even more people.
When I first watched Oscar-nominated short animations over the years, one piece left a lasting impression on me — The House of Small Cubes by director Kunio Kato. This beautiful 2D animation captures how memories and love shape our lives, and through its poetic world-building, it shows how the protagonist, though physically isolated, remains connected to his family through cherished memories. It moved me deeply and made me realize how animation can warm hearts and tell universal stories without needing many words.
I hope to create works like that — stories that quietly stay with people, offering comfort, reflection, and emotional connection.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
One of the biggest influences on my creative philosophy has been the concept of art therapy. While I didn’t study it formally at first, learning about how art can be used as a healing tool made a deep impression on me. It showed me that creativity isn’t just about making something visually beautiful — it’s about expressing emotions, telling unseen stories, and building genuine human connection.
Books that explore the emotional side of art, like The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair, also helped me think differently about visual storytelling — how even a single color choice can carry deep emotional meaning.
Although I’m still early in my entrepreneurial journey, these ideas have shaped the way I approach creative work: not just as a product or service, but as something that can offer comfort, spark reflection, and create meaningful experiences for people. They remind me that whether I’m leading a project, collaborating with others, or sharing a piece of animation, staying true to human emotion and authenticity will always be at the heart of what I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://xiaozart.com
- Instagram: gretz_art
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xiaochen-zheng-zh6419
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKV49PdV-PdQfX5lcXf1z1A
