Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yuxin LI. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Yuxin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

After I finished my MFA degree, I worked at a VFX company for about two years and participated in many film and TV projects. However, the most meaningful project was not what I did at the company. I did this not for money. This project is a short film about my uncle’s noodle restaurant, which he had been running for many years. The TV in his restaurant always played random food videos from the internet, so I decided to create a video for his restaurant. Four years ago, when I was staying at my uncle’s place in Chicago, I often dined at his restaurant and I liked the food so much. So I used my camera to capture the delicious food and the beautiful moments in his restaurant, eventually editing them into a short film that was looped on the TV. A delightful surprise came four years later when I visited my uncle’s house again last year. He told me that a mural artist, who saw my video while dining at his restaurant, was moved by the scene of his daughter eating noodles and offered to paint a mural for free on the restaurant’s exterior wall.
I was touched by this because my intention in making the video was not for any reward, but simply to do something I’d like to do also can help my uncle. It felt like a seed I had sown unintentionally, which was nurtured by the kindness of passersby. This experience has deepened my love for capturing life through the lens, encouraging me to record and share the moments that matter to me.

Yuxin, 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 began learning to paint at the age of 9, delving into Chinese ink painting, sketching, and watercolor. As I approached university age and had to choose a major, I realized that nothing piqued my interest quite like art and design. Nothing else seemed to offer the same drive for continued learning. So, without hesitation, I chose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in art and design. Once in university, I discovered a deep-rooted interest in Japanese and American animations and science fiction films. I found animation to be a field with immense freedom and breadth. To create excellent animations, one needs not only a boundless imagination but also keen observational skills and the ability to analyze various characters and scenes. This realization led me to pursue further studies in animation in the United States. At SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design), I learned the entire process of producing animations, from design, storyboarding, modeling, texturing, lighting, animating, to rendering, and I specialized in character animation. Due to my sensitivity to movement and rhythm, I gravitated towards creating realistic animations. Later, I joined a visual effects company where I primarily worked on character and monster animations, creating special effects for film and TV characters like birds, insects, chimpanzees, robots, and more.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Actually, I’ve always considered myself quite fortunate, having not faced many setbacks or pivots. However, the rapid development of AI and the Hollywood strike have impacted my job and career. I’m currently in the process of looking for new opportunities. At the same time, I’m expanding my skills into new areas, like graphic design and video editing. In my free time, I’ve designed a logo and made posters for a friend’s milk tea shop. Though I’ve experienced unemployment, I believe it’s important to grow through these pivots. Learning more and enhancing one’s competitiveness is crucial in this era of rapid AI advancement.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being a foreigner in my school and company. The different cultural backgrounds have become a strategy of mine. For example, my graduation project was an animation inspired by traditional Chinese shadow puppetry, showcasing our cultural richness. On the other hand, having studied fine arts and design since elementary school fuels my ability to come up with innovative design ideas consistently.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://usen3danim.myportfolio.com/work
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuxin-yusen-li-a97617199/