Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
Hello! My name is Leigh Luna, I’m a mixed-Latina artist from Albuquerque, N.M. I attended the Minneapolis College of Art and graduated with a BFA in Comic Art. I’m very into colorful design, education, and comedy. My career has spanned several fields: comics, surface design, illustration, and animation. At the moment I’m a Color Designer by day and a one-woman comic studio by night. I’ve gotten to color design on some cool projects including Steven Universe, Centaurworld, and Clone High. My debut graphic novel Clementine Fox and the Great Island Adventure comes out on May 16, 2023.
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
My biggest challenge in animation was finding work early on in my career. While in school I never intended to work in animation, I always wanted to be a Surface Designer. However, when I moved to L.A., several friends recommended I try out color design. My first job was as a Color Designer on Danger & Eggs, and I fell in love with it. Color design combined my past skills in comic coloring and surface design. It made sense to me.
After we wrapped I searched for color design openings; but since there are usually one to two Color Designers per production, openings were slim. The two tests I did land for color design were extremely competitive. Based on my comics and writing background, I was offered several storyboard tests, but I quickly realized my skills were sub-par to those who had experience. I went back to surface design, freelancing, and nannying for two years in between my first and second animation jobs.
In 2019 Steven Universe reached out and offered me the color design test based on my colorful product design portfolio and a bit of previous experience. I am grateful, every day, that I got that job. Early in my career, I colored two Steven graphic novels which made me familiar with the style. I later found out Steven Universe was completely unaware of this upon offering me the test. Liz Artinian became my Art Director and is an incredible mentor. She truly taught me everything I know.
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
Lately, my biggest inspirations have been Matt Burnett, Ben Levin, and Tiffany Ford who created Craig of The Creek. The sense of diversity in Craig is so rich and well thought out. The writing and world-building are so creative yet familiar. The way they have tackled difficult issues with grace for their audience is inspiring to me. I also really like Elizabeth Ito‘s work. City of Ghosts is such a beautiful example of how animation can work as a tool for specific education. The “Tovaangar” episode is incredibly close to home. Generally, I love colorful, design-heavy animation, so Chromosphere Studio as a whole is an obvious inspiration for me. Eastwood Wong’s color design on Eden is especially inspiring to me. As cheesy as it sounds, I’m constantly inspired by my coworkers. Comics are often so isolating. While I have an editor, writing, thumbnailing, penciling, inking, and coloring are all me. Getting to work alongside people who have devoted their careers to one of those crafts is humbling.
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?
It would be incredible if my graphic novels end up as a kids’ show—that’s the far-off dream. On a smaller scale, I want to keep pushing for diversity and equality in animation. I hope to get to make more shows that reflect diverse experiences. I will also continue the fight for Color Designers to get paid as much as their design colleagues.
What does being in the Union mean to you?
Being in the Union has meant having support. The community is truly there for you when you need it, and the shop stewards at various studios have helped me so much. Early in my career, several Guild members acted as coaches and helped me negotiate jobs. I try to pay that forward as much as possible now. The benefits also mean not having to worry about my health, which is a huge relief for me.
See more of Leigh’s work at her website.
Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
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