Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
Hi folks! I’m Kelsey Wooley, and I’m a Director, Story Artist, and Revisionist who has been working in the animation industry for about six years. Though I currently live in Los Angeles, I grew up and spent most of my life in Louisiana. My love of storytelling and drawing came from reading shelves upon shelves of fantasy books and from watching many animated films and series with captivating stories and fun characters. Storyboarding seemed like the perfect combination of being both an artist and a storyteller so I gravitated towards it.
I studied and graduated in animation at the Savannah College of Art & Design in 2014 and got my first full-time studio job as a Storyboard Artist for season one of the series Santiago of the Seas at Nickelodeon. Since then, I’ve been involved in directing and board work for other productions at Nickelodeon/Paramount, as well as at OddBot Inc., Noggin, and more. I’ve also done comic and illustration work at Papercutz publishing. Outside of work, I like to focus on volunteering with animals (particularly at the Safarmi sanctuary in Tarzana) and on writing my first fantasy novel.
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
One of the biggest challenges is finding confidence in my work and in myself, especially during the last two years. Even though many artists have been struggling, it’s still hard to not feel your self-worth crumble when you’re going months and months without work. I had just gotten my first chance to direct and felt so proud of myself, but then suddenly it feels like you’ve taken a leap backwards in your career after reaching a big accomplishment. It’s hard to fight off the feelings of shame and self-doubt. The only thing that helped me reclaim my confidence was to try writing and drawing my own stories and characters. It helps me find my own voice, and grow to love the voice I had to offer.
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
I have so many artists and writers that have inspired me over the years, and I appreciate every single one. In film storytelling, Don Bluth, Brad Bird, Steven Spielberg, Hayao Miyazaki, Guillermo del Toro, Tomm Moore, McKenna Jean Harris, and Chris Sanders are a few huge inspirations. I’m drawn to stories that have charming characters and fantastical worlds that can sometimes be very dark and dangerous but audiences will still be drawn to them.
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?
I want to continue to grow as a storyteller and help create stories and characters that inspire and bring happiness to audiences, especially children. I also want to keep doing my best to help other artists and writers in the industry reach their goals. Good animation takes a team effort, and every person in the production deserves praise for helping bring the stories we love to life.
What does being in the Union mean to you?
Being in a union means being part of a community that uplifts, supports, and protects one another. I would not be in a secure position in my life without all the positive benefits that a union job has offered me. During such unstable times, it helps to know that you’re part of a collective of others who are willing to fight to protect our industry and fellow union members.
Learn more about Kelsey at her website.
Follower her on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
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