Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
In high school, I didn’t make the volleyball team (too short) and needed to fill that time with something else. My friend invited me to join her art class that she often complained about—it was awesome, and we had a model every week! From there I dove in and did several programs at Ryman Arts and California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA). Ryman Arts had some information on careers outside of studio artist, and on that list was storyboarding. I then went to Cal State Fullerton, and the rest is history. For the past eight years, I’ve worked as a Storyboard Artist and Director on a variety of shows: kids, board driven, action comedy, adult, script, stop-motion, preschool. Clients and studios have included Netflix, Amazon, Cartoon Network, Atomic Cartoons, and Titmouse.
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
When I first started working, I underestimated the shift in my relationship with art outside of work. Boredom was often a driving factor for creating because I had time and fewer responsibilities, but now that this has completely flipped, I’ve had to discover a new reason for creating. It’s also been difficult to break into larger studios without knowing someone in a hiring position. Since a lot of projects aren’t advertised publicly, it’s easy to miss an opportunity, especially ones we might be a great fit for. That’s why my personal projects are a great outlet for me creatively.
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
It’s usually who I’m working with at the time! There are so many excellent artists in our field, it’s too hard to narrow it down to only a few. On the anime side, I’m currently inspired by はなぶし(Kung Fu Piggy), Megumi Ishitani (One Piece Fan Letter), and Yuasa Masaaki (The Night is Short, Walk on Girl).
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?
I would like to continue working on fun projects and help create better working environments as a supervisor. Working as a team is fulfilling, and I like being able to lean on others in areas I’m not as strong, as well as vice versa.
What does being in the Union mean to you?
Being in the Union gives me a sense of community and support. I find that I can always turn to someone for advice or count on someone having a similar experience. I have learned better work-life balance habits through our members.
Learn more about Emily at her website.
Follow her on Instagram and Bluesky.
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