Holiday Liu: The Green Dragon Born
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I was born and raised in the bustling city of Shenzhen, China. Growing up in China was quite distinct from the experience in the US. Our school days were long, often stretching until 6 pm with only a one-hour break. And if that wasn't enough, night study sessions awaited us from 7 to 9 pm, heaping a heavy load of pressure on students like me. In this environment, parents held extremely high expectations for their children, believing that excelling in academics would pave the way for a better life.
However, during those years, I was considered the "problem child" in their eyes. I couldn't stand studying. My books were filled with doodles, and every time the teacher started talking, I'd zone out and start daydreaming. I imagined I was a green dragon, with my real home in the deep, deep East China Sea. I'd dream that another dragon would come to rescue me from class, and we'd fly off into the ocean, free to go wherever we wanted, experiencing the world both as a human and as a dragon, living for centuries. But, of course, reality would rudely interrupt my dragon adventures when the teacher called me out, "Liu Haoyang, read the next paragraph!"
My mom and teachers thought I was just messing around and not taking studying seriously. They put so much pressure on me! So, when I got to high school, I thought, "Why not do something I actually like?" I decided to become an art student. Painting, sketching, and all that artsy stuff became my plan to ace the National College Entrance Examination. So, one day, I bid farewell to my classmates and embarked on a journey to the art class.
Let me tell you, that was the best decision ever! In art class, everyone had such a creative soul. It was like a bunch of lively people, not boring study zombies. I had a blast and felt so inspired during those three years of art study.
Eventually, my dedication paid off, and I received acceptance into the renowned China Academy of Art, one of the most prestigious art institutions in the country. Suddenly, people saw me in a whole new light. I was now the subject of interviews, teachers smiled at me, and even distant relatives reached out, curious about my secret to success. It was surprising to witness how quickly people's opinions shifted. In their eyes, I had transformed from a problem child to a student with boundless potential.
However, deep down, I remained true to myself—I was still the free Green Dragon, dreaming of adventures beyond anyone's expectations.
From Illustration to Animation
After leaving my hometown, the green dragon headed to Hangzhou for college, where I majored in Illustration. I had imagined loving it back in high school because it allowed me to draw, but once I got into it, I found myself less interested. Despite experimenting with various materials like watercolor, color pencil, marker, and ink wash painting, nothing truly sparked my passion. I also realized that I preferred working in a team rather than solo.
Thankfully, my college offered animation courses within the same department. I had the opportunity to experience animation through intro classes in 2D animation and stop motion, and I thoroughly enjoyed them. However, they were relatively short and focused on individual work.
During that time, I made my first 2D animation piece. It is somewhat goofy, but entertaining to watch.
Then, a pivotal moment occurred when I attended a huge lecture hosted by the animation department. The school invited Pixar animators to give a talk to the students. The theater was packed with enthusiastic attendees, and I managed to snag a corner seat. The lecture was amazing, with fascinating insights and captivating workflows shared by the animators. One shot from "The Incredibles" particularly stuck with me, showing a soldier hilariously falling from a tower after being hit by a rock. The animator had crafted multiple versions of the fall animation, each filled with creativity and enjoyment. That moment solidified my decision to pursue CG animation.
So, during the last year of my undergraduate studies, I applied to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco to pursue 3D animation. The green dragon spread her wings once again, this time flying across borders to explore new horizons in the US.
When I finally landed in the US, I got the opportunity to take classes at Animation Collaborative with none other than the legendary Victor.
At the end of the section, he shared some of his work with us, One of the shots he showed was the same soldier fall animation from the lecture I attended in China three years ago. I kid you not, goosebumps covered my arms as the realization hit me—I was being tutored by the animator who had inspired me to pursue CG animation in the first place.
The feeling was simply awesome, like the stars had aligned to guide me on this incredible journey.
To Be Continued
After graduating from the Academy of Art, I was on the hunt for a job. It's tough for studios to trust fresh graduates like me with their projects. I vividly remember the moment I landed my first job at Psyop. It was a sudden opportunity that came knocking when another animator faced a family emergency and couldn't fulfill their role. I received an email on a Friday, and by Monday, I had already packed my bags and traveled from San Francisco to LA, crashing at a friend's place. That's how my career kick-started.
After a year of hard work in LA, I was stoked to have the chance to join Steamroller Animation in Florida. And man, the Florida heat is no joke! The Green Dragon in me almost turned into a dried-up lizard, haha! But the experience at Steamroller made it all worth it. I had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, from games to short films and visual effects. It was an incredible way to explore different areas of animation and grow as an artist.
That's my journey so far, and I can't wait to see what new adventures lie ahead for the Green Dragon as I continue to spread my wings in the animation world!
