This summer was packed with exciting experiences that take me around the globe again. Wherever I went, it was filled with festivals and events that celebrate animation in all its forms. These journeys were not only professionally enriching but also deeply personal, highlighting the power of community, cross-cultural exchange, and storytelling that transcends borders.

In June, along with my SVA students and faculty, I attended the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the world’s most prestigious animation gathering. We explored student screenings, recruiter panels, portfolio reviews, and studio mixers with top industry players like Cartoon Network, Lucasfilm, Netflix, Illumination, Titmouse, Paramount, and WIA World Summit. From spontaneous airport chats to portfolio reviews at MIFA and even catching a live performance by Rebecca Sugar (BFA 2009 Animation), the festival offered a rich mix of inspiration and access.

In Taipei, I led a special workshop for emerging filmmakers preparing for their thesis films for the Taiwan Animation and Visual Effects Association. The session covered story development, personal voice, and the role of animation as both craft and expression. Whether students had a clear vision or were still finding their direction, I offered a space to connect, reflect, and move forward. The workshop encouraged participants to explore the deeper meaning of their creative journeys and to tell the stories only they could tell. In addition, I had one-on-one portfolio critiques with the emerging artists from the Taiwan Academia Industry Consortium, a non-profit organization with a mission to bridge the industries and academia in the field of animation, game development, visual design, software content, cross-media collaboration, film, and other new digital technologies. I felt extremely grateful to be given these opportunities with the support from the Fubon Cultural and Educational Foundation to return home and support the animation education and industry with the best of her ability.

LightBox Expo has quickly become one of my favorite places to reconnect with friends, meet new faces, and celebrate the incredible creativity of our animation community. This year was especially meaningful because I had the chance to see our SVA community shine through a special night of screening “Animated Visions” showcasing short animated films created by the talented recent alumni of the BFA Animation and BFA 3D Animation and Visual Effects programs at the School of Visual Arts (SVA). The event provided an opportunity for the SVA community to connect with industry professionals.

Notable attendees included: Antonio Canobbio, Ben Kalina, Gabe Lee, and Sung Jin Ahn from Titmouse; Angela Arzumanyan (BFA 2018 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects) from Dreamworks Animation; Cat McDonnell (BFA 2017 Computer Art), Character TD from Walt Disney Animation Studios; Chingtien Chu (MFA 2017 Computer Art), Lighter & CG Artist at Framestore; Deena Beck (BFA 2012 Animation), Storyboard Artist at Disney TVA; Deborah Stoll, Writer; Jena Olson & Lisa Bergeson from WIA (Women in Animation), Karla Chiriboga & Gabriela Chavez (MFA 2015 Computer Art) from Universidad San Francisco de Quito; Mark Osborne, director; Michael Altman (BFA 2014 Computer Art), character TD at Walt Disney Animation Studios; Shauna McGarry, animation writer; and many more. It was wonderful to see such a vibrant mix of alumni, industry professionals, and friends come together to celebrate the incredible work of our graduates.

At the Lightbox Expo, we had two major presence, including the artist table and a SVA-lead panel. The table featured works by alumni Polly Guo (BFA 2012 Animation), Wungavu Tashmon Dimps Jr. (BFA 2022 Animation), and Emily Zullo (BFA 2023 Animation). A selection of zines, stickers, and prints was available for sale, offering a fantastic way to meet fellow artists passionate about animation. Our SVA panel is titled “Epic Fails: Stumbling Towards Growth”. Polly Guo, along with character animator Jakub Bednarz; cinematographer and co-director Yong Duk Jhun (MFA 2000 Computer Art); and current senior BFA Animation student Angelina Retodo, shared their experiences. Moderated by Angelica Vergel, the panel explored how failure can be a valuable tool for professional growth.

For me, LightBox Expo is a beautiful reminder that creativity grows through connection. Some of the most memorable moments happen between panels and portfolio reviews, in spontaneous conversations, shared meals, joyful reunions, and the excitement of introducing one person to another.

Every year, I'm reminded that one of the greatest gifts animation has given me is the opportunity to build friendships and creative communities around the world.

Returning to Annecy with our SVA Animation students, alumni and faculty is always one of the highlights of my year. It's a chance to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new friends, celebrate incredible films and introduce our students to an industry that is as generous as it is inspiring. This year’s festival welcomed 17,400 attendees from 103 countries, I found myself celebrating SVA faculty, staff and alumni made their mark on this major weeklong event with their contributions to official film selections, talent panels, industry-exclusive screenings and networking opportunities. The colleagues that accompanied me included BFA 3D Animation and Visual Effects, represented by chair Jimmy Calhoun (BFA 2003 Animation), and director of operations, Brian Frey; MFA Computer Arts, represented by director of operations Robert Campbell (MFA 2013 Fine Arts), administrative assistant Jack Meisterich and recent alumnus Ash Suh (MFA 2024 Computer Arts); and BFA Animation, represented by director of operations, Angelica Vergel; assistant to the chair, Diego Guanzon (BFA 2015 Animation); as well as faculty members Sachio Cook (BFA 2011 Animation) and Luz Batista (BFA 2014 Animation).

Throughout the week, our community explored screenings, exhibitions and studio presentations, shared conversations with artists from around the world, and cheered on the remarkable achievements of our alumni and friends. Watching our students confidently share their work, ask thoughtful questions and discover new possibilities for their future is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.

Sachio Cook worked as an animator for two animated shorts selected for this year’s festival: Mike Judge's Beavis & Butt-Head: Sleepover and Hulu IDs – Season 2: Exquisite Corpse, from Titmouse, the studio co-founded by Chris Prynoski (BFA 1994 Animation) and Shannon Prynoski (BFA 1994 Film and Video). “The most touching part of the experience was how enthusiastic my SVA colleagues were about watching these projects on the big screen with me,” Cook said. “I came away from this experience feeling incredibly supported and embraced by my SVA and Titmouse community.” Additionally, Prynoski and Titmouse CCO Antonio Canobbio presented Midnight Specials: WTF 2024. This screening features 15 animated gems created by 17 animators who push the boundaries of animation and storytelling, embodying the true theme of “WTF.” Joe Bennett (BFA 2008 Fine Arts), world-premiered his comedy series Common Side Effects, co-created with Steve Hely and produced by Adult Swim. Bennett and Hely were joined by Adult Swim’s president Michael Ouweleen, head of Original Comedy & Adult Animation Suzanna Makkos, and Bandera Entertainment President Dustin Davis for an in-depth conversation and Q&A about this special new series.

WIA (Women in Animation) World Summit, themed “Stronger Together: The Equitable Future of Animation,” sharing her experience with Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss as a showrunner, writer and creator. Medrano discussed technological advancements in the industry and shared her innovative practices and new methods of creating animation within new business models.

Additionally, in my role as one of the jurors for 2024 Pixelatl’s Shortway program, I mentored two filmmakers from Costa Rica to pitch at the La Liga—Iberoamericana Latin American Shorts, Feature Film, and Series Pitch at MIFA. “It’s very inspiring to be able to foster talent from all over the world, beyond SVA, to present and showcase stories inspired by their own cultures,” she said. “Roque Vásquez and Daniela Capo did an amazing job with their pitch, and I truly can’t wait to see their 3D animated short film, Agua Dulce.” 

This year’s trip concluded with visiting Paris after the festival along with Jimmy Calhoun. The goal was to deepen connections with the French animation industry. They visited several schools, including School Brassart - Paris, GOBELINS Paris & Annecy, and Paris College of Art, to discuss potential collaborations and exchange programs for SVA students. We also visited studios such as Mikros Animation and Superprod. Industry professionals shared their honest feedback and insights on how educators can better prepare students for industry readiness.

We are thrilled to return to Annecy each year as it connects SVA to the heart of the animation industry, where everyone gathers to share their passion. Our presence is vital not only for student and educational outreach but also for showcasing the important role SVA plays now and in the future. Experiences like these remind me that education isn't just about learning new skills. It's about discovering new perspectives, building meaningful relationships and finding a place within a creative community.

“We are where animation happens” is a philosophy deeply rooted in my career and for the team I lead. The year of 2023 is no exception because animation has taken me on a world tour in familiar parts and foreign lands where I met the most kind souls who also share the same passion for animation.

Annecy International Animation Film Festival

In June, I traveled to Annecy, France, for the annual Annecy International Animation Film Festival, which this year attracted over 16,000 attendees from 102 countries. My participation included attending master classes, world-premiere and competition screenings, panel discussions and many networking events. With Mexico being the festival’s 2023 country spotlight, a number of the events celebrated Mexican animation.

The week kicked off with the WIA (Women in Animation) World Summit. WIA is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering and advocating for people of underrepresented gender identities in the art, technology, production and business of animation. Its summit theme this year was “Break the Box: Gender and Leadership,” and writer and comics artist Molly Ostertag (BFA 2014 Illustration) participated in the event’s Authentic Storytelling panel. I was also part of an Annecy Mifa Campus panel discussion, “The Art of Finding Your Dream Job: From Student to Professional in the Animation Industry,” for which I was joined by industry pros Stephane Biava, Joan Da Silva and Tran Ma, along with the moderator Stephanie Hayot, of ArtStation/Epic Games.

Anibar International Animation Festival

In July, I was invited to participate in Kosovo’s Anibar International Animation Festival as a juror for the International Short Film and Feature Film competition categories. My fellow jurors included industry pros Claus Toksvig Kjaer, Chris Robinson, Alice Saey and Anastasiya Verlinskaya. I also ran a three-hour master class, “Portfolio and Pitch—Kickstarting You and Your Animation”, about navigating the different stages of an animation career. This event was one of the most life-changing experience because of how tightly knitted the community of jurors and participants was. The festival and program were designed in the most thoughtful way that everyone felt inclusive. Life-time friendships were formed with hearts and smiles.

Anímate 2D23

In September, I was invited to be a part of Anímate 2D23, hosted at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. This three-day festival brought together an international group of animation experts, emerging artists and studios. Speakers and panelists included Tim Dillnutt, Axur Eneas, Tomás Kiyoshi, Lina Porras and Alonso Jose Vega Peña Vizcardo. In addition to leading the master class “Bridging the Gap between Education and the Animation Industry”, I hosted two afternoons of portfolio reviews where she met with local talent and gave them constructive feedback on improving their work and taking the next step in their career.

The trip was possible because a personal invite by Gaby Chavez (MFA 2015 Computer Art), who attended SVA on scholarship before returning to her home country of Ecuador to teach and work in the industry. “I am now a teacher at USFQ, the top university in Ecuador and one of the highest-ranked institutions in South America,” she says. “It has been an honor to share the knowledge I gained during my MFA Computer Art program at SVA and contribute to the animation industry. This event broadens our horizons as educators, helps elevate the industry and inspires students to dream big.”

Traveling to Seoul with the SVA community was a meaningful reminder that our alumni network extends far beyond New York. Throughout the week, I had the opportunity to reconnect with graduates, meet prospective students, and celebrate the incredible work our alumni are doing across South Korea's creative industries.

The trip’s highlight was SVA’s Korean Alumni Association’s (KAA) gathering at the Westin Josun hotel in Seoul. Spirits were high as more than 150 alumni reunited with former classmates after a long pandemic pause and welcomed a new KAA president, Kenny Kim (BFA 1994 Graphic Design) and his new cabinet, succeeding Tak Hoon Kim (MFA 2005 Computer Art; BFA 1997 Animation) following his four-year tenure. It was rewarding to see how deeply connected our community remains. Whether we were sharing stories over dinner, reviewing portfolios, visiting studios, or welcoming future students to learn more about SVA, every conversation reinforced the importance of creating spaces where artists can support and inspire one another.

I also spent some time visiting several schools and studios. I started off with the Chun Ang University in Dongjak-gu for a visit with Tak Hoon Kim and CAU’s animation department, which houses Tak Toon Enterprise, the force behind such stop-motion and 2D animated TV series as “Galaxy Kids, ”Teeny Scouts BigFive,“ ”The Forks with Spiky Hands,“ and ”The Curious World of Linda.” I then joined Jeannie Kang (MFA 2002 Computer Art) at Ewha Woman's University, where Kang shared her career journey from the industry to education: she is now passing on expertise in UX/UI to emerging talent as a faculty member at her BFA alma mater, just as she did as a faculty member at SVA prior to her return to South Korea. Later, I was introduced to Yoomi Choi, dean of the College of Art & Design, for a discussion on the challenges in higher education during the pandemic as well as a potential collaboration between the college and SVA. Later that week, I paid a visit at the newly opened Seoul office of the global production company The Mill, and met with Creative Director YoungChan Kim (MFA 2010 Computer Art), who recently returned to Seoul for the opening of the office, as well as VP, Head of Studio Tony Choi, to talk about the possibility of future SVA hires as The Mill opens positions at the senior and junior levels.

As an educator, I always enjoy watching those moments when connections begin to form, when alumni meet current students, when future classmates find each other, or when a simple conversation grows into a lasting creative relationship. Those experiences are just as meaningful as the lectures and presentations themselves. I'm grateful to everyone who welcomed us so warmly in Seoul and helped make the visit such a memorable one. It was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen relationships within our global SVA family, and I left feeling inspired by the generosity, talent, and passion of Korea's creative community.

Returning to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival after two years away was a meaningful moment for both me and our SVA Animation community. Annecy has always been one of my favorite places to reconnect with friends, meet new collaborators and celebrate the incredible creativity of the global animation industry.

Throughout the week, I had the privilege of representing SVA alongside our students, alumni and faculty as we participated in portfolio reviews, screenings, networking events and industry conversations. It was especially rewarding to introduce our students to artists and recruiters, helping them build relationships that often become the start of their professional careers.

The festival also gave us the opportunity to reconnect with industry professionals from studios including Illumination and Myzen Studios, while meeting artists, educators and creators from around the world through events like the Women in Animation World Summit. This year, WIA’s summit theme was “Gender Justice: A Global Call for Inclusion in Animation,” and I was part of a working lunch group that included Kara Oropallo, VP of training, outreach and artistic development at DNEG; Brandy Fisher Blood, head of diversity and inclusion at Walt Disney Animation Studios; Bonnie Lemon, VP of creative production at DisneyTelevision Animation; and Adina Pitt, VP of lead content acquisitions, partnerships and co-prods, the Americas, for WarnerMedia Kids and Family. The group was tasked with the topic of “mentorship vs. sponsorship,” both internally at studios as well as externally with nonprofits. Through meaningful discussion, our group truly believed that gender justice is extremely important and we need to continue to raise awareness and find ways and methods to work with the industry. Collectively, we must create an equal and fair work environment for the emerging talent I care deeply about. I look forward to continuing the partnership with the industry leaders on fostering the new generation of animation talent within as well as outside of SVA.

One of my favorite moments each year is watching our students realize that the animation community is far more connected and welcoming than they imagined. Seeing them share their work, gain confidence and leave with new friendships reminds me why Annecy continues to be such an important part of my work as an educator. I'm grateful to everyone who helped make our return possible, and I look forward to continuing to build bridges between artists, educators and studios in the years to come.

This year marked the 46th SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques) in Los Angeles, the heart of the CG industry. With almost 20,000 attendees from around the world, SIGGRAPH is the largest conference on computer graphics art, animation and interactive techniques. My participation this year is slightly different than usual… I was more active in panels, studio visits as well as alumni outreach… Here are the highlights!

Representing the lead for the NYC Chapter of Women in Animation, I was part of the panel “"Building WIA Chapters: Vancouver, NYC, Montreal and More” within the Women in Animation Summit at SIGGRAPH. I got to share my experience co-leading the NYC chapter, my collaborations with other local organizations and the many challenges that the chapter is facing in its efforts to reach the goal of 50/50 by 2025. My SVA colleague, Jimmy Calhoun, chair of BFA Computer Art, was part of the panel “Supporting Students of Animation.” The panel discussed how to manage the cultural and technical challenges faced by students leaving animation schools and entering the workforce.

I was also part of the "Women in CG" panel where I shared the stage with Sidney Clifton, executive producer, Deluxe Animation Studios; Kaitlyn Yang, founder and visual effects supervisor, Alpha Studios; Katie Bouman, post-doctoral fellow, MIT; and moderator Diana Arellano, chair of ACM SIGGRAPH External Relations. It was such an honor to be sitting side-by-side with these outstanding female leads in their industry. I’ve learned just as much as the audience did by listening to their stories, where they came from and what led to where they are in their careers. Most important, we get to discuss what is still left to be done to support more women in their chosen fields.

Stepping out of the convention center, I got to visit several studios, including Buck LA, Frederator, Netflix, Bento Box Entertainment and Warner Brothers Animation. It did not come as a surprise that I ran into many familiar faces, SVA alumni and friends in the industry. However the highlight is indeed the moment when I finally got to meet Dony Permidi, the filmmaker for “Kiwi!” It is a 3D animated short about a kiwi bird’s journey on making the most effort to achieve their goal. Dony and I had corresponded many times over the course of several years and I finally got to meet him in person. What an honor! Thank you, all the studios for hosting us. Special thanks to Branko Kljajic (BFA 2017 Animation), who currently working as an animator, guided this special private tour.

Last but not least, there was the amazing SVA x SIGGRAPH reception where alumni and friends of the industry were all invited for conversation and inspiration. In addition to this reception, I also got many chances to meet with BFA Animation alumni across parts of LA. Thank you, everyone for coming out to reconnect!

I always see myself right in the middle between the animation education and industry. I am that invisible line connecting these two important dots. Often times, I get to share what I know at different animation film festivals. This summer, I found myself speaking the same topic but in Mandarin at “Digital Taipei 2019”, a B2B trade fair of digital content industry of Taiwan. My presentation is called “Bridging the Gap between Animation Industry and Education” where I got to share what my experience has been like working at School of Visual Arts as an educator and my take on working with the animation industry leaders, recruiters, and artists on fostering talent.

During this one-day forum, there are also many speakers sharing their expertise, including LeSean Thomas, Director and Creator of Cannon Busters on Netflix, leaders of the industries from Bilibili, HTC Vive Originals, Greener Grass Production, Tracking Troops VFX and Jonathan Lin, Modeler at DreamWorks Animation.

Special thanks to Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US and its Investment and Trade Office for making this trip happen.

Below is a excerpt of my recap for this year’s trip to Annecy, featured on SVA website.

"Lapin!" the audience screamed at the top of their lungs every time a rabbit appeared on screen as part of the signature film for the Annecy International Animation Festival. This is one of many fun traditions at this festival in southeastern France and this year was no different. The energy of the room was full of passion and excitement from animation lovers from across the world, for whom Annecy International Animation Festival is the place to be.

The entire SVA team had a packed schedule at this year's festival, full of panels, screenings and industry events. On Monday, Women in Animation (WIA) and Les Femmes s'Animent (LFA) hosted their third annual WIA World Summit, where I was part of the Supporting Students of Animation panel, moderated by Brendan Burch, CEO of Six Point Harness and chair of students at WIA. The fellow panelists were Deb Stone, director of recruiting and talent development at Blue Sky Studios and co-lead of WIA NYC; and Cecile Carre, 2D animator at The SPA Studios. We discussed how to handle the high volume of female students, many from abroad; the cultural and technical challenges in animation schools; and how industry and education can work together to create a supportive and practical bridge between schools and studios.

On Tuesday, I moderated my annual talent panel during the Mifa Campus that is specifically designed for talents to learn about not only the latest productions from studios, but also practical tips on how to enter the industry at different stages of their careers. The panel Master Your Career in Animation mixes recruiters and hiring managers across from animation and VFX industry. They included Antonio Canobbio, SVP and CCO of Titmouse Inc. from U.S.; Amélie Chicoye, Project Manager of Illumination Mac Guff from France; Ian Landman, Senior Recruitment Manager of Framestore from U.K.; and Roisin Mcintosh, Recruitment Manager of Brown Bag Films from Ireland & U.K. This year, the panelists put together a series of examples to not only talk about how to put together a portfolio and reel, but really show actual work on what the best practice is in order to stand out from the competition. One of the attendees, Arnau Ferrer from Spain, event posted a beautiful drawing from the panel to his Instagram account.

On Wednesday, Warner Bros. Animation presented Looney Tunes cartoons and their creators (the company premiered its latest short, "Mummy Dummy," at the festival's opening ceremony earlier in the week), including alumnus and storyboard artist Michael Ruocco (BFA 2011 Animation). Later in the evening, the SVA team was invited to Netflix's celebration for its upcoming animated feature Klaus. Throughout the week, there were many other events where the team reconnected with alumni, including Phil Rynda (BFA 2003 Animation) from Netflix; Rebecca Sugar (BFA 2009 Animation) and Ian Jones-Quartey (BFA 2006 Animation) from Cartoon Network; and Dana Terrace (BFA 2013 Animation) from Disney.

Thursday was another highlight for the SVA team, with an industry dinner co-hosted by Pearl Studio and MFA Computer Arts. It was a night of Chinese dining in France where international animation industry professionals mingled over a family-style feast. The guests included Sergio Pablos, director of Klaus; animator Bill Plympton (SVA 1969 Cartooning); Alexandre Heboyan, director of Mune: Guardian of the Moon; Delphine Selles-Alvarez, film curator at French Institute Alliance Francaise; Tiffany Feeney from Talent Output; Chi Sui Wang, dean of the office of international affairs at Taipei National University of the Arts; and Will Feng, animation producer, and Ben Kalina, COO, of Titmouse, among many others. The event was organized by me along with Hank Abbott, preproduction manager and Justian Huang, head of development at Pearl Studio. The event ended with everyone holding up their glasses and cheering in Chinese, "乾杯!"

This is my seventh year attending Annecy and the eighth year where SVA was represented. Over the years, I've witnessed the tremendous growth in the festival in terms of the number of attendees, the variety of the film premieres and selections and the industry's undivided attention to the animation lovers. Sitting in the theatre should-to-shoulder with people who share the same passion as you about animation is the best feeling ever. We cheer, we cry, and we clap at the same time. These are the moments that remind us, as educators, why we do what we do. We want to bring this worldly perspective back to SVA and we also want to bring our unique voices of SVA talents to all corners of the world.

Thank you as always, Annecy! We will see you again in 2020!

There is no easy way to pack for this trip! 8,000 miles away, I found myself in three amazing cities along with my SVA colleague in Asia. According to SVA report, during this fast-paced tour, we met over 140 alumni (representing 17 degree programs), 80 students from eight different schools (more than 100 more from schools I personally visited), 12 companies and 5 libraries. Read the full recap on SVA website.

In addition to SVA main outreach trip, I set aside some time to visit a few schools on my own and they are: Myongji University, National Taiwan Normal University, Shih Chien University, University of Taipei, and Kuando International Animation Festival hosted by Taipei National University of the Arts.

Needless to say, I am very grateful for this opportunity for me to reconnect with SVA alumni, industry leaders and most importantly my dear friends. I miss you all very much and look forward to another fun reunion in the very near future. Cheers!