MFA - 3D Animation

Yisilayi Yiliminuer

Growing up in the lively whirlwind of Uyghur culture, I was surrounded by stories that colored life in vibrant hues. After completing my undergrad degree, I found myself at a crossroads, unsure of what path to take next. Under the gloom of covid I realized that I strayed too far away from my roots, both physically and mentally. After a relatively low-key identity crisis, I decided that it’s time to rekindle my love for moving pictures, and I enrolled in the MFA program at Academy of Art University. Armed with nothing but a sketchbook full of drawings with bad anatomy, I embarked on my animation journey with a little too much confidence. Of course I knew that the sarcastic bunny probably wasn’t the result of a secret government experiment gone wrong during the Cold War, but oh boy did I underestimate just how much efforts it takes to make a human walk like there weren’t a pool of molasses beneath their feet. But after three years of struggles, I think I got a little better, and I know I’ll keep getting better. So here’s to the power of storytelling, the thrill of creation, and the endless adventure of animation!