We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yuehan Tan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Yuehan, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
I wouldn’t really call myself an optimist. Actually, when I make decisions, I tend to think about the worst-case scenario. For instance, when I ditched my job in China to go after my 3D animation dreams at Sheridan College in Canada, I totally saw myself failing and losing my job and time.
But here’s the thing—I’m cool with that. I believe I can handle whatever life throws at me, and I’m all about facing challenges with courage. My optimism isn’t about avoiding the worst; it’s about taking it on and learning from it.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am an animator located in Toronto. have been a big fan of 2D animation, such as Disney and anime, since childhood. To pursue my passion, I enrolled at the University of Southern California for animation studies. During my time there, I created two personal short films showcased at festivals like the Tribeca Film Festival, AnimDocs Festival, Palm Springs Film Festival, and more. However, I realized that finding a space in the industry for 2D animation and independent film could be challenging, especially in the aftermath of COVID. The difficulty of sustaining a career in 2D animation prompted me to explore new horizons, leading me to dive into the realm of 3D animation.
Currently, I’m studying computer animation at Sheridan College in Toronto, working towards becoming a 3D generalist.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
ability of keep learning, curiosity and a healthy body
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
Recently, I discovered that the role of a technical artist is an intriguing aspect of animation production. However, I’ve found that there isn’t enough information available online about this field, likely due to its relative newness compared to other roles in the production process. Currently, I’m actively engaged in researching more to deepen my understanding of this field
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yuehantan.com
- Instagram: @yuehanta
