Meet Selania King

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Selania King. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Selania below.

Selania, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

In many of the professional environments I’ve worked in, I’ve often found myself being the only one who looks like me. There’s never been a time when I haven’t had to prove my worth more than others. At first, it felt isolating, but I quickly realized that, given the body I have and the color I have, I can’t afford to make excuses. I’ve learned to live with a mindset of excelling regardless of the circumstances.

One of the key moments when this mindset solidified for me was during my time in college, particularly while working on my thesis project, Pirates of the Oneiric. It was an ambitious project that required me to pull from my technical skills and creative vision in animation and visual effects. Being the only one in my cohort with my background and perspective, I often had to advocate for myself and my work more than others. Whether it was in critique sessions or during long nights of refining textures and lighting, I felt the weight of proving not only my skills but also my right to be there.

However, this experience also pushed me to go beyond my expectations. I focused on creating something that wasn’t just technically sound, but also visually captivating and rich with narrative. The challenges I faced during that project strengthened my resolve and taught me the value of my unique perspective. The result was a thesis I’m incredibly proud of, and it solidified my confidence in my abilities to navigate any room, no matter how different I may seem from others.

I now see my differences as assets. They allow me to approach problems from angles others might not consider, which has become a valuable part of my contribution to any team. Ultimately, being the only one in the room has made me stronger, more resilient, and more determined to let my work speak for itself.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

As an artist with a background in Animation and Visual Effects, I specialize in look development and lighting. My work centers around creating textures and lighting setups that bring 3D environments and characters to life. What excites me most about this field is the ability to seamlessly blend creativity with technical precision. Whether it’s crafting the perfect mood for a scene through lighting or designing textures that add depth and realism to characters and objects, every project provides an opportunity to push the boundaries of visual storytelling.

What I find particularly special about my work is how it evokes emotions and tells stories without words. Through subtle lighting adjustments or intricate texturing, I can shape the way audiences experience a scene, making them feel deeply connected to the world I create. It’s this intersection of art and technology that keeps me passionate and inspired every day.

Currently, I’m co-directing an animated short film called WALK with a group of fellow alumni. Together, we’ve formed a small, volunteer-based studio called Pizza Party Productions. WALK tells the story of Hanai, a 16-year-old girl grappling with grief and the heavy burden of responsibility following the sudden loss of her parents. She must seek the guidance of a magical tree to find her missing brother in their isolated village, all while confronting her inner strength and belief in the mystical.

At its core, WALK is not just a coming-of-age story for Hanai—it’s a tale about accepting death and understanding the enduring bonds of family. Alongside my role as co-director, I am also the lead look development artist, responsible for overseeing the visual design of Hanai and ensuring the characters’ textures match the emotional depth and tone of the story. If your interested in viewing the project and seeing what we’ve done so far or the watching trailer and spreading the word or even investment opportunities you can go to https://www.pizzapartyproductions.com/ Thank you in advance.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three words that have shaped my journey are resilience, originality with tenacity, and failure. While “originality with tenacity” may not be a standard phrase, it’s something that has been essential to my growth, and I believe it’s key for anyone pursuing a career in creative fields.

Resilience is crucial because, in this industry, there will always be someone who seems more advanced or more “talented.” Not everyone will connect with your style, and you will receive feedback that challenges your work—whether it’s your designs, textures, or overall vision. Resilience comes in when you need to absorb that feedback, figure out how to apply it, and keep pushing forward despite doubts. There will be times when your mind or emotions tell you, “Maybe you’re not good enough” or “Maybe this path isn’t for you.” But in those moments, you have to remind yourself, “No, I am great at what I do.” Resilience allows you to keep moving, even when self-doubt tries to pull you back.

Originality with tenacity is the combination of staying true to yourself while fiercely holding onto your creative identity. Originality means never losing sight of who you are, no matter the room you’re in or the opinions around you. When you add tenacity to it, you develop the strength to protect that originality—no matter how much external forces push you to conform. It’s about firmly gripping who you are and never letting go, even when the pressure mounts.

Lastly, failure is a way of life. It’s how most people, even the greats, learn and grow. I’ve failed many times—whether in jobs, projects, or even letting myself down—and that’s okay. Failure is part of the process. What’s important is that with each failure, you learn, you grow, and hopefully, the failures become fewer as you continue improving. I believe I’ve grown stronger from my failures, and so will you.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

In this industry, I believe it’s essential to have a strength—something you’re truly amazing at—but that alone isn’t enough. You need to be well-rounded, with a solid understanding of multiple areas, because being versatile tends to open more doors. It’s not just about excelling in one thing, but about being able to step into other areas when needed.

For example, I’m a really great texture artist, but I’ve also developed skills in other areas like lighting, modeling, and compositing. Am I as good in those areas as I am in look development? Absolutely not. But if I need to, I can problem-solve or fix things in those departments. That’s where the strength of being well-rounded comes in—it gives you flexibility. There have been many situations where this has helped me.

During my undergraduate studies in Animation and Visual Effects at SAE Expressions (a school that’s no longer around in the Bay Area), we were taught the entire production pipeline. We had to study every area, from modeling to compositing, even filmmaking. At the time, it felt like a waste to me and my peers—we were there to focus on our main interests, not to dive into every part of production. But looking back, I realize the beauty of that experience. It gave me the chance to explore different disciplines and discover what I truly loved and excelled at. For example, I found that I wasn’t great at compositing, but I had a real passion for look development.

Having that well-rounded education made tackling my grad work and future projects easier. I was familiar with all aspects of production and could contribute to multiple areas. So, yes, having a strong specialty is important, but being well-rounded allows you to be more adaptable and resourceful, which ultimately makes you more valuable in the industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://celeniaking.com/
• Linkedin: Celenia (Selania) King https://www.linkedin.com/in/cele%C3%B1ia-king-a58b75140/

Image Credits

Academy of Art, CGTrader, Turbo Squid