Meet Anton Ten

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

Anton, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

Creativity is just a part of me—it’s like walking. I can’t stop coming up with ideas.

Sometimes it’s really fun, but other times, there are so many ideas that I don’t know what to do with them all.

When that happens, I take a step back and think about my dreams and goals.

I ask myself if these new ideas are helping me move closer to those goals. If they’re not, I just write them down in my notebook and move on. This way, I keep my creativity flowing but don’t let it overwhelm me.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m Anton Ten, Founder and ECD of PAPATON Studio, an award-winning character-driven creative animation studio where we bring stories and characters to life.

At PAPATON Studio, we believe that characters are at the heart of any great visual art, especially in advertising. A well-designed character not only tells a fantastic story but also creates a deep emotional connection between the audience and the brand.

In addition to crafting commercials, we’re hard at work on our own original kids’ series, which we’re excited to launch in 2025.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Be curious
Watching my kids explore the world with endless curiosity inspires me every day. This kind of curiosity helps you stay open to new ideas, learn, and grow constantly.
2. Be open.
Try something new—a new activity, a different meal at your favorite restaurant, or an unfamiliar route home. Stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to unexpected discoveries and opportunities.
3. Be yourself.
It may sound like a cliché, but it’s true—we’re all unique. Learn from others, listen to their experiences, but don’t try to follow someone else’s exact path. Even if you replicate every step, your results will be different. Success comes from embracing who you are and carving out your own journey.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was unconditionally support.

They supported me when I decided to be a tennis player, then when I decided to be an engineer, and later on, when I decided to switch to an artist way, they also supported me.

They never pushed me toward the directions or professions they thought were best. Instead, they gave me the freedom to make my own choices and taught me how to be a good person.

I deeply appreciate everything they did for me, and I’m doing my best to give the same support and guidance to my own kids.

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