Meet Nina Ta

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

Nina, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

That is an interesting question. I have never really thought about where my resilience comes from, but this question makes me reflect more deeply. When I think about the difficult times I’ve had to go through—whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a stressful period during school, heartbreak, or life’s general challenges—I realize that I often rely on an inner voice that reminds me not to give up, no matter how I feel in the moment. Life doesn’t stop just because things are hard, and while it’s difficult, it’s important not to get stuck. Instead, I try to keep moving forward, believing that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
I also draw resilience from people who inspire me. When I see their strength and determination, I think to myself, “Wow, they are so strong and admirable—I want to be like them someday.” Their actions and the way they live their lives motivate me to keep pushing toward my goals. At the same time, I’ve learned that it’s important to talk through the challenges I’m facing, whether by sharing my thoughts with someone or writing them down. Expressing myself helps me process my emotions and gain clarity.
In the end, I believe my resilience comes from within myself, as well as from the support system I have around me.

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

I’m currently back in school, learning more about business and how everything works. As a full-time international student from Russia, I also work part-time at two campus jobs while maintaining my social circle and staying in shape. At the same time, I’m constantly thinking about how I can develop my art and what I can do with it. With so much going on, I try to stay focused and organized to manage everything effectively.
Unfortunately, because of my busy schedule, I’ve been doing less art lately. However, I have a goal I want to achieve someday: to create my own comic book and art book, followed by merchandise that I can produce and sell. For now, this remains a dream, as I’m more focused on the business side of things. After completing my animation degree in 2022, I reached a significant turning point when I realized I wanted to work in the animation industry in a managerial role—specifically, working with talented artists and supporting the creative process. Despite this shift in my professional direction, I’m still an artist at heart, and I continue to nurture my passion for personal art projects.
Let me tell you about the type of art I usually create. My work is heavily influenced by anime, which I started watching as a teenage girl. However, I’ve been drawing since I was 3 years old. I enjoy creating cute chibi characters digitally and taking on commissions for customers and friends, knowing that my style resonates with some of my audience. I also create goofy comic sketches, visual development pieces, and mostly illustrations. It’s an honor to hear appreciation for my work—those moments remind me of the importance of what I create.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The big three priorities for me are staying organized, attending different art events, and constantly working on my craft. Staying organized is one of the most important qualities to have, as it has helped me tremendously throughout my journey, especially during my school years. Back in Russia, I had a lot on my plate: I would go to school from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, attend evening art school from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm, then head to dance school from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and finally return home to eat dinner and do homework. When I think about it now, I’m not even sure how I managed all of that as a high school student. That’s why creating a schedule and staying organized was so crucial for me—and it’s something that still helps me today.
Attending art events was a new experience for me when I first moved here. At first, it felt uncomfortable going to these large events without knowing anyone, but I soon found it to be both rewarding and educational. I’ve been to events like LightBox Expo, CTN Expo, free movie screenings, and more. How do I usually find these events? I join art organizations like Women in Animation and Asians in Animation, participate in art clubs at school, get event notifications from professors, or simply search online. One of the most rewarding aspects of attending these events has been making connections. For example, I met someone who has worked in various industries, including DreamWorks, Walt Disney, and Warner Bros. We became friends after meeting at an art event. By putting myself out there, I’ve been able to meet like-minded people and build valuable connections.
Working on my craft has helped me reach the level I’m at today. My drawing skills have improved significantly compared to where I started, thanks to consistent practice. I used to focus mainly on traditional art, like drawing on paper or painting, but now I’ve learned the entire animation production process. There’s always room for improvement, and that’s what makes the journey so exciting!
My advice for those just starting their journey is to step out of your comfort zone. Try something new that isn’t directly related to your usual medium of creation. Join clubs where you don’t know anyone. Create your first online presence to showcase and sell your work. I know it can be scary, but once you overcome that fear and look back, you’ll be incredibly proud of yourself. I promise you that.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

My biggest area of growth this past year has been acceptance. It was a transitional year, and I learned a lot from it. I began to realize that the things I wanted and wished for might not happen as quickly as I had hoped. I’ve always had high expectations for myself and sometimes for others, but this past year taught me that it’s okay if things don’t go according to plan. I’m learning to accept that reality. Life is unpredictable, and it’s nearly impossible to have everything mapped out for the future.
I used to plan my life meticulously, believing that my present would look exactly as I had imagined and planned in the past. However, life doesn’t always work out that way. Unexpected things happen, and not everything goes as planned. Now, I’m learning to accept what comes and goes while still holding onto my dreams and working toward them.

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