We recently had the chance to connect with Susan Huang and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Susan, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The beginning of my day is all about my cat!
Her name is Pork Belly (I usually call her Belly). She wakes me up at 4 am every morning. And she forces me to walk by her side while she is patrolling her “territory,” which is my entire house( And I need to pet her every few steps). Then I crawl back into bed and try to squeeze in a bit more sleep until around 7.
Once I wake up, the real routine begins. I feed her breakfast, give her more attention (more petting), and play with her for a while. Only after she’s had her fill of food, attention, and fun does she finally settle down for a nap. That’s when I can finally sit down with my coffee and get ready to start my day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello! I’m a concept artist and background painter currently based in Taiwan, working in the animation industry. I’m part of Go Go Studios, an independent animation studio that blends U.S. production experience with Taiwan’s creative talent to develop both in-house and collaborative projects.
I’m excited to share that we have two projects released this year! One of them is the short film, “FAN”! It is an animated short film that narrates the journey of a Taiwanese entrepreneur, spanning from the 1950s to the present day. Another one is our first animated series, “Ro Ro Land,”! It’s a 12-episode kids’ series about walking succulents going on an adventurous journey across city balconies. This is also the first project where I worked as an art director! It’s been such a rewarding experience, from the early concept designs to collaborating with the production team. I’ve learned so much along the way!
Another highlight from this project has been working with an amazing, supportive team at the studio. After I graduated, I’ve been working remotely, so this was my first in-house job. I was a little nervous about adjusting to the office environment and making new friends, but it turned out I didn’t have to worry at all. My colleagues are all friendly, talented, and professional. We work hard together to make the project great, but the office atmosphere is relaxed and chill. It’s truly been a pleasure working with such a fantastic team!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was a kid, I truly believed my family would always be there for me, standing by my side no matter what. I thought my dad would always be waiting at the bus station whenever I came home late. I believe my mom would greet me with her warm smile and big hug each time I returned home.
But I realized that things wouldn’t stay the same as I grew older. When my grandparents passed away, I saw how much my parents were aging, and I started to understand that some things, no matter how much we wish for them, change over time. All I can do is spend time with people I love and hope no one regrets when the times come.
Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
For some reason, I haven’t told many people how much I miss my grandfather, except for a few of my closest friends. He was one of the few people who always remembered my birthday, and he’s also the one who encouraged me to study abroad, along with my parents. When he passed away, I didn’t cry as much as I expected, but I still feel this desire to share everything I’ve been doing with him. I want to show him that my name is on the credits at the end of a film. I’d love to share the designs I created for TV shows with him. I want to say thank you to him, thank you for always encouraging me to step out into the world and see it for myself.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Is the public version of me the “real” me? I’d say yes? Because that’s the version of myself I present when I’m around people I don’t know well. In fact, I have different versions of myself depending on the situation. I act differently at the office, after work, when I’m by myself, or when I’m with close friends and family. Each of these situations brings out a different version of me.
I am usually quiet, not overly talkative, and I usually struggle with casual conversations with strangers. I always worried that I might say something wrong when I was surrounded by people I didn’t really know. So I choose to be quiet. If you were to observe me in public, you may see me quietly sitting in a corner, offering a shy smile that doesn’t quite match the energy around me. That’s the public version of me.
In the office, I work alone and can be quiet, but I chat a lot during the break!
But when I’m with my family and close friends, it’s a different story. In those comfortable settings, I’m more open, chatty, and sometimes even a little goofy because I’m not worried I may say something wrong. So, while the version of me you see in public might seem distant or shy, that’s just one layer of who I am.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I’d quit my job to do my own project and travel with the people I love most.
Drawing for animation has always been my dream job. I enjoy imagining fantasy worlds and bringing them to life through animated films, collaborating with amazing teams. Telling stories through beautiful art is my passion.
But after a few years of work, I’ve always found myself telling other people’s stories. I believe that every creator has a unique story they want to share, and I’m no different. If I only had 10 years to live, I think it would be the time to make my own story—the one I really want to share with the world.
Another thing I would stop doing is traveling alone. I’ve been traveling alone since I graduated. I’ve worked abroad, studied abroad, and spent my vacations abroad. I would stop traveling alone and instead travel with my family and friends to create more memories with them. I might not have the same freedom when traveling with others, like going wherever I want without a schedule or heading out anytime I like. But I’ve realized that, every time I come back from a solo trip, my camera roll is full of landscape photos. But when I travel with my family and friends, it’s filled with happy smiles from the people I love. The memories of the trip aren’t just about how amazing the place is, but about the interesting stories and moments shared between us. I think that’s what makes me want to travel more with the people I care about. I want to create more memories with them—more happy memories. And when I leave, their minds will be filled with these happy moments.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.susan-huang.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susan.ssh/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-ssh/
Image Credits
Go Go Studios
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