Meet Pinmo(Jinglei) Shu

We were lucky to catch up with Pinmo(Jinglei) Shu recently and have shared our conversation below.

Pinmo(Jinglei), so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I didn’t find my life’s purpose in a single moment—it revealed itself gradually through the act of doing. Every project, big or small, became a dialogue with myself, a quiet collision between who I am and who I aspire to be.

In the process of refining my work—again and again—I discovered something deeper: I wasn’t just making the work better or more precise.
I was making myself clearer, stronger, more true.

My purpose emerged from this continuous act of creation. Not as a sudden revelation, but as the steady result of showing up, day after day. I want to craft work that carries emotion, power, and lingering warmth—using images to speak, using visuals to express what words cannot. And every time I see someone pause, moved by something I made…
I know: this is what I’m meant to do.

In shaping my work, piece by piece,
I have shaped myself.
My purpose lives on that quiet path—
somewhere between imagination and connection.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a CG generalist artist specializing in 3D animation and digital storytelling. In my creative practice, I constantly seek the equilibrium between technology and artistry, striving to find the most resonant expression where rationality and sensibility converge. Through systematic training from undergraduate to graduate studies, I’ve mastered the full CG pipeline—from modeling, rigging, and animation to lighting and rendering—while developing comprehensive project management awareness and collaborative expertise.

What fuels my passion is this industry’s unique alchemy: it merges “logical programming” with “emotional expression,” empowering us to craft stories, build worlds, and convey feelings through code and pixels. I thrive in multidisciplinary environments—from conceptualization to execution—collaborating closely with modelers, VFX artists, technical animators, directors, and even composers to breathe life into visual narratives. This creative synergy remains my enduring motivation.

As my experience deepens, I continuously expand my technical toolkit. Beyond proficiency in Maya, ZBrush, and Substance Painter, I’ve refined cross-platform integration between Maya and Unreal Engine in production settings, leveraging Python scripting to optimize animation workflows. Currently, I’m mastering Unreal Engine’s VFX systems to enhance my capabilities in real-time animation and immersive projects.

I impose no creative boundaries. From stylized to photorealistic aesthetics, narrative animation to commercial shorts, stage visuals to experimental installations—if it carries emotional depth, visual impact, and creative potential, I embrace the challenge. Every project has its unique rhythm, and my mission is to discover that pulse, unifying technical precision with emotional truth within its cadence.

I aspire for my work to achieve not just technical polish, but authenticity and emotional resonance. Whether upholding rigorous quality standards in commercial projects or freely exploring new expressions in experimental work, I persistently fuse “reliable execution” with “artistic sensitivity.” This field ignites my soul, and I’m committed to broadening my horizons on this CG/animation journey—to create work that resonates with both warmth and substance.

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

Looking back on my journey as a CG generalist, I would say the three most impactful areas have been:

1. Technical Adaptability
In CG, software evolves quickly. Being open to learning new tools—and unafraid to switch between them—is essential. Early in my journey, I focused on building a strong foundation with tools like Maya and Unreal Engine, but I also learned Python scripting to customize workflows and troubleshoot problems. For those just starting out: don’t aim to master everything at once. Focus on understanding the logic behind what you’re doing, and stay curious. Learning how to learn is the real superpower.

2. Collaborative Thinking
No CG project is made alone. Understanding how to work within a team—how to give and receive feedback, how to hand off assets cleanly, how to communicate clearly across disciplines—is just as important as knowing how to animate or model. One of the best ways to develop this skill is to participate in group projects, even small ones. It teaches you how to listen, solve problems together, and think beyond your own task.

3. Emotional Sensitivity & Visual Storytelling
Technical skills get your work made; emotional sensitivity gives it meaning. I believe one of the most underrated skills in CG is knowing how to create a feeling. Whether you’re animating a character or lighting a scene, your goal is to support a narrative or mood. To build this, study film, photography, and movement—not just tutorials. Learn to observe the world. That’s where the strongest ideas come from.

Advice in short? Be curious, stay humble, and keep making things—even small things. Your progress will come from showing up often, listening deeply, and letting yourself grow both technically and emotionally.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed or emotionally drained, I choose to pause—not quit, but make space to breathe. I’ve learned that pushing through exhaustion often only breeds frustration and subpar work.

One tactic that works for me: breaking chaos into bite-sized tasks. Instead of staring at an endless to-do list, I pick one small thing I can finish in 30 minutes. Completing it rebuilds momentum, helping me crawl out of that slump step by tiny step.

I also remind myself: imperfection is allowed. Especially in creative fields, unrealistic expectations can crush us. Shifting the goal from “making something stunning” to “making something real” creates room for experimentation—and failure. That lightness makes it easier to keep moving.

Finally, doing something physical—going for a walk; stretching; tidying up; cooking a meal—switches my brain’s channel. Clarity often returns only after I start moving.

My advice? Treat yourself gently. Tackle one thing at a time. Trust that if you keep breathing and inching forward, the fog will lift.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jingleishu.wixsite.com/2001
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pinmo757/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pinmo-shu