During my animation studies, I gradually realised that I enjoy storytelling even more than animation production itself. Because of this, during my MA studies, I not only participated in animation projects, but also explored my future career path through freelance storyboard work, comic creation, and social media platforms.
About one or two years ago, I started taking freelance projects related to storyboarding and animatics. One project that left a strong impression on me was an educational animated series for children. Through this project, I was able to see how professional productions are organised and managed. I learned about production schedules, feedback sheets, and industry workflows for the first time. This experience made me very interested in the role of a storyboard artist and helped me understand how animation projects are developed in a professional environment.
Besides storyboard projects, I have always continued creating my own original work. I have been producing comics and building my own characters and stories for several years. In 2024, I created my first long-form comic series, I Want to Take the College Entrance Exam with the Person I Like!, which is still ongoing today. Compared with a single completed project, a comic series feels more like a long-term creative experiment. I am very happy to meet readers who enjoy my work. Their comments, encouragement, and support motivate me to continue telling stories.
As I created more work, I also began developing my social media presence. I wanted to share my projects online and connect with a wider audience. Through this process, I realised that creators today need more than just strong creative skills. They also need to learn how to present and promote their work. By sharing comics, animation clips, character designs, and behind-the-scenes content, I gradually gained followers and met many like-minded creators. More importantly, some work opportunities and collaborations also came through these platforms.
These experiences helped me understand that there is more than one path into the animation industry. For independent creators, building a personal brand, growing an audience, and consistently creating new work are just as important as finding a job in a company. Freelance storyboard work introduced me to industry practice, comic creation helped me develop my original storytelling skills, and social media taught me how to connect with audiences.
In the future, I hope to continue developing my own original projects while gaining more professional experience in the animation industry. I would like to start my career in storyboard-related roles and gradually move towards directing. At the same time, I plan to continue growing my creative platforms and explore the possibilities between animation, comics, and original IP development.
Looking back on these experiences, I believe they have helped me build not only my portfolio, but also my creative identity. Rather than simply finding a job, I hope to become someone who can continue creating and telling stories throughout my career.
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