Month: May 2025

When I first started applying for internships, I thought my CV just needed to list my experience in reverse chronological order and that would be enough. But after a few rounds of feedback and rejections, I realized something: a CV isn’t just a record of what you’ve done—it’s a frame for your story. And if the frame isn’t right, the picture doesn’t land.

Here’s how I approached adjusting my CV.

1. Lead with relevance
My CV used to open with general design experience, but animation studios want to see animation. I moved my most relevant roles to the top, including my time as Lead Animator on Roller Coaster, a 2D short selected for the London International Animation Festival. Even though it wasn’t 3D, I made sure to highlight the leadership, timing, and storytelling aspects that are transferable.

2. Highlight technical skills—honestly
I used to bury software skills at the bottom. Now I place them in a dedicated section with context. For example:
Blender (proficient) – Used for modeling, rigging, and animating my graduation film
Maya (basic) – Used for school assignments and personal practice
Unreal Engine (beginner) – Currently exploring for real-time rendering

This helped show not only what I know, but where I’m going.

3. Make the formatting clean and readable
Animation recruiters often skim through dozens of CVs. I reformatted mine to be clear, consistent, and easy on the eyes. That means strong section headings, short bullet points, and no clutter. If it didn’t serve a purpose, I cut it.

4. Add personality—but subtly
I didn’t want my CV to sound like everyone else’s. So I added a one-line personal statement at the top:
“Animator with a background in visual design, passionate about storytelling through movement and light.”
Simple, but enough to suggest voice and focus.

5. Link to my showreel and portfolio clearly
What’s the point of a great CV if they can’t find your work? I added an active hyperlink to my showreel near the top, as well as a portfolio link and QR code in the PDF version. Making it easy for people to see your work is half the battle.

Adjusting my CV wasn’t about making it look impressive—it was about making it feel true to what I’ve done and where I’m heading. And now, when I send it off, I feel more confident that it reflects the animator I am becoming.

Last year, while scrolling through 小红书 (Red Note), I stumbled across a post that completely changed my summer plans. It was a small opportunity—an animation team in New York looking for remote assistants to help with rough animation. No big studio name, no flashy recruitment ad. But something about it felt real. So I applied.

A few weeks later, I found myself working with a professional animation team, contributing 2D rough animation using TVPaint. It was my first time being part of a well-structured production pipeline—and honestly, it was eye-opening.

Learning by doing
The team was mid-way through a short film when I joined. I was given rough storyboard sequences and asked to animate certain shots based on established character models and timing. At first, I was nervous—what if I wasn’t fast enough? What if my animation didn’t match the style?

But from the first feedback session, I saw how supportive the environment was. Notes were clear and constructive. I learned to adjust my timing, simplify motion when needed, and match line weight and flow to maintain consistency with the lead animator’s work.

Understanding how a real pipeline works
This was also my first time seeing how a full animation production is managed. Folders were organized down to the frame. Files were named properly, and everyone used the same version of TVPaint with shared brushes and project settings. I realized how much of animation isn’t about just drawing—it’s about making your work understandable and usable by others.

Being part of a pipeline meant I had to think like a team member, not just a solo artist. I started to take more responsibility for clarity and precision in my roughs. And I genuinely enjoyed it.

More than just a task
Even though I never physically met the team (everything was remote), I felt connected. We shared process videos, gave each other shoutouts when a scene was approved, and even joked about drawing hands. That sense of community made a huge difference.

Looking back
I’m still amazed that this all started from a post on Chinese social media. It reminded me that good opportunities don’t always come through official channels—you just have to stay curious and open.

This experience not only gave me my first credit in a professional animation pipeline, but also reshaped how I think about collaboration. I’m excited to bring these lessons forward, whether I’m animating solo or syncing frames with a bigger team.

https://www.instagram.com/umbrella_maam_studio/reel/DHFURQ2R2Wk (First look of the film)

After recently completing my graduation film—a fully 3D animated short—I’ve been reflecting on where I’d like to take my next steps as an animator. That journey has led me to apply for the 2025 3D Animator Internship at Blue Zoo.

https://www.blue-zoo.co.uk/

As someone who started in 2D and gradually transitioned into 3D, I’ve become especially comfortable working in Blender, while also building up foundational skills in Maya and Unreal Engine. My grad film was a huge learning curve—directing, animating, and polishing every frame in 3D—and now, I’m excited to bring that momentum into a studio environment.

Alongside my application, I’ve submitted my CV and a showreel that features both my personal projects and selected scenes from Roller Coaster, a short film where I worked as 2d animator. https://kiddykirsten2a40.myportfolio.com/roller-coaster

But what truly pushed me to apply was my experience at the Brighton Animation Festival. I’ve visited Brighton three times now, and each time I’ve grown fonder of its creative atmosphere. At the festival, I had the chance to attend Blue Zoo’s presentation, and I was genuinely inspired by the team’s openness, humour, and clarity of vision. It left a strong impression: this is a place where ideas are nurtured and animation thrives.

So here I am, applying with the hope of becoming a small part of that world—even if just for a summer.