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)