Teamie Spotlight: Vivian Cheung
This month’s subject for our Artist Spotlight series is character designer and storyboard artist Vivian Cheung.
After finishing her Animation degree in 2014, Vivian worked at a handful of local Vancouver studios before joining our team in April 2017. She’s done everything from animating to background painting to storyboarding, and has been a huge help on several Kickstart projects over the last couple of years.
You can check out her portfolio and see her cool freelance illustration work here.
What's your favourite colour combination?
Right now it’s washed out purples, greens, pinks and periwinkle.
Can you think of a particular piece of media that inspired you to become an artist?
I grew up in Hong Kong and was exposed to a lot of anime, in particular, a series about a time-traveling robot and a boy who become friends and go on many adventures together. It sparked my love of storytelling and character design. The series is called Doraemon.
Tell us about your personal projects.
I’ve been casually developing visuals and stories for my froggy/fishy characters, a snippet of which is on my portfolio website. In other non-art-related areas, I am building a houseplant jungle at home.
What has been the high point of your career so far?
I have been fortunate in my career that each year has been better than the last. Every year I am blessed with amazing opportunities and I’m constantly learning and meeting new people.
What do you most want to improve in your work?
My biggest weaknesses would probably be in colour and lighting, so probably that! I could also improve my public speaking and pitching skills.
What's your idea of a perfect Sunday?
I enjoy being a couch potato and escape into video game land with snacks. Or binge watch some reality tv.
What was your most memorable non-animation job?
I sold bread, and ate freshly baked bread, then brought bread home after. It was the high point of my bread selling career.
You’re stuck on a desert island with a laptop and a USB stick containing the entirety of one cartoon - what show is it?
I enjoy sitcoms more than cartoons, so I’m going to say The Office! But if I HAD to choose an animated series, it would be Full Metal Alchemist.
Pick three cartoon characters that describe your personality.
Hamm (Toy Story), Patrick (Spongebob), Morty
What’s a piece of media you’ve consumed lately (tv, movie, music, podcast, etc) that has inspired you to create?
Steven Universe is really really really pretty.
What’s on your work playlist?
On serious business days, podcasts. On days I need some dramatic flair, broadway musicals.
