Meet Ruchi Hendre | Game Technical Artist and Animator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ruchi Hendre and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ruchi, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I was born and brought up in India and my background is in software development. Right out of college I got a job in FinTech, while at the job I realised that this field was not for me, and decided to explore something else. I was inclined towards the arts in my college days so decided to join a art class to brush up on sketching skills. Being an introvert, I felt I could express myself clearly through art, so I decided to pursue a career in the creative field.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

As a child, I watched a lot of TV and was obsessed with anime, video games, and cartoons. As an animator, my dream is to be a part of meaningful stories/games that provide comfort and entertainment to the audience.

Throughout my Master’s at Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center, I learned the workflows required in CG production, from modeling, rigging, skinning, lighting, to Character Animation. It was overwhelming, as I had no professional background in CG before the program, but I tried my best to grasp the basic concepts of the field.

During my third semester, I had the chance to be a part of a team working on a short film called “Rhythm.” It was through this project that I understood the process of telling a story through animation and also the technical aspects of Unreal Engine.

After my Master’s, I got the chance to work as a Technical Artist (Rigging) with Respawn Entertainment on Apex Legends. I work as a rigger and technical artist, this is the stage before animation where the character/prop needs a skeleton and controls attached so that animators can move the CG model. As a part of my job, I have the opportunity to be in contact with creative minds and continuously learn from them. Collaboration and communication are the two most important things I have learnt throughout my experience at Respawn. I am also working on my craft as an Character Animator by finding new mentors through organizations like Animation Mentor and Women in Animation.

I want my story to be known as that of a girl who never gives up!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Our LA adventure would kick off in Hollywood, doing the classic tourist thing, checking out the Walk of Fame, and soaking in the cool views from Griffith Observatory. The next day, we’d keep it chill at Santa Monica and Venice Beach, maybe renting some bikes to cruise along the boardwalk. Taking a drive through Malibu sounds dreamy, especially with some trekking spots – gotta earn those beach vibes, right? Then, we’d switch gears to art mode at The Broad Museum and wander around the Arts District, hitting up cool shops and maybe grabbing some tasty bento boxes at Suehiro Cafe. Just an LA week mixing up the touristy stuff, beach hangs, a bit of nature, and some artsy vibes.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I credit my current position to the support and encouragement from my grandfather – Madhukar Kale, we lost him last year sadly. He always taught me to pursue excellence in life and not think about what other people thought about me. My parents Sanjay Hendre and Vaishali Hendre also supported me in pursuing a career in the arts and to go for my Master’s abroad being the first in my family to do so.

In addition to my family, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my friends, who have been constant pillars of support and encouragement throughout my creative endeavors. Their enthusiasm has remained unwavering, serving as my steadfast cheerleaders. During the challenging times of lockdown, their assistance was invaluable, ranging from providing moral support to actively participating in my creative process. Whether offering constructive feedback or graciously acting as subjects for reference videos in my animations, I am genuinely blessed to have found a tribe that not only supports but enriches my artistic journey.

Website: https://ruchihendreart.squarespace.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruchi_animates/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruchi-hendre-518028b8/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4p_bKbZkV3g7JgPWL07XSw

Image Credits
Used Aang Rig, Gamma Rig by Agora Community Rhythm Team – Ignition Studios, CMU, ETC Ayushman Johri – Layout, Environment Artist, Art Director Chelsea Tang – Environment and Asset Artist, Cloth Simulator Rosy Fu – Co-Producer , Character Artist, Art Director Keran Sui – Co-Producer, Animator, Rigger Ruchi Hendre – Animator/Rigger