Meet Anna Yoshinari | Animation Student

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

Hi Anna, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Animation has had a huge effect on my life. When I was in third grade, I transferred to an international school in Vietnam from Japan. When I had a hard time communicating with my classmates with different cultural backgrounds, cartoons were something we could talk about and bond over. After coming back to Japan, when I had trouble fitting in and felt lonely at times, what comforted me was watching cartoon shows. I felt a strong emotional connection to my favorite characters on screen, and seeing the characters work hard to thrive despite the difficulties they face, I got determined to keep doing the best I can in my own life. In addition, through forming a community with people who share the same passion I felt for animated shows, they made me realize that I am not the only one that felt that animated characters can save lives. I think there is something magical about people having a deep connection to fictional characters even when they feel disconnected with people in real life. Thus, I am very passionate about building characters and their stories.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started drawing quite later in my life, and didn’t think I had any talent beforehand. I never thought I would be studying art in a university. I had some difficulties believing in myself, since I was surrounded by people who had better art skills at the same age. I think what kept me going was purely my stubbornness. I was keen to prove to others and myself that I was capable of anything. I had a lot of doubts through my journey, but now, I learned to believe that my thoughts and emotions are valid, and that they are worth being told through my art and creations. Whenever an idea pops up into my head, I cherish it and try to take time to explore it, whether it be through words or sketches. I definitely want to keep on telling authentic stories based on my experiences and feelings.

I love exploring different art styles and aesthetics to expand my artistic vision and develop my creativity. For example, I am currently deeply interested in the concept of retro-futurism. The idea of creating a modern world based on how people in the past have predicted or imagined it, and the combination of a vintage style and mechanical world fascinates me both conceptually and visually. I enjoy thinking about ways of incorporating this idea into animated films or shows and how interesting it could be.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I was born and raised mostly in Tokyo, and one of my favorite places is Ueno. It is one of the most cultural places in Japan, with different kinds of museums and historical buildings all in one area. I would invite my friend to have a sketching trip with me. Ueno Zoo would be perfect for observing animals and drawing them, and National Museum of Nature and Science has an exhibition of skeletons of different kinds of animals, which would further help you study the anatomy of the animals. Visiting Ueno Tosho-gu is also very fun, viewing beautiful traditional shrines is very inspiring for visual development.

Shimo-Kitazawa is also an interesting place. There are tons of thrift stores in the area, which are all fascinating, but it’s also fun to look at the people shopping in the stores, as they are often very fashionable. I like to imagine people’s characteristics and history based on the fashion choices they’ve made, and incorporate the ideas when creating my own characters.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother is definitely the person who has supported me the most throughout my artistic journey. She was the one who would always be on my side in difficult times, and was the first person to give me the idea of following my passion. She has not only been incredibly encouraging in my creative journey, but also supported me even when I was not confident in pursuing it. Whenever I am anxious, her words give me comfort and makes me believe that everything will somehow be alright.

Website: https://annayoshinari.blogspot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/90e6e9/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-yoshinari-202bb1231/