Meet Hyungjin Lee | Animator & Storyteller

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

Hi Hyungjin, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’m a sensitive person and I feel things very deeply. I think I started making art because I always had an excess of emotion and I needed a way to process and express them so that I could move through life. Even though I had been making art since I was a child, I never considered that it could be my career until college. I am very grateful that I met mentors and friends who showed me that my work is valuable and that my voice should be heard. I knew that being an artist wasn’t the easiest path, but it was the only path that made me excited for my future. Even a few years ago, the unpredictability of this career scared me more than it excited me. Now I think that balance has flipped, and I’m grateful that my career allows me to truly shape my path.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My animations draw inspiration from my memories and family history. My practice isn’t limited to a specific animation style, but I love handcrafted textures and pushing the limits of animation as a medium. Animation is just one part of my process, and so much of my world-building comes together in the sound design and editing. I love that my process allows me to be creative in a really multidisciplinary way. Overtime, I think that I created my own distinct visual and sonic language in my animation practice, and I am very excited to continue expanding this language.

I think that independent animation can be a really isolating medium, especially if you work alone like I do for a significant portion of the production process. I learned the hard way that it is so important for my art and my mental health to surround myself with an artistic community that fully understands my work and wishes the best for me. I don’t know if I would have had the courage to keep going without my friends, collaborators, and mentors.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There is so much amazing food in NYC, and I don’t know if I’ve been here long enough to give the best recommendations! I am based in East Harlem and from my limited experience, I would definitely recommend the Birria Tacos at Ollin, and the Khao Mun Gai at Bangklyn, both on 2nd Avenue. For drinks, I would take them out for Tiki Chick on Upper West Side! At night, I would take my friend out to see a show with Paper Kraine under St.Mark’s theatre. The organization is dedicated to providing a platform for emerging artists, and it is a guaranteed good time with so many talented storytellers!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to Gyuri Cloe Lee, who is an independent animator based in Seoul. I was introduced to Gyuri at a time when I was trying to decide whether I should pursue animation as a career. She gave me realistic, honest advice based on her own experiences creating a path as an independent animator. Gyuri inspires me beyond what I can express here, as her animations stretch the bounds of conventional animation in fascinating ways. She inspires me to tell stories beyond the medium of animation, as she continues her surreal storytelling in mask-making and interactive multimedia shows like the PEEPIN’ ZONE CREATURE SHOW.

Website: https://www.leehyungjin.com

Instagram: https://leehj.art

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hyungjin-lee-941a441a6

Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user138984076