Meet Li Cree | 2D Animator, Storyboard Artist & Character Designer

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

Hi Li, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Compared to my first year in LA, it’s definitely gotten a lot better. I remember overworking myself and never allowing myself to rest on weekends or holidays. It wasn’t good haha. Any moment I would get to rest I would just feel super tired and never want to do anything (whether it was creative, active, recreational).

Now, I very much draw clear boundaries of when I work and when I rest. I’ve learned that I can only really work a certain amount of hours (usually 6-8). Especially since I work from home I very much need that distinction. Since creating those boundaries, I’m much more happy and balanced (and less tired haha).

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Oh man, what does make my art stand out from others…..I’m not sure myself haha! Since animation is such a collaborative team effort sometimes your voice can get lost into the final product. Which sometimes is sad but I like to look at as a group of people coming together to create something new and fun. I think that’s what I’m most proud of. Being able to come together with people from different walks of life to breathe life into an idea or concept for other people to watch. For me, it’s pure magic!

Thinking back, chasing that magic and working with others is what got me to where I am today. There wasn’t much of an animation scene where I grew up (New Jersey and New York) so I relied a lot of building relationships with artists wherever I could. Online, workshops, school, etc. Without those relationships, I wouldn’t have gotten the work opportunities from studios like Marvel, Disney, and with international studios. So if there a lesson or advice I could give to readers to really take the time to build relationships with your fellow artists (regardless of how popular or not they are). While big brand Hollywood names are cool, it’s really the people you work alongside with that matters the most. I would hope that my work now and in the future reflects those bonds.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is funny because my best friend from New York just visited California for the first time! Honestly, I took him to a bunch of restaurants since I’m very much a foodie. Some of my favorite places to eat are Coffee Commissary, Brick and Flour, Pink Taco, Beignet Box, Gam Tu Bop and Hae Jang Chon. But if I had to choose a place to hang out I would pick Chandler Road in Burbank. I really like skateboarding there after finishing a project or freelance job in order to decompress from the work.

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?
Oh, I’d have to shoutout my friend Derrick Malik Johnson. We both work in animation as storyboard artists and he’s always the one to encourage me whenever I feel down, encounter imposter syndrome or just to give me book recommendations. Our careers in animation kickstarted at the same time and his presence has been a great source of encouragement that I want to give him all the flowers.

Website: li-cree.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/li_cree

Twitter: https://twitter.com/38___sr/

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11264844/