Meet Melvin Young Jr | Animation Production Executive & Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melvin Young Jr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melvin, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?

I am a California native who grew up predominantly in South Central Los Angeles. But I have moved around between Los Angeles and Orange County areas, typically changing grade schools each year. I come from a happily Christian family and attended an alternating mix of private Christian schools and public schools. Since I moved a lot, I always had to adapt to new environments and communities. But I would never describe my childhood as unstable. It may be a little untraditional to some, but I believe my faith and family helped ground me the most. But I admittedly did take a lot of refuge in video games, superheroes, and art. I could take these anywhere I was and find a way to connect to my surroundings with them. My best friend since preschool and I used to draw and game together when we lived near each other and often pretended to be the aspirational heroes we saw in tv shows and comics. Even when we were miles away, we connected on the stories we told through these interests. My hobbies, faith and family have always been a cornerstone of my identity. I recall starting the 10th grade at the Los Angeles for Enriched Studies (LACES), because my 9th grade school had to shut down due to budget cuts. Since LACES was 6th -12th grades, many of the students had already established social circles so it was admittedly hard for me to “find my place”. But I was used to adapting to new environments, and joined every club! Didn’t matter if it was Young Black Scholars, Young Filipino Scholars, Young Latino Scholars, Leadership Club, or Calculus Club, if I was free, then I was in a club.
But my favorite high school club was the Anime Revolution Magazine (ARM) Club… the ARM club, was filled with other kids of various backgrounds that shared the same interest! For example, traditionally opposed “jocks” and “nerds” would bond over sports anime. You were just accepted and connected.

When it comes to the career choice I have now, art and creative writing classes were my “secret passion” because academically I was very advanced in math and sciences (hence my Calculus Club membership, haha). Those professions had clearer career paths that my family understood. So in a way, I had to figure out “the industry” for myself without any early mentors. Fortunately my grades and test scores opened up several university options for me. Unfortunately, after attending an orientation at one of my top private universities, my family and I had an honest and realistic conversation about finances. This would lead to me attending Cal State University – Fullerton (CSUF) while, at one point, simultaneously having three employers to cover tuition costs. To graduate debt free, I had to find a severe balance between work and school and thus my time management skills developed. I believe it was my time management, adaptability, creative passion, and somewhat amiable personality that helped me secure an unpaid internship at a major animation studio. God bless those recruiters at the time. I had to decline the Fall and Spring semesters because I had no availability between work and school. However, I could intern during my class-free summers. Thus my career in animation production management began!

Recently, I’ve been embracing my online alias “Little Nerdy Xalen” more on social media. It’s where my creative side is flourishing and I connect with others through live streaming, video games, animation, and my own artwork. I may work in production management, but my love for art and storytelling got me into this career. My background has taught me to be persistent, adaptable, inclusive, but most of all true to your interest. I believe God has been guiding me through every challenge, and is still leading me to places filled with passion and impact.

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.
I am an Animation Production Management Executive and Content Creator. Those two may seem opposed but they serve to satisfy both of my professional interests. Since my first internship, I dreamed about having my own TV series one day and being able to tell stories that reflected my experiences growing up. Although my ambitions were creative, my skills on the production side were more dominant. So that’s where I have excelled professionally. But there have been some challenges along the way.
While working for a major studio, I was a Coordinator for an exceptional amount of time with little to no paths for growth or promotion.
I had spent a majority of six years working in CG production with a few years in 2D production. As an experienced Coordinator, I was ready for a Management role. When the studio started focusing more on CG productions, I felt like my opportunity was coming up.
I was suggested to network and meet multiple executives to increase my studio visibility but it didn’t seem like it was helping at the time. I began to doubt myself and my skills. I thought I was very visible. I led in-studio game tournaments, featured in YouTube videos for the studio, and was regularly consulted by other crews for my CG production experiences on new shows. So what was wrong with me?
One “suggestion” given to me was that I cut my hair, implying that a clean-cut look would be more professional. Two Producers, on separate occasions, apologized for not considering me as a Manager on their new shows, because they either forgot about the conversation we had regarding the role or someone else was slated for it. I was never informed when the role was available and never interviewed. The role just went to someone else. Another colleague on a different show was promoted to Manager before me and made the remark that they had to update their wardrobe to “look the part”. Now I know the comment wasn’t directed at me personally, but it was hard to hear since I was now carrying the criticisms of my hairstyle. Mind you, many of my colleagues had blue. pink and green hair. I just had my natural colored cornrows at the time. The people who became Managers before me I knew personally. They were qualified and did well in the role eventually. But at this point, I couldn’t understand what’s wrong with me. Was it really how I looked? I would do presentations on behalf of the studio, executives knew me by name, and had proven production knowledge and experience. What is everyone else doing that I am missing?
Eventually my time did come. There was a new show that needed someone experienced in the studios CG production pipeline and I was still the most CG experience Coordinator at the studio. But within 6 months of accepting the Manager position, a major game studio offered me a Producer level role. After spending over 9 years at one studio, I made the VERY TOUGH decision to pursue an opportunity I wasn’t seeking, but came to me instead. I later on moved into an executive role in production management for a major streaming service.
Despite the challenges I have faced getting to where I am, I have realized that there is so much more I can offer to this industry and many more stories I can help tell. But I am also really excited to build my Little Nerdy Xalen brand to celebrate the “nerd” in all of us regardless of appearance, background, or profession.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

When my best friend comes to visit, everyone knows that we are getting ramen. I am in love with ShinSengumi Hakata Ramen. There are a few locations but I frequent the one in Downtown LA. I usually combo this occasion with karaoke at Max Karaoke just a few blocks down. I have been going there since high school when it was under a different name. They have a robust multi language song selection. Everyone who knows me is aware of my love for karaoke, and the people who are aware of my anime and video game fandom will not be surprised if I bust out a few Japanese songs.

Now an alternative to Downtown would be to drag my friend out to either TAO Los Angeles or Mother Wolf. These are currently my favorite upscale places to dine at. Now while we are near Hollywood, we might as well get a group together for an escape room at the Escape Hotel Hollywood. I am not a big fan of horror but I will brave these rooms as they are super fun, wonderfully designed with amazing decor, and make me feel like I’m in a video game.

Because we are in California, Disneyland comes to a lot of people’s minds but I still enjoy Universal Studios and CityWalk. If we have the time, we are going to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia to satisfy an adrenaline itch.

Finally, Escondido Falls in Malibu is one of my favorite hiking trails and the goal is to always climb to the second waterfall. Personally, my best friend is really into music so a trip to Amoeba would be in order to make his carry-on bag a little heavier for his eventual flight back home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

First I want to give thanks to God for even putting these opportunities before me and the amazing people beside me. My family has been a permanent cornerstone of my support system, along with my best and longest friend, Aaron.

I mentioned this before but, Josilin and Ashley, were the animation studio recruiters at the time that helped me get my internship and were flexible with my personal constraints.

But I have yet to mention the wonderful and enduring support of my ex-coworkers, turned family: Dou, Caleb, Gizelle, Jake, Michael, and Lester. They are all talented creative artists. And despite me being on the production management side of our teams, they have always encouraged my creativity (while supporting me emotionally).

And to my previous Producers, Mac and Vlad, who have taught me much of what I know about Production when we used to work on the same teams.

There are many more people who I’d like to credit and recognize but we’d be here all day.

Website: https://linktr.ee/littlenerdyxalen

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melvin-young-jr-71485224/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LittleNerdyXal

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittleNerdyXalen

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@littlenerdyxalen

Other: TikTok: tiktok.com/@littlenerdyxalen Twitch: twitch.tv/littlenerdyxalen