Meet MinJi Yoon | Character Designer for Animation

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

Hi MinJi, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve always enjoyed being creative and the act of drawing itself. But most importantly I felt that I really got along with other creatives and artists. I love human connection and meeting people so finding a whole community of artists in concept art/animation that I really got along with encouraged me to pursue a career in it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m currently a Character Designer for Powerhouse Animation, and most of the work I do is anime adjacent or inspired in style. As someone who loves anime, this was always a dream jobs for me! Unfortunately, I think a lot of western schools thought anime was too niche to be a good career path, and a lot of people are discouraged from pursuing the style in college/classes. Since I mostly took classes in smaller schools like CDA, Brainstorm, and Visions Art School, I was able to more freely be inspired by anime, which I feel really helped me get to where I am today. Theres a lot more anime inspired 2d and 3d animated shows starting to be made in the US so if thats what you’re inspired by, you should absolutely pursue it!

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?
Los Angeles is so full of fun places to be! I love nightlife, so I’d try to take them out for some wild evenings. We’d definitely run around Ktown, pasta at Cafe Nandarang and hit some bars and karaoke. For a fancier evening maybe get drinks at the bar at 71above. We’d have to go to a hyperpop party or a hardcore concert and get tacos afterwards. Of course a beach day is also a must if its summer and they’re from a non coastal city, I like Malibu for chill vibes or maybe a bonfire at Dockweiler? And a nice spa day sweating and soaking at Wi spa is a great way to unwind before they fly out!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Concept art has such a wonderful community! In particular my partner Scott, who is a concept artist for Lucasfilm Animation, has been a big support to me. They really were the one who helped me realize that my passion was character design instead of fashion, which is what I had originally been studying. Also so many of my classmates at CDA, Brainstorm School, and Visions Academy really helped and inspired me.

Website: artstation.com/minjikyoon

Instagram: @mingenious_art

Twitter: @mingenious_art