Meet Sebraé Harris | Animator & Mangaka – Artist Entrepreneur

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

Hi Sebraé, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
When it comes to me and my work, I work in two creative industries that flow between one another. The first being animation and the second being manga creation. In Animation, many aren’t aware that it’s an expressive medium that has become an important form of cinema. A cinematic expression that isn’t chained down yet free in unlimited possibilities. As 宮崎 駿 (Miyazaki Hayao) says, “Reality is for people that lack imagination”, so we must always think outside of the box that live-action cannot do. Another for animation being that it doesn’t always require a team of 190 to 500 + people. Most animation studios are much smaller and simpler. Walt Disney, for example, started his studio work in his uncle’s garage shed before getting into building a bigger establishment with only a hand full of 5 to 10 pals to work on his Alice shorts. Those Alice shorts a hundred years later along with Oswald and Mickey help build the creative empire it is today, all started in a little garage shed with a creative mind being the backbone. At the time I’m featured in this article, I’m currently a one-man band animation studio hand crafting my animation presentation, writing, designing, and displaying my product on my own (that also goes for my manga).
Otherwise in Manga, most always associate the literature medium with dark, graphicly violent, and constant full display of indecent and risqué material, when that’s not really the case. Like every other piece of great literature, it is impactful with a variety of fresh ideas and lessons of Leadership, Optimism, Enthusiasm, Humor, Passion, and Compassion. Manga with its long volume count and multiple story arcs can surprisingly get educational whenever it wants to. Both industries are rooted in strong creative values and style practically built for me and many more to better express the emotions and ideas we all have within.
The first question on the unawareness of both industries brings me into another thought on my mindset towards when I’m preparing for my art business.
The core goal to my business and creativity is to bring forth the simpler times balanced with a modern approach. I strive to create authentic stories with deep messages to inspire and evoke loving change and progression to the human condition. I hold God in my heart with Peace, Harmony, and Everlasting Joy again the simplistic moments and things both the young & old search daily and a lifetime for. Add a dash of fantasy fun and pure imagination, then we must hold onto and share the whimsical heart we developed during childhood push to maintain it as adults. God created us to do more and be more with good intentions as we are beautiful blessings with gifts both physical and non-physical. The unawareness inspires me to make people more aware and excited.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an Animator & Mangaka (Manga Artist) – Artist Entrepreneur with a focus on the traditional art form of hand-drawn animation and manga techniques. Most of my mentors from Disney, Nickelodeon, Warner, Sony, and Netflix are traditional artists and so I don’t want to lose sight of those techniques. Nowadays, the landscape of art and anything originally done by hand are given to computers, so some may say I’m a bit outdated (even though I’m still in my early 20s). Personally, working traditionally is thrilling and full of excitement as I always encounter unexpected twists and turns to my projects. I level up like a Shonen protagonist always gaining a new skill or improved technique unable to press the undo button when it comes to traditionally placing ink on paper. Though some ask, “What if you make a grand mistake on paper?” well that isn’t a mistake, it’s a GRAND BLESSING! It improves and better gives character and emotion to every composition of work I create filled with symbols and genuine heart, quality, and soul (that beautiful TLC “Tender, Love, and Care”). That human texture that you can’t take away from me, and that human texture that a computer nor any other form of artificial intelligence can’t recreate or reproduce to be any better. My imperfect human ink stroke is what makes my art beautiful, not the stale cold perfection of AI. I’m a humanitarian storyteller who raises the question to the people on why do the bad become so bad and what solutions we the people can make and present to bring an everlasting end to the brutal bloodshed & fighting. Teaching how we can avoid creating the next set of stone cold and ruthless dictators who could repeat the worst of world history once again.
Connected to my faith in God, I persevere with persistence and kindle with a 改善 “Kaizen” mindset. Kaizen is a Japanese meaning that combines both words Kai 改 for “change” and Zen 善 for “good” or “continuous improvement” with the potential to always be a better human being.
My work is to encourage people to develop an open mind to be color blind to race and to see all as human beings.
Without God, Family, Friends, and that positive mindset, I wouldn’t be Inland Empire’s & Riverside’s first published mangaka whose work is currently inducted in the Library of Congress with many other amazing literatures from both past and present.
As we speak, I’m currently working on a brand-new project of animated presentations that’ll bring to life my story in live storytelling sessions. These will be featuring new chapters from my manga and original series from my creative world to better connect with my ever-growing audience. Hopefully from the support given both to the manga & animation presentations I’ll get a physical studio space to host more events to have a steady income
as an artist and to teach how to create both animation and manga. I’M IN NEED OF A PHYSICAL STUDIO SPACE.

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?
If was to take a friend out on a Californian adventure for a week, I would divide it up between both areas of Riverside & Little Tokyo LA spots. First in Riverside, I would personally take them out to some of my favorite antique stores, both being The Mission Galleria Antique Shoppe & Guerrero’s Treasures & Collectibles Antique Mall. Most of all my best analog film cameras & vintage comics and manga come from those two places. A major plus is that the owners of both stores are splendid with tons of unique stories to tell. If you’re in the mood for the modern arts than I would suggest going to both the Riverside Art Museum & the UCRArts Culver Center. Both museums house contemporary and classical arts from both local Riverside & IE arts alike. I also want to include the Civil Rights Institute Inland Southern California, they have a small exhibition focused on the history of civil rights within the IE area also like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, they have dedicated Walk of Fame for all the Civil Rights leaders who help better our livelihoods and rights as humans and minorities. If you’re interested in theatre arts, then Riverside Fox Performing Arts Theater is home to classical plays and arthouse film festival events. I usually go there when they’re hosting the Annual Riverside International Film Festival (RIFF). If you’re looking for some quality peace and quiet, may I suggest the UCR Botanical Garden and The Downtown Riverside Library. Both hold such natural beauty & elegance plus a quiet place to think and indulge in our city’s history.
As for Los Angeles, I usually visit the small city section of Little Tokyo LA when I take my trip to the city of angels. Kinokuniya USA is my go-to bookstore and art material store to visit with only a limited number of locations here in California mostly in Japan towns and small cities that house Asian Americans and relatives alike. They specialize in my mangaka and writing needs plus the variety of books in multiple languages always fascinates and fills me with inspiration to indulge in the different cultures. The Union Station establishment always makes me marvel in classic LA Architecture along with the Broad, and LACMA. One more place in LA that gives me warm fond memories is a little establishment in Chinatown called Phoenix Bakery. Their Sugar Butterflies since I visited back when I 18, are what I always come back for all the time and when they’re made hot and fresh the more delicious, they are. Overall, my Californian adventure would be packed with so much unique balance of small city life and culture to enjoy.

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?
All my work is first and foremost always dedicated to give thanks to God who in miraculous ways always places me in the right places, at the right time, with the right tools to surf the tidal waves of life. Along with God is my beautiful family consisting of my mother, my sister, and my very beautiful and creativity smart niece, at my side loving, encouraging, and keeping me balanced through the highs and lows never letting me fall astray from the path. Inlandia Institute and Riverside Art Museum (RAM) will always have a special place in my heart. My gratitude for them being a creative outlet not only for me but for others advocating for cultural inclusion, creative freedom of expression & ideas. I’m forever blessed to have them in my creative corner. Lastly, to the rest of my extended family & friends both old and new listening and supporting my career and unique ideas.

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebra%C3%A9-harris-9625801bb

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrystalStarlite

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCJaUnpJg-rz2q8rYkV2gPQ

Other: ArtStation: https://starlitec2019.artstation.com/

Image Credits
Sebraé Harris