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

Hi Shino, why did you pursue a creative career?
I would say pursuing a career in animation was a pleasant accident. When I got into college in Shanghai, China, it was when the animation industry in China was blooming. So I decided to go for animation major, simple as that.
In addition to that, I am very grateful that my mentor in my bachelor years was so unique and very much into experimental animation. She really broaden my horizons and understandings of animation.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I would say my art is very fluid and spontaneous.
A lot of them start from something I was interested in for a long time, from which I develop a deeper understanding of the topic or the technique. A LOT of them came from my own identity, my own experiences and also largely “angry” towards social norms that are not actually normal.
It was not easy being a small town girl in China. Everything around me was dragging me down with conservative thinking and beliefs. I held anger towards a lot of things I experienced as a young adult, politically and also emotionally. That’s how my 2022 film Soaked In came into being.
It was when China had strict rules for Covid, and we were banned to go anywhere. Also it was at a turning point of my life if I should go to the US to pursue something more or just stay in my comfort zone in China. So there was a lot of noises from the outside (like my family’s conservative thoughts) and also internal struggles.
Soaked In is a sand/drawn on paper experimental animated film about the social phenomenon of people in China aborting female fetuses just to have male heirs later. It is a subtle fight back towards the voices in my life saying “girls can’t do it”.
Well, I did it. It was in festivals around the world, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Thanks to this film and my bitter emotions making it, I met so many wonderful artists worldwide, and started my professional journey to independent animation. The only regret I have is that the film was never screened in China for its political topic, and probably never will.
So I am glad I eventually chose to come to the United States. I love the freedom, culture and LA.
Now that I’ve already made a film in CalArts, everything back in China feels like a light year away now. I will continue my journey in independent animation, focusing on autobiographical topics and (probably) stop motion!

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?
Oh wow I have a lonnnnng list.
The beaches, Santa Monica and Venice
Calarts Campus if they wanna get the hippie vibe
Ktown for the food
Laguna beach, for it reminds me of my hometown
Melrose
Sunset Blvd
Screenings around town
…

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Definitely my family and my mentor, Hailu Chen from my years studying in China.

Website: https://shiyutang.art/

Instagram: @_shiyu_tang

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shiyu-tang-animation?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@shiyutang1230?si=uoIz62zQkNCMCQ72

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

Image Credits
Shiyu Tang

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