Meet Xindi Zhang | Indie Animation Filmmaker

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

Hi Xindi, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Risk is an inevitable challenge, but also an opportunity. As an artist who constantly strives to incorporate new elements into my work, risk is a constant companion in my creative process. Sometimes, my inspiration leads me to experiment with untried methods or take on unpredictable workloads. These risks, which often increase the likelihood of failure, actually excite me even more because overcoming them often results in a significant breakthrough. Although I may not always succeed in overcoming these challenges, I remain passionate about pushing my limits. In my daily life, I may not be as daring with risks as I am in my creative endeavors, but I still enjoy seeking out new possibilities rather than sticking to the same routine. This means that the future is uncertain, but I believe that it is precisely this uncertainty that gives life its value and makes it worth exploring.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
This journey has not been a smooth one. Before I became an animation filmmaker, I explored other artistic fields, such as oil painting, illustration, and game concept design. However, these detours did not hinder my current work in animation; instead, they have provided me with additional perspectives and ways of thinking. Unlike those who studied animation as undergraduates, I don’t have a solid foundation in animation. Nevertheless, my experience in illustration and game design has allowed me to play to my strengths, using the skills I gained in these other fields to navigate challenges and enhance my work.

I am committed to exploring cutting-edge technologies, such as real-time rendering and AI generation, to find more economical and efficient pipelines and new forms of expression for myself and other independent animators. My works, “Good Night” and “Double Exposure,” continue the exploration of emotional spaces that began with “I’m Good.” Both projects utilize stylized real-time rendering with Unreal Engine 5 and Maya Flair, significantly reducing the time typically required in the rendering phase and allowing more room for changes. “Double Exposure” also employs motion capture technology to handle the large workload, enabling a very small team to complete a story with relatively high workload demands.

Having previously worked as a professional game environment designer, the environment in my work often plays a more important role than the characters. This has become a unique aspect of my expressive style. I am skilled at using spatial layout and camera movement to convey emotions. “I’m Good” was my attempt in the Expanded Animation course to express emotional space, depicting the distant and tense relationship between an East Asian mother and daughter through the traces left in a room. The film was selected for several film festivals, including the largest Asian American film festival on the West Coast, The Center for Asian American Media Festival, resonating with many viewers who shared similar experiences.

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 my friends have never visited Los Angeles, there are a few classic spots I would definitely recommend. Within the city, I would suggest they visit Griffith Observatory, the Getty Center, and LACMA. Then, watching the sunset at Santa Monica Pier is an absolute must. I also have some favorite drives that I would love to show them, including Mulholland Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes, and the mountain roads in Malibu. These are my go-to places for an evening stroll. On Mulholland Drive, you can overlook the LA cityscape; in the spring, Rancho Palos Verdes is lined with colorful wildflowers; and Malibu’s winding mountain roads perfectly showcase California’s natural beauty. If we have time, I would also take them to the Rose Bowl Flea Market. It’s the largest and most fascinating flea market I’ve ever seen. Although a day there can be quite exhausting from all the walking, I always manage to find interesting little items.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shoutout to all the faculties at Expanded Animation. Expanded Animation is the department I am studying in at USC. The faculty members here have provided me with family-like support and personalized one-on-one instruction. Here, I discovered my directorial style and found the courage to pursue indie animation. Expanded Animation has shown me that a career path is not a straight line. Although the path I have chosen is uncertain, I believe that the life and creative environment I will ultimately achieve will be exactly what I desire.

Website: https://www.xindi-zhang-art.com/

Instagram: @xindizhangfilm

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xindi-zhang-bb53a5137/