Meet Xinyue ‘Sherry’ Pan | Animation Director & Storyboard Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Xinyue ‘Sherry’ Pan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Xinyue ‘Sherry’, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Recently, I’ve been thinking about this issue often. As an artist who loves animation, just when I was about to step into the animation industry, I was told by countless voices within the industry that ‘it’s falling apart, the employment environment is like hell.’ Numerous talented artists are facing unemployment and are forced to seek other paths. I once thought about regretting that I didn’t join during its most glorious moments, and doubting whether my choice was correct. I even considered giving up.

But whenever I create new stories and images, and see them evoke any emotional response in others (or myself): joy, emotion, or even sadness, I realize I cannot abandon my beloved career. Artists and storytellers are doing something significant. Art has so much power that can resonate among strangers, and stories can connect people from different cultures. This isn’t something that box office numbers or money can determine.

I believe that as long as something still makes your heart race or feel excited, you shouldn’t give up easily.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Since childhood, I have been determined to become an artist. I started drawing comics in elementary school, and my classmates were my first readers. During middle and high school, what attracted me most, beyond my classes, was drawing. Exam papers covered my desk in my high school room, but my drawings adorned the walls.

Fortunately, I was accepted into the craft and fine arts program at one of China’s top universities. From that point on, I began to delve deeply into fine art. I created soft sculptures and learned various craft techniques such as wool felting, embroidery, quilting, and collage. These techniques broadened my horizons but brought my traditional drawing to a standstill. At the same time, I discovered that I was more fascinated by the stories that art could convey.

I wanted to use a more universal language to communicate the stories and emotions in my work. This led me to the field of animation. Animation can utilize various techniques without limits. My dream shifted to becoming an animation director. I tried to create independent stop-motion animation shorts using wool felting and embroidery. I faced new challenges during this process, as animation is a collaborative effort, and I realized the limitations of working alone.

To meet more like-minded individuals, I started taking systematic animation courses online. By chance, I attended a class with a story artist who worked at Disney, and that’s when I learned about storyboarding. Story artists work closely with directors and scriptwriters, quickly visualizing stories and scenes through sketches. They play a decisive role in the project. Excellent story artists need to understand drawing, cinematography, scriptwriting, character design, performance, and even editing, possessing the skills to become directors, writers, animators, and cinematographers.

I greatly admire Jennifer Yuh Nelson, the director of Kung Fu Panda 2, who started her career as a story artist. Another director, Domee Shi, who created the short film “Bao” and later directed Pixar’s feature “Turning Red,” is also a brilliant storyteller. Storyboarding made me realize that my emotional sensitivity is an advantage, allowing me to perceive delicate emotions and convey them through stories. I am determined to join the animation industry as a story artist and bravely moved to the United States, knowing I would have the chance to meet the studios and artists I had admired since childhood. Here, I also met great partners at school. Our short film was selected for a film festival last month, and the first time I stood on stage with them to share our creative process, I felt my career was on the right track.

Now I am directing my short film “Catdle.” I have gathered some talented artists who share a passion for animation to join my team. Despite the ongoing turbulence in the animation and gaming industries, I know there will be many challenges ahead for me. But I will never give up easily, because I have worked hard to get here.

My path has not been easy, and I have taken many detours. Changing professional directions is challenging as well. However, I truly appreciate all the obstacles I’ve encountered. They have shaped who I am today. The lessons I have learned are: always be braver than you were yesterday, always maintain your creativity, always accept your feelings and emotions, and always remember that it is never ‘too late’ as long as you start taking action now.

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?
I live in San Francisco, a city that blends beauty and chaos. I am a person who loves the outdoors and natural scenery very much. If a friend were to visit for a week, I would take them to the Palace of Fine Arts to see the beautiful architecture and the Golden Gate Bridge. Next, I would take them to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, where there is a white alligator with pink eyes—a life blessed by God. On sunny days, I would take my friends to Half Moon Bay to listen to the sound of the waves and dance in the sunset. Won’t forget riding the cable car in downtown San Francisco, we would climb over the hills and head straight to the seaside. Then, we would drive to Yosemite to see the waterfalls and forests, absorbing the nutrients of nature. Finally, we would go to Haight Street in the city center to check out the vintage stores and experience the flamboyant charm of the hippies.

As for restaurants, I believe the best restaurant in San Francisco is my home! I would cook my best Chinese and Thai dishes for my friends. Some friends have commented that my Thai shrimp cakes could be good enough to start a restaurant. Maybe I will consider being an artist and a chef at the same time, lol. I hope to invite more friends to visit my home!

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?
I want to dedicate my Shoutout to my boyfriend Yuxin ‘Elliot’ Peng. He is one of the most self-educated and dream-persistent people I have ever met, which is also one of the key reasons I chose to build a close relationship with him. Since childhood, he has been passionate about film and visual arts. He often says that movies and games taught him empathy, bravery, and how to make choices, and educated him into who he is today. Because of this, he decided to switch his career from chemical engineering to VFX art. From the time I met him until now, I have watched him persuade his family, self-study, and embrace all new knowledge. Now, he came to the United States to continue pursuing his dream. Our life paths are similar, and our personalities are complementary. His inner strength and courage inspire me, and I am also grateful for his love, understanding, and companionship.

Website: https://www.xinyuepan.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xinyue-pan-014a0b1a6/