PRODUCER | STORY ARTIST | ANIMATOR
Hello! My name is Angwara (Annie)! I'm a Thai-Hainanese American born and raised in the great Land of Lincoln, Illinois by a working class, immigrant family. My family roots are from a village in Sukhothai, Thailand and tropical Hainan island. I believe in the power of animation to spark curiosity, celebrate diversity, and observe our shared humanity! Passionate for storytelling and advancing the field of animation for a lifetime - I love pushing for great stories that makes everyone feel deeply!
Originally, I was a first generation student and government scholar at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign aspiring to be a Foreign Service Officer. Exploring international politics, media business, & entrepreneurship led me to volunteer, study, and work in various countries. Meeting diplomats at intergovernmental organizations in Austria; consulting with a female own start up in India; pursuing independent study in Japan; volunteering to spread awareness & fundraise for the North Korean refugee crisis on campus; and more - I carry the lessons and memories of the incredible people I've met. While abroad, I re-discovered my love for animation. Today, I am working in the field professionally. I remain ardent on learning how we're all shaped by our unique experiences. I believe we can better connect people across all backgrounds and build a kinder, more inclusive world via storytelling.
Originally, I was a first generation student and government scholar at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign aspiring to be a Foreign Service Officer. Exploring international politics, media business, & entrepreneurship led me to volunteer, study, and work in various countries. Meeting diplomats at intergovernmental organizations in Austria; consulting with a female own start up in India; pursuing independent study in Japan; volunteering to spread awareness & fundraise for the North Korean refugee crisis on campus; and more - I carry the lessons and memories of the incredible people I've met. While abroad, I re-discovered my love for animation. Today, I am working in the field professionally. I remain ardent on learning how we're all shaped by our unique experiences. I believe we can better connect people across all backgrounds and build a kinder, more inclusive world via storytelling.
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FILM/SERIES ANIMATION +
DIGITAL INNOVATION WORK |
NON PROFIT + GOVERNMENT WORK
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PRODUCTION
I carry 3.5+ years mobile app/digital innovation production experience with Disney Stores, Publishing, and Interactive and 5.5+ years of film/series animation production experience with Disney, Netflix, and Nickelodeon. My film/series production credits include Disney Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks The Internet, Disney Junior Puppy Dog Pals, and Ghee Happy by ex-Disney*Pixar Veteran Sanjay Patel. From 2023-present, I'm a currently a full-time Story Production Coordinator for Nickelodeon Transformers: Earthspark! STORY ARTIST & ANIMATOR On the creative side, I carry novice 2nd key animation experience for film/series Japanese anime. My film/series anime clean up credits include Toei's Digimon Ghost Game and Shin-Ei's Sore Ike! Anpanman Movie: Roboly to Pokapoka Present. I have also illustrated pieces for the guest gallery in Disney Book Group's The Art of Minnie and The Art of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse. Most recent, I am working on storyboarding / animating my first animated short films for film festivals + cultural community outreach slated to come out Dec 2024 and Jul 2025. |
VOLUNTEER
As a Youth For Understanding Scholar and Benjamin Gilman Scholar Alumna, I'm passionate for servicing international education and staying involved on global causes. From Aug 2010 - Jun 2024, I've seasonally volunteered/worked 10+ years for Youth For Understanding, a high school cultural exchange non-profit accredited & partnered with the US Department of State. My main work was providing direct support to outbound US students, inbound international students, and US host families. I was honored to participate in the England Climate Change Conference Jun 2022 with fellow Gilman / Fulbright Scholars. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION From Aug 2022 - Dec 2023, I'm most proud of serving 2 grant cycles for the ExchangeAlumni Ambassador Program, a DEI and CDAF project sponsored by the US Department of State that was dedicated to outreaching underserved and underrepresented youth. My 1st year, I served as an Ambassador focused on outreaching to Thai-American youth with parents from immigrant, monolingual, lower income backgrounds as a response to the pandemic. My 2nd year, I served as a Public Communications Trainer to guide the next generation of Ambassadors. As of Jul 2024, the grant project retired and is now a permanent fellowship program under the US Department of State run and implemented by its GlobalTies US partner. |
PAST/CURRENT EDUCATION
Most recent, I was selected as one of the scholars for the Creative Talent Network Foundation's first ever International Cultural Exchange Program in South Korea. In Jun 2024, I studied film making and 2D character animation for 1 month overseas under Veteran Disney Animator, Mike Nguyen. Alongside talented CTNf scholars and ChungKang College students, we each made animation scenes to create a combined showcase for this upcoming CTNx 2024.
I've also completed 2 mentorships - a 6 month WIA circle mentorship under a Marvel Animation Production VP / Executive (2023) and 6 month WIA 1:1 mentorship under a Netflix Feature Story Artist (2019). Additionally, I self study and have taken night time classes at The Animation Collaborative, Brainstorm School, and Concept Design Academy.
Most recent, I was selected as one of the scholars for the Creative Talent Network Foundation's first ever International Cultural Exchange Program in South Korea. In Jun 2024, I studied film making and 2D character animation for 1 month overseas under Veteran Disney Animator, Mike Nguyen. Alongside talented CTNf scholars and ChungKang College students, we each made animation scenes to create a combined showcase for this upcoming CTNx 2024.
I've also completed 2 mentorships - a 6 month WIA circle mentorship under a Marvel Animation Production VP / Executive (2023) and 6 month WIA 1:1 mentorship under a Netflix Feature Story Artist (2019). Additionally, I self study and have taken night time classes at The Animation Collaborative, Brainstorm School, and Concept Design Academy.