Ruxin Liang, thank you for agreeing to speak with Occhi. What initially drew you to the world of animation and filmmaking, and how did your early experiences shape your creative journey?
Thank you very much to Occhi Magazine for this interview opportunity.
My love for animation and filmmaking comes from my passion for storytelling and world-building. I’ve always been drawn to stories with unique worlds, like Totoro. Since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by animated films and games, especially how creators use details to build a complete world, quickly connect with the audience’s emotions, and bring characters to life. This curiosity led me to learn more about animation production, and during my undergraduate studies, I focused on 3D animation, where I developed strong skills in 3d production.
In the early stages of my career in 3D, I focused on improving my technical and artistic skills. After two to three years of experience, I began working more on concept design, writing, and storyboarding. The transition from mastering technical skills to actual creative practice taught me how to assess feasibility within limited timeframes and prioritize tasks effectively. Over time, I realized that the most important aspects of a project are always the completeness of the story, the depth of the characters, the creativity of the world-building, and the uniqueness of the visual style. And these are the elements I value most when directing works.
Can you share how your education and mentors have influenced your approach to storytelling and animation design?
During my undergraduate studies at the School of Visual Arts, I focused on 3D animation, building a strong foundation in 3d modeling, texturing, and lighting while gaining a deeper understanding of visual storytelling. My mentors encouraged me to develop my unique style, emphasizing character distinction and narrative logic. Since it’s impossible to show every detail in a film, maintaining a clear and coherent flow through logical storytelling and smooth transitions is very important. They taught me that animation is more than just visuals—it’s a powerful tool for conveying emotions and ideas. This insight shaped my creative process, making me prioritize world-building and character development in the story. And by using well-planned shots, the audience can connect with the characters on an emotional level.
How do you balance your creative vision with the technical demands of animation, particularly in a project like “Unsurpassed Team”?
Balancing creativity and technical limits in projects like Unsurpassed Team is an ongoing process. As a director, I often start with big ideas that may not always be realistic. That’s why the first step is to carefully assess resources and time. For Unsurpassed Team, I learned from past projects to avoid misjudging what was possible. This helped me stay practical and focus on what could be achieved. Once the script and storyboard were finalized, the main planning was done, and the priority became finishing the project smoothly. Even during production, creative changes can happen, but they must be carefully chosen. Therefore, the key to success is making a realistic plan from the start.
As both the writer and designer for “Unsurpassed Team,” how do you ensure that your narrative and visual elements complement each other effectively?
Blending storytelling with visual elements is something I’m truly passionate about. While I start by writing the script, I naturally think in visuals rather than words. As I write, I already picture the characters, environments, effects, and colors in my mind. So, as I refine the script, I also adjust these mental images, making sure they can be smoothly translated into artwork. During the writing phase, I also gather references to help me visualize the world more clearly, especially the environments and settings where conversations take place. This process can enhance the storytelling and make writing flow more naturally, as I can fully immerse myself in the scene and bring it to life.
The biggest challenge was defining the art style. Although the project was set to be stylized, it took time to fine-tune the character designs and color schemes to achieve the ideal look. For the witch theme, I drew inspiration from Harry Potter, Little Witch Academia, and Kiki’s Delivery Service. I also collaborated with other concept artists Fiona Lu, Feifan, and Jiayi Dong to explore different perspectives on the characters, which helped shape the final visual style of Unsurpassed Team.
What are some of the biggest challenges you faced during the production of “Unsurpassed Team,” and how did you overcome them?
During the production of Unsurpassed Team, my biggest challenge was bringing my creative vision to life within limited time and resources. I wanted to achieve a unique art style, maintain high-quality visuals, and tell a complete five-minute story, all of which put pressure on the schedule.
At the start, my team with Changjiang Wang and Michael Davin, and I created a detailed plan and timeline deck to keep everything on track. We also prepared backup solutions for potential delays. Every stage from gathering references and 3d production to sound effects, compositing, and adding music—was carefully coordinated to ensure smooth progress. I like sticking to our schedules, checking daily goals, adjusting progress, and finding more resources when needed. Unexpected issues sometimes required flexibility, but staying organized and communicating helped keep the project on track.
Technology is also one of the biggest challenges in a project, but we tackle it by seeking help in different ways. We reach out to industry experts for advice and also use online resources to stay updated on the latest trends. Both methods have been incredibly useful, helping us find new ideas, improve our techniques, and keep growing.
How did you approach the development of the two witches’ characters, and what inspired their dynamic and friendship?
When designing the two witch characters in Unsurpassed Team, I focused on highlighting their personality differences and character arcs. Their traits contrast like fire and ice-one is a confident, determined leader, while the other is introverted, and kind, but somewhat hesitant. To emphasize this, I used costume design to reflect their personalities. Azelia wears practical, energetic outfits suited for activity, while Rosamia’s attire is more traditional and elegantly vintage.
This contrast in personalities is not only at the heart of their friendship and conflicts but also drives the story forward. It shows how they learn to understand and support each other through their differences, ultimately forming an unbreakable bond.
Their interactions and emotional changes are conveyed through subtle movements and expressions. Their journey is dramatic and deeply authentic from initial conflict to eventual teamwork. By showing how they communicate and grow through their struggles, the story highlights the power of teamwork and the magic of complementing each other. Emotions like anticipation, frustration, reflection, disappointment, and trust shape their evolving relationship, making their conflicts feel meaningful. These essential human emotions drive their bond and make their journey truly unforgettable.
Could you elaborate on the specific modeling, texturing, and lighting techniques you used to bring the world of “Unsurpassed Team” to life?
In the production of Unsurpassed Team, I worked on 3D modeling, look development, texturing, and lighting. Starting from the 2D character designs I made, I also focused on refining details, especially in the stylized facial features and body proportions. I have a deep love for costume design and took inspiration from Harry Potter for clothing textures and Moana for skin details. Using Mari, I carefully painted these textures to add depth and realism. To make the fabric drape naturally, I created the outfits in Marvelous Designer and sculpted extra folds and details in ZBrush.
For the environments and assets, We gathered a wide range of reference images from Pinterest and collaborated with concept artist Feifan, who created 2D concept art for the environment. We carefully translated these designs into 3D, ensuring the final scenes stayed true to the original artistic style.
Lighting was essential in creating an emotional atmosphere. I teamed up with Changjiang Wang to use different light temperatures to reflect the characters’ emotions. For tense scenes, we used strong shadows to create a sense of pressure, while soft lighting in warmer moments helped set a comforting tone. The story includes various environments, like a bright, peaceful training area, a dark and oppressive room, a lively competition setting, and a cozy shopfront. As the story progresses, the lighting and scenes work together to deepen the audience’s immersion.
We also focused on special effects (FX) for the magical language, clothing and hair simulations, and XGen for hair. Throughout production, we made sure to combine the latest 3D techniques with creative ideas, working closely with talented artists. This teamwork and innovation helped grow our team to 40 people and played a key role in completing the project successfully.
How have your mentors contributed to your growth as an animator and filmmaker, and what key lessons have you learned from them?
My mentor, Alex Cheparev, encouraged me to stay true to my creative originality and taught me how to balance personal style with technical requirements early in my 3d journey. More importantly, he showed me how to use technology to bring animation to life and gave valuable advice on feasibility. Without my past experiences in teamwork, the success of Unsurpassed Team would have been much more challenging. Teamwork takes time to develop, and through these experiences, I learned the importance of feasibility and how to take on leadership to strike the right balance in Unsurpassed Team.
During the development of Unsurpassed Team, Ellen Su’s guidance on art and storytelling was invaluable. She helped me realize that creation isn’t just about technical skills, but about conveying emotion and story. How to make the audience connect with the work, add depth, and blend 2D and 3D aesthetics became my main creative focus. Her advice shaped every decision during the production of Unsurpassed Team and continues to influence my growth as a 3D artist and director. It’s helped me create and share original works with a wider audience.
In what ways do you strive to innovate within the animation industry, and how does “Unsurpassed Team” reflect your unique style?
In the animation industry, I continue to innovate by combining the latest technology with my creative style. I believe that technological advancements offer more creative possibilities.
While working at Sony Entertainment (Silvergate Media) and Buck Design, I contributed to high-profile projects for major brands like Airbnb, Microsoft, GitHub, Amazon, Meta, and Beats, staying at the cutting edge of both technology and creativity. I explored AI-driven workflows and projection techniques in Maya and Nuke to push the boundaries of integrating 2D and 3D art. With a continuous learning mindset, I have also ventured into new tools like Houdini, expanding my technical expertise. My involvement in AR/VR projects has deepened my understanding of interactive art, inspiring me to further innovate at the intersection of storytelling and technology.
I have developed a distinct artistic style influenced by my exposure to many 2D fantasy animations. My approach integrates stylized 2D-inspired 3D aesthetics, characterized by sharp edges, magical elements, and intricate outfit designs. This unique fusion became the visual foundation of Unsurpassed Team, seamlessly aligning with its worldbuilding. Rather than merely translating 2D into 3D or vice versa, my goal is to innovate by merging both mediums into a cohesive and original visual language.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for future projects, and how do you plan to continue evolving as a storyteller and animator?
Currently, I am collaborating with Level Artist Feifan on Animal Village, a demo for an exploration-based game. This project continues my stylistic exploration, blending 2D and 3D elements to create a magical world where players can interact with the environment and fully immerse themselves in the experience. Similar to my previous work, My Room, it focuses on storytelling through digital art and character interaction. However, Animal Village takes it further by adding deeper interactivity and expanding into a fully developed 3D world, with using my creativity and technical skills in interactive media.
As a storyteller and 3D artist, my goal is to merge storytelling with 3D art and expand into the realms of games and VR. During my graduate studies, I developed expertise in Unity, Unreal Engine, and scene optimization skills allowed me to create more interactive experiences. Animal Village is one such experimental project, where I explore new forms of storytelling and interaction. By continuously experimenting with different creative formats and technologies, I aim to push the boundaries of both narrative expression and technical innovation in this work.
At the same time, as a 3D artist at Buck Design, I stay up to date with the latest industry trends while working on animation, VR, and game projects. This continuous learning process allows me to refine both my technical skills and artistic vision.
Through these ongoing explorations, I strive not only to bring fresh experiences to audiences but also to inspire greater enthusiasm for 3D art and animation, encouraging more people to engage with this creative field. Additionally, by sharing innovative work, I aim to contribute to the industry’s growth and acceptance of diverse artistic styles. My goal is to seamlessly integrate traditional art, new media, and emerging technologies into 3D, expanding its creative possibilities.
Social Media:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruxinliang/
Website: https://rxiun.artstation.com/
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user97407819
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