Відео

This is so true. It's hard to find a balance between work and personal life! It's also important to save all the money that you can. Because as an artist you don't know when and how much time you will be unemployed. Thanks for sharing :D

This is really inspiring. I've always dreamed of working at a big animation studio for storyboarding, but I've always worried that I cant make it because I haven't been to a big popular art school like I've seen other big studio story boarders have. Also the fact that I'm Australian meant that it would be "too hard" to relocate me. I know you're experience isn't exactly the same but its reassuring to see someone get in who hasn't gone to a big American art school like I've seen other pros have.

Moms know best lol

Dreams are endless. Like hope, they never truly die… They transform and they grow. 💕 In my second year at Sheridan College, Disney shut down their classical animation department - I have been working towards being an animator at Disney since I was twelve, and then through no fault of my own it was suddenly over. Since I could not work in a studio, I tried illustration. I worked below minimum wage for a private company to gain experience for 3 years. Only to be told I was not an illustrator because I did not have “trade experience”. I thought career failure was the worst thing that could happen, until I suddenly lost one of the persons I loved best. The pain was unbelievable. I did not know I could hurt that much. I was shattered. For a year I could not function. Then I went on to learn publishing and published my own book, which was great, but did not work out as I imagined… I did not even know what failure was, until I left school and joined real life. I have been failing my dreams for almost 20 years now. However, if I change my perspective, I have also stepped out of my comfort zone and achieved and created things I likely never would have done if life went according to plan and I got a job, worked my 9-whenever for a big studio, etc. Life can be incredibly painful, confusing, unfair, it can make no sense… What I learned is that I did grow as a person from the pain I experienced and that what truly matters are the people in your life. I would not exist without the love and support of my family and friends and even strangers who feel like friends I’ve met online. People matter. As long as you nurture friendships and relationships, you will be OK no matter what happens. I may never get to where I want to be or achieve all the things I wish to achieve, but in hindsight, maybe I am where I need to be. It’s OK to not be OK. Just take this life one day at a time and keep going as best as you can. 💕

My brave girl- wisdom beyond your years. Selfishly glad to be able to share this chapter with you.

You're going places kid, I think you've already proven that you don't need anybody else's approval to succeed, and I know you're gonna find a way to make it work. Plus you've always got friends out here, I miss ya already 💗

Thank you so much for sharing this message, It was so inspirational to me!

Your advice is interestingly worth it! I tried to make my own animations enjoyable to everyone, but not everyone did enjoy watching them because I realized that I suck at my storytelling skills, hopefully my next storytime animation will be 10x better than my other animations and I will always try to improve my storytelling & animation all the way further.

Wishing you all the best ❤ Please lean into community, lean into God, and rest. Nothing you did in your time in California was a waste, and like you said this is just a pivot. This video felt very timely for my own situation, so thank you for being open and sharing this ❤

When I watch ur videos I feel like I have a big sis holding my hand and giving me tips about the animation industry, as I get my degree and I prepare to break in the industry as a storyboarder! I admire u a lot and I wanna be like u when I grow up :) The thing about letting go expectations was literally what I needed to hear, so thank you! I’m happy to hear that Ure excited for ur future, and I’m sure it will hold bright things for you! Lots of love <33

You didn’t fail. The industry failed you (and every other out of work, talented artist). If it’s any consolation, I wanted to be a video game designer my whole life. I packed up my life and moved across the continental US (from New England) to SoCal to join a start-up. It blew my mind how terribly run the studio was and, before the movers even shipped my belongings to me, the studio lost its publisher. I was horrified. Fortunately, the start up had created a licensable game engine that was being used by a bigger studio. That studio wanted to acquire the engine and extended an olive branch. It hired us all on as contract employees while the start up shopped its game around to other publishers. Since I had had enough of the poorly run start up, I elected to jump ship and become a full-time employee of the larger studio. My dreams were answered! Sadly, like every other “entertainment media” company, the cracks began to show and, 3 years after going full-time, I was part of the first round of layoffs. Since I didn’t have a single title shipped under my belt, I desperately sought employment from other studios in the area but was outright shot down - “Not enough experience.” After wasting 13 straight months of being unemployed in Orange County, I received 100% rejection from all applications and my finances ran dry. I was rendered homeless. Days were spent parked outside of Starbucks with my laptop using its free wifi to apply for jobs (had to give away or throw out whatever didn’t fit in my car). Nights were spent restless as I dodged cop cars patrolling the parking lots. Food was scarce. Eventually, my sister agreed to allow me to crash on her couch…on the other side of the country (back in New England). I flew home (on her dime) and contemplated ending it all. I was lucky enough (and dumb enough) to try it again about a year later. I found a game dev job in San Diego and worked there for a few years before the inevitable layoff. I was able to jump ship to a smaller mobile studio…which inevitably imploded a year later. Fortunately, I had saved enough to buy my own plane ticket back to imposing on my sister again. I spent a few months seeking tech jobs outside of entertainment media and landed a job in cuber security (leveraging my UI design skills). Been there ever since (going on 10 years now). I feel grateful to have been able to “pivot” and make it out of that mess but I see most of my friends/former colleagues in those industries continually unemployed and moving to chase the next job. I wish you the best and hope you land on your feet soon: nobody deserves this kind of instability and psychological BS - especially talented people that brought many of us joy when things were really low.

i unfortunately live in indiana and it sucks bad i would move almost anywhere else other than indiana if i were you......texas and florida are the only states worse than indiana and i've had the displeasure of living in arkansas and i would even pick arkansas over indiana mainly because our lives have been nothing but a constant battle ever since we moved to this god awful state......few people here want to do the jobs they signed up for and unfortunately that also means people who work for services that are meant to help people get out of bad situations (my mother has been trying to get her certificate since august of last year and they people who are suppose to help with that are sitting on their asses either making up excuses or not responding at all and she very badly needs that certificate to fix a bad situation shes in) and thats not even mentioning all the other bullshit me and my husband have went through since moving here......we plan to get the hell out of this state the first opportunity we get and move to illinois

You’re a sweetheart, wishing you the best of luck in your journey, even if it feels like it’s ending girl we’re barely starting ❤

You know. I live all the way across the globe, but you are the most down to earth Animater/UA-camr? I know. You inspire me and I value your advice a lot. I have big dreams, like many people, but reality is hard. But it is worth it! Thank you for sharing your expiriences. It makes me feel like I am not alone with this <3

Thank you for being so vulnerable

Such a vulnerable place to be. Thank you for sharing your journey, Meridian. God loves you. He SEES you. He knows the passions and desires of your heart. Keep pursuing in patience and He’ll fill the space. (Easier said than done, I know… but worth the climb).

Excellent advice. 💖

Hi, my name is Anna. I am an aspiring director and have also been continuing my way into the industry for about a year now. And this video came at a very right moment. I can fully feel your emotions, sunshine. A year ago, I moved from my hometown to a larger one and still want to return. I really hope that your return home will help a lot and give you the opportunity to take a break, which you need so much. I am very grateful to you for the video. Thanks to you, I am learning new things and growing. I'm getting bolder and I'm not afraid to show up in the industry. Take as much rest as you need, and I'll stay here and wait for your return! ☺

Hi Meridian, I have followed your videos and was delighted you created a studio and were directing along with your other talents as a terrific board artist. However, whatever has motivated you to go home, I respect - this can be a difficult town and our industry has undergone enormous changes, to say the least. I started my career at 23 (I'm 5 decades older now) having been a 2-D animator, story artist and director on feature films that has taken me from the highest highs to some soul-shattering lows. You have wonderful talent, intelligence and vulnerability - along with your strength. I hope you continue with your passions and find those allies, projects new avenues that can restore you and the creative gifts you can share - we need that! You're at the beginning of your journey and you will be amazed how life can change (in positive ways) if you stay the course with what you love, however you get there! My best wishes to you.

My heart is breaking for you Meridian, but I know you'll make it through! As someone currently in school for aniamtion, I'm not giving up or giving in! And I know you won't either, I believe you will succeed better then you imagined! 💖Luke 18:1💖

Inspired and grateful for you and this vulnerable share. I have been asking myself this same question for the past few years. I never wanted to be humbled like this but I’m learning to be grateful for the journey

I can tell you’re holding back tears. The industry is in a bad state right now. But Indie Animation is alive and thriving. It’s time we take advantage of the new system of work the internet has provided, and make projects of our own. Kickstarter is a great first step, and connections in the industry are crucial. Hopefully with a little luck and perseverance, you’ll get to where you want to be too, Meridian. I know I’ll be working hard to as I make my own indie projects soon.

Thank you for making this video during a hard time in your life. I hope you can keep going in animation and art in general. Hope you feel better mentally and physically.❤❤❤

It’s hard out there right now but I think it WILL get better! This is a healing and transformative time for a lot of us in the industry and I truly believe that we will all come out of it stronger.

You're doing what's best for you. Going home is hard. When home is Indiana it's even harder (I'm from Indiana). Good for you ❤ you're still moving forward!

Hey-o! I need some help with production manager skills - are you doing a tutorial on that?

honestly this helped me a lot. ive been binge watching your videos on storyboarding since I figured out that's the field I wanna go into, and its changed a lot on how I work on my projects.

ive got a project and a limited base funding for it i want 2 d animation and painted backgrounds i have found since the early 2000s a aversion to produce good anime that is not dc or marvel i feel 2 d animation peaked at about this time in animation school i saw the industry slow to innovate and in time i will find out if local or overseas is my best for talent sources

Just moved to chicago from japan, looking to meet artists here. I find it hard to make connections with people, its either everyone is shy or they r not interested in making friends 😬

Img !! That’s so inspiring!! To apply for a intern program u have to have a degree?

Ai overreach. Can we demand to …cease Ai? Or else be… laid off by Ai, then human extinction? Or suffer an… Ai new world order? With swell robotics everywhere, …Ai jobloss is the top worry. Anyone else feel the same?

Been around the industry for 25 years, and I have seen cycles- but this, I have never seen. I have never seen studios simply disappear. Nothing is being green lit- author is right: streaming is a disaster, fundamentally unprofitable. Killed the cable networks that used to commission shows, then folded their tents, leaving nothing. Is how the histories will describe it all.

❤️❤️❤️

Thank U - thank U a thousand times for sharing this insight! This is an amazing tool for project management. Unfortunately I am NOT a fan of subscription based apps so I won’t B able to this app to its fullest capability but it’s still cool AF nonetheless!

You "know" jobs will appear again? How. Thats just baseless hope. Unlike other economic downturns.... this is not an economic downturn. This is the entire landscape shifting. And AI just poured gasoline down the fire. This will not get better.

I've been using Milanote for my book pitch prep! It's an amazing service.

Thanks to Milanote for sponsoring this video! Sign up for free with no time-limit: milanote.com/meridiangray

As a College Student From Sicily, I did so many Digital Art & Animation lessons. However, there is a lot more to learn my art style needed to be better in every kind of practice as possible! I hope to make a Portfolio of my own with some original skits I can make to make the Pixar Team proud and get me Hired too! 😌

Director!!! That’s so exciting, congrats!! I enjoy your videos, they’re informative and entertaining. I will now be going outside

Delete all of your work and account

hi thanks for the video i think it will be helpful for me for me in the future i have a personal animated project is 3min long. i alredy have my storyboard finished but idk what to do next or how long will it take to finish it... :(

"you're going to walk outside" LMAOo

Damn how did you know I was about to start making my own animated project? 😂 thank you for sharing this!! It helped a lot

Huge companies are run by dark triad-oriented people who don't care about hurting, and they win by breaking rules.

6:42 This hit me right in the nostalgia.

Is making a video that empowers artists to make their own productions a calculated move? Cause I think it's probably needed right now! Awesome work, and thanks for the information!

Awesome video! Looking forward to following your project!

I laughed so hard when you got up from rolling in the grass XD this video is so helpful!! I'll definitely be using Milanote for my personal projects

Meridian here reminding you to not forget to Live Laugh Love while making your projects 🫶🏻