那位重庆女孩的梦想，从“传说”开始

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以亚洲文化为背景的《魔弦传说》，在中国、美国和日本引起轰动，许多人也因此加深了对莱卡的印象。从小喜欢动漫的重庆女孩黄思佳，2016年6月有幸加入了莱卡——这个她梦寐以求的定格动画公司。

在这里，她和喜欢甚至崇拜的大师一起，参与莱卡新片的制作。

黄思佳2008年进入北京电影学院动画系。在校期间，获得了中国动画学会“美猴奖”最佳动画短片奖，以及亚洲青年动漫大赛评委会最佳动画奖。

本科毕业后，黄思佳前往美国南加州大学读研。她的最新短片《早餐》，获得了洛杉矶电影节最佳动画、最佳导演奖，并入围第41届波特兰国际电影节、韩国首尔九老国际动画节、Oriros电影节、环球电影节等。她参与的电视动画《Tumble Leaf》，获得了艾美奖最佳儿童动画。

The sensational success in China, America and Japan, of Kubo and the Two Strings, an animation film set in Asian culture, makes Laika even more prominent. Huang Sijia, a Chongqing girl, entered this stop-motion animation company in June, 2016, working with masters in this field.

In 2008, Huang Sijia was admitted to Animation School of Beijing Film Academy. At university, she won the Best Animated Short for the Beautiful Monkey King Award and the Best Animation for Asian Youth Animation & Comics Contest.

Upon graduation, she went to University of Southern California for a master’s degree. Her latest animated short, Breakfast, won her the Best Director Award and was awarded the Best Animation in Los Angeles Film Festival. It was also listed for many international film festivals such as the 41st Portland International Film Festival, Seoul Guro International Cartoon & Animation Festival, Oriros Film Festival and Global Film Festival. She also participated in producing Tumble Leaf, which won Amy Award as the best Children’s Animated Program.

追求定格动画最高水准 Aimed at the Top Level of Stop-Motion Animation

为什么选择莱卡？“因为莱卡代表了一种对完美和细节的追求。”黄思佳说，真正在莱卡实习、工作一段时间后才发现，观众们其实喜欢精致细腻的东西。

“在《魔弦传说》中，3D打印技术可谓是运用到了极致。”她说，观众们不会为你的粗糙买单，这是一个商业上的追求。

在莱卡实习的三个月，是黄思佳学习动画以来最紧张最累、收获也最大的三个月，她体验了作为定格动画师需要接受的身体上和心理的磨炼。

由于每个动画师的拍摄习惯或者场景位置的需要，很多时候动画师一站就是一天，并且需要精力高度集中。因为一个疏忽，就可能让你几个小时的拍摄浪费掉，重新再来。

黄思佳说，这对动画师的心态是很重要的训练。当拍摄台一切准备就绪，人偶、场景、道具、灯光等都呈现在动画师面前，动画师们的责任便是要让这一切动起来，没有任何人想把事情搞砸。

When asked why she chose Laika, Huang Sijia said it was because of the company’s pursuit of details and perfection，and her experience with Laika revealed that production of delicacy attracted audiences most.

“A peak of 3D printing technique can be seen in Kubo and the Two Strings,” said Huang. She also considered no one would pay for a company’s shoddiness, so to seek perfection is a key to business success.

Her three-month intern in Laika has been the most intensive, exhausting yet most rewarding time since she began animation study. She learned a stop motion animator needed both physical and mental toughness.

The job requires the animator to stand a whole day from time to time, and also to be highly concentrated because a tiny mistake could ruin several hours’ work.

The animator is responsible for the movement when dolls, setting, subjects and light are all prepared for shooting, which, according to Huang Sijia, is a challenge for one’s mental statement because no one wants to mess it up.

在错误中不断磨炼成长 Improving through Mistakes

这段实习经历，让黄思佳对定格动画拍摄有了全新的认识，和学生时代的想法完全不一样。以前她都是想象一下一个动作是怎么样的，随后大概算一下速率，最多对着镜子做一下参考，拍了以后看着觉得还行，就收工了。

但是，与动画导演Brad Schiff的一次对话，颠覆了她的认知，“一次每周动画测试检查会上，他严肃地告诉我，不要删除自己觉得拍摄得不好的帧数。因为所有错误其实都见证着成长，没有人一上来就可以拍得很好，都是经过不断磨炼，在一个个错误上成长起来的”。

“Brad永远都给我很中肯的拍摄建议，让我受益匪浅。”黄思佳很感慨。

在一个极为严肃专业的环境下，黄思佳逐渐成为一名合格的定格动画师，“就像那部好莱坞电影一样，定格动画师也需要一颗‘勇敢的心’。”

The internship also brought Huang Sijia a brand new understanding of stop-motion animation. As a student, she used to think of what is the next action and estimate the speed,or at most to try it facing a mirror, and the job would be finished as long as the work was acceptable.

However, a conversation with the stop-motion animation supervisor, Brad Schiff, completely changed her. “At a weekly meeting of animation examination, he told me not to delete any unsatisfactory frame, because no one could start as a master,and mistakes could pave one’s way to perfection as long as one learns from them.” Huang recalled. “I can always get pertinent advice from Brad, which benefits me a lot.”

In such a professional environment, Huang Sijia has become a qualified stop-motion animator. She said, “Just like the Hollywood movie, Braveheart, an animator needs a brave heart as well.”

建立自己的业界人脉网 Building Her Own Social Circle in the Industry

在美国南加州电影学院学习研究生课程的同时，她参与了多个定格工作室的实习项目，获得了良好的业界人脉网络。

黄思佳定下了属于她自己的研究生学习准则：“建立属于自己的业界人脉网络第一，学习的任务次之”。

为了一毕业就能找到工作，她在读研的第一年就开始了实习，每年都去不同的公司，接触不同的人，了解不同的公司文化。

加入莱卡后，黄思佳在新片和面部动画相关的3D打印部门工作。一次机会，让她有幸参与洛杉矶特效工作室Digital Domain和美国漫威创始人斯坦·李的合作项目。

“团队人员和斯坦·李一起探讨项目，一起享用了午餐。业界权威斯坦·李就坐在我对面吃三明治，能和他一起工作就跟做梦一样”。黄思佳说起往事，依旧兴奋。

斯坦·李是国际动漫业界的传奇人物，他创造了《蜘蛛侠》《美国队长》《钢铁侠》《绿巨人》等许多漫画英雄角色和巨片。“机会永远都是给有准备的人的，你真的可以和那些曾经觉得遥不可及的业界大咖合作。”黄思佳说。

对未来，黄思佳有自己清醒的认识。虽然想要继续参与电影、电视的创作，但她在参与了Moleskine与Pixar广告短片制作后，开始对一些小项目比如商业广告产生了兴趣。

“广告制作会是一种不同的能量，我可以体验短一点的制作时间和多样性。这对于我来说很有吸引力。”黄思佳说，她想跟很多年轻人分享自己的建议——找到自己最擅长和最有热情的事，只要你足够想要，不断为自己的理想拼搏，一路上会有很多人帮助支持你；专注于自己内心真正想做的事，过一个有意义的人生，你的作品可以给人们带来无限正能量。

Huang joined several stop-motion studios’ internship programs while studying for a master’s in USC, and acquired a good human network.

She gives a priority to gain contacts over academic tasks.

In order to get job upon graduation, she started interning at different companies as a freshman in USC, meeting with different people and knowing company cultures.

In Laika, Huang worked on the latest film and facial animation at 3D printing department. She was lucky to participate in the joint project of Digital Domain studio and Stan Lee, the founder of Marvel.

“We had lunch together after discussion over the project. Stan Lee, the giant in this industry, was sitting opposite me eating sandwich. Working with him was like a dream.” Huang was still excited when talking about it.

Stan Lee, a legend in comics, has produced hit films of Spider-Man, Captain America, Hulk, etc. and created a series of comic heroes. “Opportunities only visit those who are well prepared. You can actually work with great people who you once admire and seem untouchable.” said Huang.

She is clear about her future. Although she wanted to continue creating films and TV series, she became interested in small projects like producing commercials after working with Moleskine and Pixar on such a clip.

She explained, “I could experience short term production and diversity when making commercial videos, which appeals me a lot.” Huang Sijia hopes to share with the youths the idea that there will be much support as long as they fight for what they want. Their life will be meaningful if they concentrate on what they have passion for, and then their work will bring others endless positive energy.