Animation Director Illustrator Born in China, now based in Japan
Upon earning her Masters degree in University of Southern California, she taught animation at art college in Shanghai for several years and now lives in Japan. 2019, she was selected to the Artist Residency Program at Folimage Studio in France and directed the short animation “Kiko et Les Animaux”. Her works have won more than 10 international awards, including the Young Audience Award of Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Best Short Film Award of the European Children’s Film Association, etc. Her works have also been selected to more than 100 international animation festivals including Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, Ottawa International Animation Festival, Stuttgart Trickfilm International Animated Film Festival, etc.
She primarily focuses on narrative animation, experiments digitally and draws by hand. She utilizes poetic storytelling to express the beauty and preciousness of nature and life through her Zen journey.
2016-2019 Lecturer - Shanghai Theater Academy, China 2019-2021 Animation Director/Artist in Residence - Folimage, France 2022-2023 Lecturer - Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts, China Festival Awards: -Young Audience Award ANNECY International Animation Film Festival, France
-Little Jury Award Savigny Animation Film Festival, Switzerland
-Best Short Animation ECFA (European Children's Film Association) Short Film Award
-Diploma for its peculiar animation Zero Plus International Film Festival, Russia
-Alcime Kids Award Alcine Festival, Madrid, Espagne
-Best In Show Award & Frame-by-Frame Award Florida Animation Festival, USA
-Special Mention Award Alcine Festival, Espagne
-Prix du public Festival Les Toiles Filantes, France
-Best Short Animation Castellaneta Film Fest, Italie
-Special Mention Award Reggio Film Festival – International Short Film Contest, Italie
-Prix du jury professionnel Festival jeune public Les Yeux Ouverts, Le Havre, France
-First Abloom Prize Abloom Film Festival, Oslo, Norvège
Festival Selections: Ottawa International Animation Festival Stuttgart Trickfilm International Animated Film Festival KROK International Animated Films Festival Hiroshima International Animation Festival Archives - 'Star of Student' Tokyo Anime Award CHILEMONOS International Animation Festival Children's Film Festival Seattle Anibar International Animation Festival ReAnimania International Animation Film Buchon International Animation Festival 100+ festival selections
Publication: <Kiko et Les Animaux> Yawen Zheng & Céline Claire / Bayard Press ISBN-13: 979-1036320378
