Hello there!

I’m Stanley Soendoro, and I graduated from SJII back in 2017. Currently, I’m a senior at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) majoring in animation and minoring in visual effects!

Little did I know that the three-year scholarship I received around 7 years ago to study at SJI International Singapore would have impacted so much of my life. From the amazing people I got to meet, to the places I got to travel (to do service of course!), to the student clubs and leadership roles I got to be involved in, I owe this school a debt of gratitude. The times I’ve spent here without a doubt played a significant role in sculpting the person I am today. I even felt closer to my own Indonesian culture after playing the Balinese Gamelan here for the first time, thanks to Mrs. Susi Teo. 

Back then, people thought I’d be majoring in architecture due to my IB combination (Visual Arts, Math, and Physics HL). The truth is, I just love things related to creativity and problem solving! I also enjoy playing badminton, guitar, drums, solving puzzles, and doing magic. But what I’m very much passionate about is animation, specifically 3D animation. However, being a 3D animator hasn’t always been in my radar since a young age. I didn’t even know its existence until I watched a YouTube video in 2014 about how Pixar created their films. Aside from having a greater appreciation for animation, witnessing the intricacy of the process sparked my interest into exploring this medium deeper – so I did … and fell in love with it!

The animation industry is highly collaborative, and people are usually specialized in one area. Our biggest responsibility as 3D animators is to move the characters you see on screen. We are like puppeteers moving digital puppets in the computer (so drawing skills aren’t even necessary but can be a huge plus). But really, it’s much more than merely ‘moving’ them. We breathe life into these characters and give them believable motion. We consider each of their personalities because they don’t all move/behave the same. Take Joy and Sadness from Pixar’s Inside Out – both have literally opposing personalities and visual designs, and hence move differently. Even though animation is a time-consuming process (what an understatement), I still can’t really put into words how rewarding it is when we get to see our character come to life. The reaction I get from my audience is pure magic and it never gets old!

I’ve always been surrounded by supportive people who believe in my dreams, especially my family to which I’m forever grateful for. When I got into SCAD, suddenly I was surrounded by talented artists who are all passionate in the creative industry. It was a great environment to be in, but the scary part is realizing that some of them will also be my competitor eventually. Suddenly I wasn’t the only aspiring animator in the block. It’s very easy to feel intimidated by your peers, but the way I like to think of it is that they are also my collaborator and motivator. I just kept pushing myself to do above and beyond, grasped all opportunities for collaborations, and sought ways to improve my skills from every resource possible. One can never learn enough of anything, so be humble and keep learning!

Our industry consists of more than just “people who draw” (like I said, even 3D animators don’t need to draw). While it is very much considered as a creative field, there are a lot of technical stuff going on behind the scenes that support, if not, enhance this craft, especially in 3D animation. An animator is just like a needle in a haystack (you’ll understand this when you watch the end credits of any animated film). There are probably roles you didn’t even know existed, so I’d advise people who are interested in this industry to do their research. 3D animators themselves can work in games, TV series, and films just to name a few. Our field is highly competitive – some recruiters will receive hundreds and even thousands of applications, so we really need to make our work stand out. I’m very inspired by my rich Indonesian culture, so I try to infuse them into my works whenever I can. I also love trying new things and challenging myself – making mistakes early is an integral part of the journey! 

My dream goal is to one day be a feature animator (those who work on animated films in studios like Pixar, Sony, DreamWorks, etc). Though I am open to explore different possibilities and be involved in as many various projects as I can with different industries, so long as I get to do what I love most: animate! During my 2021 Summer break, I got the opportunity to be a freelance animator at Lumine Studios in Jakarta and worked on a children's TV series. I learned a lot throughout this experience and am very thankful for having a glimpse into professional career life. If you have a passion you’d like to pursue as your career, believe in yourself and persist to achieve it because when you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life!