Creative All-Stars

I once thought it was a failure.

Leaving Europe and returning to Taiwan in 2021 felt like closing a chapter with little hope for what lay ahead in the Asian workplace. But stepping into the role of Product Marketing Manager (PMM) for Character Creator proved otherwise. Despite the challenges typical of Asian enterprises, working in such a dynamic role—crafting media strategies for 3D animators and digital artists—was both demanding and deeply fulfilling. (A bit like drinking poison and antidote at the same time, haha!)

Before joining Reallusion, I was a complete newcomer to the animation industry. Without seeing the incredible showcases created by our power users, I wouldn’t have been so motivated to dive deep into every function and its interoperability with other pipelines. Character Creator became my gateway into the 3D/2D animation world, and it has been a privilege to learn from a diverse range of artists—each offering unique perspectives and creative approaches to the same tools. Conference calls with these artists often reminded me of my time as a freelancer in Europe. I was now on the other side of the screen, but in the same position they were—striving for mass distribution, recognition, or financial sustainability. No matter the goal, big or small, every pursuit was valid and worth fighting for.

As a media composer myself, I often felt a pang of regret when some of their brilliant proposals were rejected or budgets couldn’t be approved, even when their work intrigued me. That frustration led me to initiate this project in the spring of 2023, spotlighting overlooked concepts, underappreciated visuals, and ideas that carried immense potential when paired with sound. Below, you’ll find more details on each artist’s profile. To explore their stories further, feel free to download the full media exposure list (categorized by pipelines) here.

At the same time, I want to acknowledge the collective effort behind every successful showcase. My dearest colleagues—whose names appear in the credits—have been invaluable mentors, collaborators, and unsung heroes. They are the backbone of bringing our artistic visions to life. Scroll down for a detailed acknowledgment, as well as the Film Synopsis and Music Concept for each piece. (The background video reflects my daily journey from the Tamsui River to Reallusion)

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Film Synopsis

While I don't have formal film editing training, I chose the most significant moments from each piece and let my instincts guide me (LoL). Somehow, I sensed a subtle thread between them, which led me to categorize the video into three distinct parts:

Part I. Once upon the time…A Journey of Freedom

From the wonder girl in Borneo and Greek warriors to K-pop idols and Justitia, the video showcases the diverse faces of women. She can be sweet, strong, and resilient. It's not just about women—Lincoln’s speech, the ostrich astronaut, and Luffy’s grimace all underscore the importance of free expression.

Each piece comprises various layers. To provide a clearer overview, I have highlighted the main structure of each section using Logic Pro X scores. While these may not be entirely precise, they effectively illustrate the music structure and sound design.

Part II. It’s OK to Not be Okay…A Journey of (inner) Strength

This is perhaps the most apparent part, yet it happens to feature all males (!) or non-gendered figures. Whether gloomy or fierce, each one demonstrates strength in some form. Even the most unforgettable defeats can be transformed into strength, as perfectly articulated by Sagat from the Street Fighter video game series.

Part III. Beauty and Terror…Let Everything Happen to You

Inspired by Rilke’s poem, I hope this video provides you with some energy when you're feeling low on your artistic journey. Take a moment to rest, then push towards the limits of your longing.

Music Concept

Once the synopsis was finished, the real challenge began — composing 1-3 soundtracks that would tie everything together while preserving each piece's unique universe. The video clips range from 4 to 27 seconds, which made creating distinct audio worlds for each one a tough task. However, I truly enjoyed the process, like a craftsman carefully adjusting each node, sometimes adding extra sound effects to make the experience feel more real or expressive. Below are the keywords I developed for each piece. Whether you agree or not, I welcome any feedback :) The keywords, paired with the artists’ names, are listed in order of appearance:

Part I. Once upon the time…A Journey of Freedom

1. Kagura - opening (Kay John Yim): Enigmatic and enchanted.

2. Wonder Girl (Lim Phong Hian): Pastoral, natural, therefore birdsong.

3. Ostrich Astronaut (Tom Breuer): Retro-futuristic.

4. Dracula-Minnie-Hunchback (Mythcons): Impactful arrival!

5. Slam dunk (Michael Pavlovich): Nostalgic yet shining.

6. Ballerina (Kay John Tim): Elegant and ethereal.

7. AncestoriesXR (José Antonio Tijerín): Idyllic and wistful.

8. Buddha Mitry & Jinbe (Mythcons): Droll and playful.

9. Luffy & Nami (Mythcons): Quirky and whimsical.

10. Greek warrior (Libertas): Ready to fight.

11. Snow White (José Antonio Tijerín): Calf love.

12. K-pop girl (Yunji Jung・정윤지): Subtle criticism veiled in alluring beauty.

13. Pink Camila (Seungchan Lee・이승찬): Illuminating moments.

14. Snow White - kiss scene (José Antonio Tijerín): An offbeat sense of love.

15. Digital Soul & Warriors (Libertas): A pensive melancholy.

16. We Are All Gonna Die Lmao (Zerosum.G): Skirmishes. Opposing camps locked in a standoff.

17. Sun-glassed woman warrior (Go Eun Kim・김고은): Charming, on the brink.

18. Justitia (Seungchan Lee・이승찬): Divine retribution.

19. Cyborg in the shell (Seungchan Lee・이승찬): No cage can hold a yearning soul. Battling solo.

Part II. It’s OK to Not be Okay…A Journey of (inner) Strength

1. Spiderman & Zircon (Pablo Muñoz Gómez): Witty dynamics.

2. Symphony of Demons (Varuna Darensbourg): The breath of demons in the breeze.

3. Mangog (Mythcons): Morphing.

4. Piccolo from One Piece (Mythcons): Swagger.

5. Hulks (Mythcons): Savage force.

6. Sagat from Street Fighter (Russell Midfield): Triumph is forged through defeats.

7. Uncle Arnie (John Blalock): Stamina.

8. Scarred man (Ada Productions): Vigour.

9. Chef - Bruised man - Black boxer (Mythcons): Leverage, if you can.

Part III. Beauty and Terror…Let Everything Happen to You

1. Value (Seungchan Lee・이승찬): On the edge of a looming threat.

2. Nick 2040 (Cesar Turturro): Riser with raging bull.

3. Humanoid (José Antonio Tijerín): Tension releases. Hold your own universe.

*For the best experience of the phaser’s surround effects in this section, headphones are recommended.

4. Swordsman & Sharpshooter (Ada Productions): Relentless.

5. 2049: The Fortune Telling (Xanthus Animation Studio & Greener Grass Productions): Sci-fi innocence. Buzz of speculation.

6. AI-power Animation (Russell Midfield): Circuitry noises & Cracked beats.

7. AI-generated Animation (Prompt Muse): Groovy in fractured tones, transforming into a luminous melody.

8. Face-painted mask (José Antonio Tijerín): Folklore. Cultural heritage.Chanting on the tea hill.

9. Manpu girl in anime style (José Antonio Tijerín): Pocahontas in urban space.

10. ObeKick (Yukiri Hikagami): Vibrant rhythm with daring moves.

11. Taube - Where To Go? (Relative.Berlin): Edgy beats, kinetic steps, plus untamed energy.

12. ObeKick duet (Yukiri Hikagami): Velvety flow with a sultry flair.

13. Masquerade (Kay John Yim): A tender storm of longing and wonder.

14. Kadoc lip-sync test (Yukiri Hikagami): Back to pure simplicity.

15. Ballet Ensemble in Palais Garnier (Kay John Yim): Soaring with elegance.

16. Kagura - ending (Kay John Yim): Serene yet full of life, gently blossoming into diverse paths.

Acknowledgement

If you’ve watched through the project, you might notice a few names appearing frequently. YES, they’re the best—the smartest, kindest people who made my journey at Reallusion smoother, with far less blood, sweat, and tears.

First and foremost, my deepest gratitude goes to Senior Commercialization Project Manager Amanda (Yi Jen Lin). Her goal-oriented mindset, lightning-fast responsiveness, and keen visual sense consistently ensured that Character Creator launched on time with stunning results. I’m also indebted to the most versatile geek I know—Senior Technical Writer Chuck Chen. His meticulous proofreading and masterful writing elevate everything from tutorials and artist interviews to advertising copy and press releases. If my writing is an 8 out of 10, Chuck’s revisions turn it into a 12. He is Reallusion’s hidden literary giant, weaving narratives with eloquence and poetic precision.

On the technical front, none of this problem-solving journey—whether refining Character Creator’s functionality or tackling intricate artist requests—would have been possible without Senior Technical Artist Wilson Li. His expertise spans everything from ZBrush to the entire history of CC (!), but more importantly, his unwavering dedication to supporting both artists and colleagues is unmatched. His patience knows no bounds—so much so that he was still at the office past 11 PM on my last day, and without him there, I probably wouldn’t have been able to leave due to the security lock.

A huge thank you also goes to Technical Artist Johnson Lee for his work on CC’s wrinkle development and showcase projects, even though the biggest and longest one died on the vine. I’m very grateful for the time and effort you spent teaching me every complex detail about character wrinkles from scratch—it was truly invaluable. Working with you all has been an honour; you are a reliable, professional, and inspiring team.

Special thanks to Program Marketing Manager Eric (Huang Ming Chang)—my “godmother” from Day One. Without his warm guidance, I wouldn’t have survived during the initial three months or had the chance to meet so many talented artists. Being part of the 2049 project was a rewarding experience, and I feel fortunate that my recording expertise and gear could play a role in the Netflix showcase.

Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to CEO Charles Chen and CFO Francine Chang for having faith in me and for consistently pushing me toward growth.I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention the entire Outbound & Sales team—Sylvia (Kuan-Jen Pao), Bridgette Pan, Enoc Burgos, Kai DeNeve, John Martin, Jacqueline Lin, and Charlie Feng.