Animated Film Director EunBi Chang: Production Success During the Global Pandemic

EunBi Chang is an animator, independent producer, director and teacher, among many other things. Originally from South Korea, Chang has spent some time in New Zealand before going to university and settling in the United States.

Chang's most recent work is Medina Papelor Paper City, an animated short film about a man returning home for an Islamic holiday and struggling with his father. The film was directed and produced by Chang, who also co-wrote it and worked as a storyboard artist. Paper City is unique for its "2D/stop motion hybrid animation." The main character is colorful, in contrast to the eponymous black-and-white city. The film was crowdfunded via IndieGoGo and officially released in 2020.

Chang was drawn to animation from a young age because of the storytelling possibilities it presented. Many things that would be difficult to portray in live-action become a lot easier in animation. While working on Paper City, Chang has also found that animation made it easier for people who can't show their faces on screen. Chang also enjoys the collaborative experience of working on a film. She discovered that she enjoys the process of bringing hard-working, talented people together for a common goal. Luckily, the COVID-19 lockdowns did not impede their progress. Chang believes that animation has a lot of potential for circumventing production issues during the global pandemic.

Much to her parents' dismay, Chang had always wanted to study in the United States. Instead, they insisted that she spend some time in New Zealand with family to get a similar experience. Chang's travels have inspired her work visually, giving her a unique perspective that shines through in her animation.

Chang finally came to the United States to study at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She was drawn to the United States—particularly Hollywood and Los Angeles—because of the booming animation industry, where she hoped to get a job. At first, she majored in 3D animation but found the medium "too technical." She then switched to 2D animation for the opportunity to draw with her hands. Upon returning to Korea for the summer, Chang got an internship with a Korean animation studio, where she worked for three months. From there, she became interested in storyboarding and addedit as a dual major. At the start of her career, Chang mainly did volunteer work. Chang relates that at this time, she wishes she'd realized how much paperwork was involved in the business.

When it comes to the future of animation, Chang predicts that a lot of animation will be moving into streaming platforms. As for her career, Chang would prefer to have a small group of dedicated fans supporting her on the film festival circuit.