The animation film loved by kids and adults alike is back with its long-awaited fourth instalment – Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 4, to pull at the heartstrings of everyone’s inner child. One of the hands behind the production of the movie is The One Academy’s Digital Animation alum, Andrea Goh Siau Wei.

The 26-year-old from Kuala Lumpur who is now based in the U.S., works at the world’s top Pixar Animation Studios in California. As a Layout Artist, she is responsible for determining the shot’s frame, camera angle, camera path, and lighting of each key animation scene. Rising up the ranks since she was recruited by Pixar as a technical director intern three years ago, some of her contributions include Cars 3 and Incredibles 2.

“It was a blast working on Toy Story 4, and it made me think of some of my childhood toys,” said Andrea.

Despite having found her calling and working her dream job now; like most people, she was once unsure of which career path to take, contemplating between wanting to become a doctor or an artist. That was until she chanced upon a Pixar seminar after graduating high school and it sealed the deal for her.

“I actually didn’t know what I wanted to do when I graduated from high school, and it’s actually very strange because Pixar sent nine people to come all the way to Malaysia, in KL, for a seminar hosted by The One Academy. I eventually enrolled to study there because after what I saw, I had this thought that I definitely want to work at Pixar; this is definitely what I want to do,” she shared.

After graduating from TOA in 2013, Andrea went on to apply for the Pixar Undergraduate Program (PUP) and was accepted. In the 3-month program, interns have the opportunity to learn about Pixar’s filmmaking process and explore a variety of career options as they get first-hand experience in how a production studio works, guided by some of the top professionals in the industry.

Andrea credited the academy in shaping her to be an accomplished artist, especially the drawing, design and film classes that gave her an artistic eye, the importance of collaboration and also team management. She also advised aspiring artists to pay attention to every subject in class despite thinking that they are of no use in the future. “I would not have gotten to where I am now without these classes,” she recounted.

“Try to find out what you really want. Dig deeper, do your research, keep trying, keep practicing and just work really hard,” she said in advice for fellow Malaysians who are chasing their Pixar dream.

Watch her interview with GSCinemas here (https://www.facebook.com/GSCinemas/videos/356268151714395) and Walt Disney Studios here (https://www.facebook.com/disneystudiosSG/videos/2109193632542083).

[The One Academy of Communication Design was established in 1991 with the aim of promoting the region as the world’s center of creative reference. Strategically located in the thriving creative hub of Bandar Sunway, Selangor, with a branch in Georgetown, Penang, The One Academy is today a top notch leading international institute in art, design and creative multimedia, renowned with graduates who steer successful careers in creative capitals worldwide. The courses offered are Digital Media Design, Digital Animation with Game Development, Film Visual Effects, Illustration, Movie & Game Art, Advertising & Graphic Design, Interior Design, Paris Fashion Design & Pattern Making and Fine Arts.]