Today we’d like to introduce you to Miharu Murai.
Hi Miharu, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
“Have something you truly believe in, a dream you want to pursue and open any doors that come your way because someday they will lead you to the door you’ve always dreamed of.”
My story is about seizing opportunities without hesitation, knowing that each experience is connected to another door. I have had two lifelong aspirations: to become a Disney animator and to study abroad in college. I first expressed my desire to become an artist during a 4th-grade English speech competition and later, in 6th grade, I expressed my wish to study abroad during a graduation ceremony.
I enjoyed expressing my emotions through various forms of creativity, such as dance, music, haiku, poetry, and drawing. Though I participated in ballet and violin from a young age and was even part of a dance club in middle school, drawing became my primary outlet for escaping reality.
During middle school, I learned about a high school exchange program and was accepted into it. I lived with a host family in Buffalo, New York, for a year, took three art classes, and spent much of my time in the art room drawing. Toward the end of my exchange program, my art teacher submitted my work to the Congressional Art Competition in 2015, and I won, earning a scholarship from SCAD.
I was elated to be studying at SCAD and learning from professors who had worked on classic Disney animations. However, I soon realized that I didn’t feel like I belonged there. Though I received compliments on my style and use of colors, the critiques should have been focused on animation. While trying to figure things out for myself, I took a class to learn Adobe software. It was during this time that my professor showed me the work of his motion media students, and I immediately knew that it was the perfect field for me. After working in the motion graphics industry for a year, I learned that there was still much for me to learn. I am excited to continue discovering new doors that will lead me closer to achieving my dreams.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Although I have been fortunate in many ways, it hasn’t been a smooth road for sure. Prior to attending SCAD, I did not anticipate encountering such significant challenges. Although my time at SCAD presented obstacles, they centered on refining my skills and identifying areas for improvement. Entering the industry proved to be a distinct and substantial challenge. The transition from student to professional felt like a dramatic shift from 0 to 100.
Despite these hurdles, I have learned the importance of being transparent and forthright with my mentors, producers, and creative directors regarding the challenges I face. This has been an invaluable learning experience, even as I continue to grapple with feelings of imposter syndrome. Ultimately, I have come to realize that the key to overcoming these challenges is to allow myself the freedom to acknowledge my own limitations and to refrain from placing undue pressure on myself to achieve perfection.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I see myself as a designer for motion, I possess a strong command of color theory and understand the needs for animators. My proficiency in creating style frames is aided by my innate ability to process designs as though they were already in motion, which helped a smoother transition from design to animation in the production process.
As an artist, I consider myself a skilled storyteller who communicates delicate emotions beyond the limitations of language. My distinctive style is a reflection of my personal identity and experiences, imbuing my work with a deep sense of meaning and authenticity. My character and portrait drawings have become a recognizable hallmark of my brand, featured prominently on my business card.
I take great pride in my work as the director of CoMotion. Pitching the idea with Yorlie and King was one of the most fun times I had as a team project. I treasure the bitter-sweet memories I shared with countless texts, calls and meetings I had. Although I never envisioned myself as a natural leader, the branding team helped me to discover a newfound passion for team management, which has become part of my strengths and skills.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I have found that there are three fundamental principles that underpin success in this field. While they may seem basic, they are of utmost importance and can significantly impact one’s career’s success:
1. Trusting one’s instincts and maintaining an open-minded approach is crucial to creative success. By embracing new ideas and being receptive to different perspectives, we can expand our creative horizons and produce work that is truly exceptional.
2. In any professional setting, it is important to cultivate a culture of thoughtfulness and kindness. By treating our peers, clients, and colleagues with respect and empathy, we can foster an environment that is conducive to creativity, collaboration, and productivity.
3. It is important to remain honest and open to feedback. Although it can be challenging to receive criticism or critique, accepting and acting on this feedback can be critical to growth and development as a professional.
At times, external factors can present challenges to achieving the success that we imagined before graduating. However, I believe that every pathway is interconnected, and thus, it is essential to concentrate on the pursuit of our aspirations rather than the specific location of achievement.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude towards my parents, Yoko and Takeshi Murai, whose support and guidance have propelled me to this point, originating from Japan. Additionally, the love and care provided by my host mother, Kathy, and brother, Matthew, have enabled me to continuously challenge myself in the United States for six years. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to my mentor, Yifan Sun from BlackMath, and the talented carrots who welcomed me as I took my first steps in the industry. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge Joshua Gunn, my creative director, and the entire team at Planet Nutshell, who have embraced me during this challenging period.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.miharumurai.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miart713/
Image Credits
Personal Photo taken by Shogo
