For many students, hobbies are a great way to pass the time, but for Harry W., a 15 year-old sophomore, his hobby has turned into a passion. Harry, who started creating animations on YouTube, has been developing skills in Lego animation, 3D modeling, and hand-drawn animation using programs like Blender. His journey, filled with both challenges and exciting moments, is an inspiration to aspiring young animators.
Harry’s journey into the animation industry started out of boredom and curiosity. “I wanted to learn something new,” he shared. Having loved building Lego sets his whole life, he decided to take it a step further by bringing them to life through animation.
His biggest motivation? Learning new skills. While the hardest part of animating was “learning it at the beginning,” he now enjoys pushing his creative boundaries with each project he does.
Creating animations takes dedication and patience. Depending on the project, Harry’s animations can take anywhere from 1-2 hours for short clips to weeks for larger projects. His inspirations come from YouTube videos, and he enjoys recreating ideas while adding his own unique spin. His biggest influences include Chris Miller (director of The Lego Movie) and the visually stunning Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Currently, Harry is working on an 8-minute-long animation, which he hopes will be one of his biggest projects yet which at this time, he has not announced a release date.
Harry currently has a growing YouTube channel titled “AllThingsLEGO2” with 1.3 thousand subscribers.
While animation is one of his biggest passions, Harry is also exploring other career options. “I’d love to make animation my career, but i’m also interested in engineering or culinary arts,” he shared. With such a diverse set of interests and skills, his future is full of possibilities.
When asked about his favorite animation, Harry pointed to his short film titled “What Happened.” “I really like how it’s organized and experimental. I had a lot of fun doing it,” he said. The project took one or two weeks to complete and showcases his evolving skills as an animator.
You can watch Harry’s favorite animation “What Happened” here: https://youtu.be/yKry9ctZCRY?si=ZyIe9sffYTE2g9xq
For anyone looking to start animating but is unsure where to begin, Harry has one message: “Watch videos on YouTube, have fun, and don’t give up because its frustrating at first.” He recommends checking out “LegoMe_TheOG, a YouTuber who specializes in Lego animations for inspiration and tips.
Harry W’s journey into animation is a testament to creativity, patience, and self-learning. Whether he continues in animation, engineering or culinary arts, one thing remains certain, his passion and dedication will take him far.
Keep an eye out for his future projects, and if you’re an inspiring animator, take Harry’s advice: start small, be patient, and most importantly, have fun!
