Meli is a graduate of TAP’s Virtual Intensive Training Internship. We asked Meli a few Qs about their experience as a TAP intern, what inspires them, and more.

What is one of your favorite animated characters and why?

I have so many favorites, but I would have to go with Riley from the Boondocks. I have always been a huge fan of satirical cartoons , and I notice with people, we tend to be drawn to characters in real life that we would never associate ourselves with lol. He is a very problematic person by nature, but it’s the way that Aaron McGruder used an eight year old in his show to poke fun at pop culture that makes me enjoy the show to this day!

Where do you draw inspiration from?

Literally everything! I’m not just an illustrator, photographer, or writer. I do so much that I just call myself a visual artist. With each field that I dabble comes a different source of inspiration. For instance, when it comes to my appearance, my makeup and hair inspiration comes from a combination of influencers on social media and just what I see others on the streets of NYC doing that makes me go “ooh, I should try something like this next”. My sense of fashion is similar , but it also reflects the music genres that I listen to, such as 80s/ 90s hip hop and punk rock.

Regarding the art I make, the screenplays I write are inspired by the TV shows and movies I watch, which are primarily comedies, dramas, thrillers, action, and animated works. My scripts and comics specifically are inspired by the lack of representation in the media. Meanwhile, my digital portraits are inspired by traditional paintings (something I can’t do actually). My traditional drawings, on the other hand, have recently been inspired by tattoo styles such as dotwork and traditional American. As for photography, I am inspired by nature and architecture.

What brought you to TAP?

In my second to last semester in college, I had a little “epiphany” during my ‘History of Film I’ class. In this class, we watched films from 1895-1941, and one week specifically was our animation lecture. Out of all the film classes and lectures I had, I realized that this was the first time I truly felt engaged in class. I remember sitting in the classroom reflecting on my undergraduate career and how I missed studying cartooning- my major in high school. I never considered animation as a major in college because I was aware that the field is very complex and I wasn’t into digital art much at the time I was applying for college. But towards my senior year, I realized after that one lesson that my dream to somehow work in an animation or television studio is still possible.

I began looking up bachelors programs for animation in the summer of 2020, just in case I decided to go back for a third (yes, third) bachelor’s degree. I decided to first look for internships and online classes as other professionals suggested. I came across NeON’s summer program with TAP through Instagram. I still applied, even though I wasn’t eligible for the program because of the neighborhood I live in. However, a friend of mine was accepted into the summer program and they put me onto TAP’s virtual intensive internship for 2020-2021. I applied and got accepted! Then the rest was history.

How has your experience changed since the beginning of internship to now?

When I first started this internship, I came in with zero animation experience. The only animation I ever made was a 2D bouncing ball exercise with one of my characters for an assignment in 10th grade. In the beginning of the internship, we automatically jumped into Autodesk Maya, which is probably the most difficult art software I ever used! I was struggling a lot in the beginning. I was in office hours frequently for help, and even needed to borrow a laptop just to be able to watch the lessons while I did the assignments on my personal laptop. Overtime, I began to grasp the material and discovered that I enjoy modeling!

As the internship progressed, I found myself volunteering to do more and more opportunities within TAP, such as designing logos and being a panelist for TAP’s Animation 101. From the start of the internship to now, I find I am becoming more skilled, confident, and productive when it comes to art projects- both within and outside of TAP.

What is something you accomplished at TAP that you are proud of?

It’s hard to just pick one because I have a few accomplishments under my belt with TAP. If I had to just pick one it would be earning the Basic Modeling Badge. Considering how initially I was struggling to learn Maya, I originally didn’t think it was possible to earn this achievement. However, once I realized what specific field in 3D animation I enjoyed, I pushed myself to complete assignments and to not get overwhelmed with the many keys, menus, and commands in Maya. Once I earned this badge, I realized how much quicker I can model objects in Maya, versus when I first began the internship.

Do you think animation can be activism? If so, how?

Definitely! Any form of art can be. Animation specifically can be just through just the characters and narratives created in a piece. Many animated shows and movies still have a long way to go regarding representing different groups, but many creators have used animation as a tool to highlight important issues through the scripts they write and the characters they design.

How has your identity shaped your creative voice?

My identity has always been something I have been proud of , so it indirectly influences some of my art. Specifically with writing stories, I always try to represent people like myself (Black, dark skinned, plus sized, queer, Caribbean, etc.) who aren’t represented much in media. Most representation of marginalized groups tends to be inaccurate, stereotypical or outdated. In recent years, this representation in the media comes off as forced inclusion due to political movements such as Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate. It’s pretty clear to the viewers from these marginalized groups that the writing team for TV shows and movies don’t look like us. So I have always tried to make content, specifically screenwriting, that is for us, by us!

What advice do you have for fellow LGBTQ+ and/or Caribbean American aspiring animators?

My advice is to be authentic to yourself and your artwork! As a first- generation Afro- Caribbean queer identifying artist, I know this can be very difficult to do. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community get disowned by their families and have to relocate to safe communities to survive. In the Caribbean, the arts can still be seen as a hobby and not a career because it’s not within the STEM field. Also there aren't as many opportunities for artists in the Caribbean in comparison to the States. However, I believe that all occupations have an importance in life, and since we only have one life, that we should live it to the fullest and fulfill our dreams!

We can’t expect accurate representation if there’s not people working behind the scenes that look like us! Don’t hesitate to study animation in school or apply to animation roles at a job. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to write narratives or create stories centered around the LGBTQ+ community or Caribbean culture. Media serves as a source of education, discovery, and a safe space for many marginalized groups, so don’t be afraid to tell our stories!

Intern Exclusive: Meli Holdipp