Hannah Sun
Q&A | Hannah Sun
Animator & Designer
BUCK
Published
Oct 2025
Born and raised in Shanghai and now based in New York, Hannah Sun is a motion designer with a passion for creative exploration. She combines design and animation with both 2D and 3D techniques to create vibrant, dynamic visuals that bring her ideas to life with energy and precision.
Her diverse skill set brings animation to life through vibrant and dynamic storytelling. Both of her personal and professional work has gained wide recognition, including the Cannes indie shorts award-winning “Blip” and Oscar nominated “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse”.
Luna New Year
Credit: Co-created with Jesseter Wang
01
What sparked your initial interest in animation and design? Was there a specific moment or piece of art that ignited your passion?
I initially studied automation engineering in China, mostly because I didn't know much about the creative industry
at the time. I’d always loved drawing, and over time I found myself wanting to do work that I genuinely care about.
I took a leap of faith and transferred to School of The Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) to study graphic design,
and this was where I began to explore visual design
and communication for the first time.
Near the end of my time there, I took a motion graphics elective and was introduced to a completely new way
of thinking. I came across Ash Thorp’s work during
a research assignment and was immediately captivated.
I was surprised to realize that many of the title sequences
I had always loved – X-Men, Person of Interest, and FITC Tokyo –were all made by him. His work is abstract and cinematic. Each frame stood on its own as a piece of design, but through animation, it became something unexpected and with emotion.
That was the moment where I was truly moved by animation, and it ultimately led me to pursue motion graphics at the School of Visual Arts (SVA).
BLIP
02
Is there a particular piece of your own personal work (not client work) that you're most proud of, and what's the story behind it?
Blip became a personal reflection on how overwhelming and scattered life felt during the pandemic, when much of our lives moved online. Quarantined and physically isolated, digital screens became our only way to work, connect, and stay informed.
The story follows a character trapped in a flood of digital noise, overwhelmed by the constant barrage of information and distractions and struggling to focus. It mirrored my own experience, and I felt it was a meaningful topic to explore through animation.
Meow Wolf
Credit: Created at BUCK (https://buck.co/work/mw-change-your-frequency) / Role: Animation
“Over time, I’ve started to learn that creativity is also about knowing when to push and when to pull back. It’s a subtle but valuable shift in mindset that I didn’t expect when I first started.”
03
As someone relatively early in their career at a prominent studio like BUCK, what has been the most surprising aspect
of working in the industry so far?
What’s surprised me most in my early years of working was learning how to navigate the balance between creative ambition and real-world production needs. In school or personal projects, you tend to chase whatever excites you creatively, often working alone or with full control.
But in a professional environment, especially fast-paced, commercial and collaborative studios like BUCK, you are constantly navigating the tension between constraints of creativity, time, budget, client needs, and team dynamics.
There’s often a gap between what we as creatives want to do and what will truly serve the project. For instance, during Meow Wolf Radio Tave, the team created a ton of incredible designs. But many didn’t make it into the final film.
The reality of the project, and what the client needed to communicate, meant making tough choices and letting go of ideas we loved. Over time, I’ve started to learn that creativity is also about knowing when to push and when to pull back. It’s a subtle but valuable shift in mindset that I didn’t expect when I first started.
Coinbase
Credit: Created at BUCK (https://buck.co/work/coinbase-system-update) / Role: Animation
04
What's one thing you wish you knew about the creative industry before you started your professional journey?
I wish I knew the importance of finding your niche in an earlier stage. When I was just starting out, it’s tempting to try a bit of everything, which is still valuable in itself and I very much enjoy it till this day. But having a clear focus with depth in that area helps you grow faster creatively and opens up the kind of opportunities you really want.
Early in my career, I was constantly shifting between styles and roles, trying to be as versatile as possible. But over time, I realized that being a generalist can sometimes make it harder for others to understand what you’re best at or where your passion lies.
Whenever I’ve been able to focus in that way, I’ve felt more confident and grounded. Of course It’s easier said than done. Everyone has their own path.
Chase US Open [year]
Credit: Created at BUCK / Role: Animation
05
What practices or routines do you have in place to support your mental and creative well-being?
For creative wellbeing, I stay in touch with what others are doing. It inspires me and reminds me to keep growing.
But I’ve also learned not to look too often. It’s easy to slip into comparison without realizing it, and that can create pressure
I don’t need. I’ve been learning to find a healthier balance.
I’m also realizing that stepping away from the screen is also part of my process. When I feel stuck or drained, I take a walk, read, or do something unrelated to the work. Those pauses help me reset, and often a new solution comes naturally.
Finding the rhythm between absorbing, creating, and resting has been really important for both my mental and creative well-being.
