Animator / Producer
Jiaxi Wu is a dedicated producer, director, and animator who has a complete understanding of the 3D workflow and has made great achievements in production management.
She is currently pursuing her MFA in Expanded Animation at USC. Before that, her journey in 3D Animation started at the Academy of Art University in 2017. She has gained substantial experience in the animation industry, notably as an Executive Producer at Shenzhen Larva Digital Animation, where she oversaw the production of the Larva series, and as a 3D animator for ShenEr Technology.
In Larva, as a producer, she organized three teams to develop 76 episodes in one year. The new season of Larva in China has already been released on the biggest Chinese video platforms. From full-process animation in Maya, combined with motion capture, animation rendered based on the Unreal Engine, to VR projects and robotics projects, she has widely used her skills to participate in various projects.
Jiaxi also dives into stop-motion animation; her directed film, Monument, has received multiple international awards, including the Best Shorts Competition Award of Merit and Best Screenplay at the ASTERFEST International Film Festival. Her work has also been selected for screenings at prestigious festivals like the Global Peace Film Festival, the Bay International Film Festival, the Indie Short Fest, and the Treasure Coast International Film Festival.
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Professional Experience
University of Southern California - Los Angeles, CA
3D Animator
Aug 2023 – May 2025
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Created a facial and motion performance database for Sophia, a real humanoid robot (featured on Instagram @SophiaRobot).
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Produced marine creature animation for a VR short film using Maya and Unreal Engine 5.
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Animated and directed a narrative 3D short film developed over one year in Maya.
Student Assistant – Cinematic Arts Department
Aug 2023 – May 2025
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Assisted faculty and students in “Cinematic Animation: The Art of Motion in Virtual Space”, supporting motion-capture lab operations.
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Provided guidance in Documentary Animation, Contemporary Animation Theory & Practice, and Stop-Motion Animation courses.
Shenzhen Larva Digital Animation Co., Ltd - Shenzhen, China
Executive Producer, Animation Department
Feb 2021 – Jan 2022
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Supervised production of 76 episodes of “Larva in China” (Tencent Video), including advertising and promotional materials.
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Coordinated cross-studio workflow and outsourcing, overseeing the full pipeline from script to final delivery.
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Managed contracts, schedules, and production documentation, ensuring timely feedback and delivery
Shenzhen Shener Technology Co., Ltd - Shenzhen, China
3D Animator
Aug 2020 – Feb 2021
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Produced 3D animation shots from layout to final performance using Maya.
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Delivered character and quadruped animation, demonstrating strong timing and acting sense.
3D Animator, AI Robot - Sophia
Executive Producer, Shenzhen Larva
Education
University of Southern California (USC) — Los Angeles, CA
Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Cinematic Arts – Expanded Animation
Aug 2023 – May 2026
Academy of Art University — San Francisco, CA
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Animation and Visual Effects – 3D Animation Emphasis
Sep 2017 – Dec 2022
Awards | Scholarship
Monument — Animated Short
2024
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Best Shorts Competition — Award of Merit (Winner)
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International Film Festival ASTERFEST — Best Screenplay (Winner)
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Bridge of Peace / Global Peace Film Festival / Bay International Film Festival / New York Tri-State IFF / Indie Short Fest / Lift-Off Global Network / Treasure Coast IFF — Official Selections / Nominee
Annenberg Fellowship – Graduate Award
2023 – 2024 | $10,000 + 9 units tuition waiver + insurance
Hobson / Lucas Family Foundation Endowed Student Support Fund
Aug 2024 | $5,000 Graduate Scholarship
Beijing Galloping Horse Film Fund for Student Support
Aug 2024 | $2,550 Graduate Scholarship
