Nikki Behjat
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Nikki Behjat 〰️
Meet Nikki Behjat
Nikki is an Iranian-American animator who regularly writes and directs her own animated shorts. From an early age, Nikki was consistently drawing and creating short live-action films. After making her first animated film in high school, she decided to pursue a career in animation. As the daughter of Iranian immigrants, Nikki often incorporates her cultural identity as a focal subject of her films.
Congratulations Nikki for the amazing opportunity at Dreamworks fellowship Launch! What does this opportunity mean to you?
I’m so immensely grateful for this opportunity, and it still hasn’t fully sunk in yet! I’ve been working towards a lot in my animation journey, this is definitely an exciting first step
What has your artist journey looked like?
I’ve been drawing and making films from a young age, and I always knew I wanted to find a way into the animation industry. I got serious about pursuing this path during my freshman year of high school, but it wasn’t until my sophomore/junior year that I really started learning the fundamentals. At times, I felt behind with my art, especially when it came to anatomy and composition. Even now, I still compare myself to other talented artists. But what keeps me motivated is looking back at my old artwork and seeing how much I’ve improved over time!
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years:
That’s a great question! While I can’t say for certain where I’ll be since life always has unexpected turns, my goal is to be working as a director or contributing to the story side of animation!
Is there any person you want to thank?
I’m very lucky to have an amazing support system. My immediate and extended family have always been so supportive of me, so I’m very grateful to have them!
Any advice you want to give to someone who may be considering a career in the creative industry?
Honestly just start! No one is born an expert, so don’t be discouraged if you’re not super skilled at first. Take a lot of classes, ask for feedback, start on that first project. The most important thing though is to just keep going, because you never know what doors will open!