Animation Magazine has named Alexandra Chiu, who is currently serving as a Supervising Director on Nickelodeon Animation's upcoming Paramount+ Original animated series, Avatar: Seven Havens, as one of 2026's Rising Stars of Animation!
The animation landscape is constantly shifting, but what remains constant is the importance of artists and visionaries whose passion for the art form elevates the shorts, TV shows and movies we love. This year's list of 15 “rising stars” was created by casting a wide net and tracking down a few of the amazing men and women who are working on some of the most anticipated projects of the year. You can read more about each honoree in this year's Rising Stars of Animation at animationmagazine.net.
Alexandra Chiu
Supervising Director, Avatar: Seven Havens (Nickelodeon, Paramount+)
Age: 33
Birthplace: New York
School: Washington University in St. Louis
First time I knew I wanted to work in animation: I didn’t learn that a career in animation was a thing until I got to college. I always loved to draw as a kid but always thought it was only for a hobby, or the only job you could get in the arts field was as a fine arts painter or as a CG specialist. When I learned about storyboarding as a career and what it entailed (my junior year in college) — it’s like something clicked, and I realized it aligned a lot with what I’ve always loved all along, and that was telling stories in a visual way. I knew then that was the field I wanted to work in.
My first job in animation: I started on Marvel’s Spider-Man in 2015 as a storyboard revisionist.
What I love about my current project: I can’t say a whole lot, but as a longtime fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra, it’s been an honor and a joy to work on Seven Havens, alongside a truly wonderful and crazy talented crew who care about their craft!
The most challenging aspect of it: I jokingly call it my greed, because I often find myself wanting to draw everything on the project. But we only have a finite amount of time to accomplish the things we want to accomplish, so understanding and prioritizing where to place my focus, and also my bandwidth, has always been a tricky thing to balance. I do believe that a balanced life can lead to producing better work.
Favorite animated show/movie growing up: I adored Cardcaptor Sakura growing up and enjoyed Disney movies; I was also a big Naruto and One Piece kid, and those works still influence me to this day. I first watched Samurai Champloo when I was in college, and that, to this day, is still my favorite series of all time.
Best career advice: I was once told that each project/episode is like an opportunity to try something new, and something about that really resonated with me. I like to pursue projects not for the title, but if the opportunity offers me a chance to learn something new. Improving craft, and learning new skills, is a lifelong journey, and the talent in this industry is astounding — meaning, that no matter what, every project you go to offers you a chance to learn a new skill, which I think is just neat!
Long-term goals: To continue to work in animation, mostly help make my friends’ shows or projects I believe in come to life. I’d love to work on a fantasy series with a focus on female friendships one day.
In addition to Chiu, Animation Magazine has also named Aaron Austin, who currently serves as a Story Artist on Forgotten Island for DreamWorks Animation, as a Rising Star of Animation in this year's list! Austin's first job in animation was as a revisionist, then a storyboard artist on Harvey Beaks, and then a few months later became a storyboard artist on the same show.
Aaron Austin
Story Artist, Forgotten Island (DreamWorks Animation)
Age: 36
Birthplace: Houston
School: Brigham Young University
First time I knew I wanted to work in animation: I’d always loved drawing but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with it. In high school, someone from an art college came and spoke to students about different careers in art and animation. It was the first time I realized that I could aspire to a job like that. I remember thinking, “Wait, I love animation and video games, of course that’s what I want to pursue.” Before that I had no real concept of what an art job could be. For a while I thought, “Maybe I’ll design album covers for bands, that’s gotta be a job right?” To this day I haven’t designed any album covers, but it’s OK; I’m at peace with that. I like my current job a lot.
My first job in animation: I was in my last year of college when someone from Nickelodeon reached out to me asking if I’d apply to be a storyboard artist for a show called Harvey Beaks. Turns out they had seen my work on Tumblr. I did a story test and got a job as a revisionist, and then a few months later became a storyboard artist on the same show.
What I love about my current project: Forgotten Island has literally been a dream to work on. It has such fun characters, such an amazing world and so much heart and humanity! Also so many jokes. I love jokes. I think my favorite part of the project is that I can pitch ridiculous and incredibly insane jokes and they make it into the movie. I don’t think any production has ever valued my absurd sense of humor this much, and that really means a lot to me.
The most challenging aspect of it: I think the most challenging part of any storyboarding job is how often you have to summon the emotional willpower to make an entertaining and engaging story. Some days you just feel like rotting face down in a gutter, but you have to clock into the studio and make silly, happy stuff and make the world smile. It can be hard! But when you’re able to get there and make it happen, it can be very satisfying.
Favorite animated show/movie growing up: I love so many things, and I’m so moody and all over the place that every day I have a new favorite thing. That being said, growing up I soaked up ’90s Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network cartoons like a sponge, and I think those attached to my DNA and formed the basis of who I am today.
Best career advice: I think it’s really important to have a fun and fulfilling life outside of work, especially as a story artist. You can’t create stories if you’re not out living your own story. You won’t have anything to bring to a project. It’s like trying to cook a meal when your fridge is empty. Work-life balance is so important, and it makes you better at your job anyways, so jokes on you, all you workaholics.
Long-term goals: If I can just be a silly-goose story artist for the rest of my days that’s good with me! Career-wise, that’s all I need. On the personal side, I love making comics. I’m actually working to publish my first comic this year! I’d also love to win the lottery, that would be awesome.
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