Meet Shirlyn Park | 3D Animation Rigging Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shirlyn Park and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shirlyn, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Ever since I was young, I loved watching animations. They made me feel excited and curious about how stories could be told in such a way that they made people feel strong emotions. It amazed me that animations could make you laugh, cry, or feel close to characters that weren’t real. That’s when I understood that art, in any form, is a strong way to tell stories. It can communicate feelings without words and connect with people on a deep level.

This understanding made me want to work in animation. I wanted to be in a place where stories come to life, where every picture is a chance to share something important. My aim became clear: to join a group where I could help create stories that touch and inspire others, just like the ones that moved me when I was younger.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a rigging artist in 3D animation, I create the frameworks that make characters move, giving animators full control over every action. My specialty is designing easy-to-use, efficient rigs that help animators concentrate on performance, enhancing the storytelling.

I’m proud that my technical work helps create smooth final animations, even though it’s not always visible. My journey to this point required lots of problem-solving, patience, and learning from collaborative works. The most important lesson I’ve learned is the value of persistence and teamwork; understanding how my work fits into the overall creative vision is key.

I want people to know that rigging is not just about technical skills—it’s about enabling great storytelling. I’m dedicated to advancing 3D animation and aim to create rigs that make characters as expressive and lively as possible.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting Atlanta for a week, I’d take them to explore Downtown first. Visit the Georgia Aquarium, Coca-cola museum and have a meal at Ponce City Market.

On the second day, I’ll take them to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. We’d have lunch at Busy Bee Cafe and spend the afternoon at the High Museum of Art. For dinner, we’d go to colony square.
The third day would be for outdoor activities. We’d hike at Stone Mountain, have a quick lunch, and visit Little Five Points. We’d end the day with dinner at Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q and enjoy some live music.
On the fourth day, we’d relax at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and have a little picnic at Piedmont Park.
The fifth day would be a day trip to either Serenbe or Helen, GA, followed by dinner at Gunshow.
For the sixth day, we’d go shopping in Buckhead.

These are the favorite things that I like to do when I am traveling around in the city

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to recommend my friend Bomi Kim, who is currently directing a short student film at the Savannah College of Art and Design. I’ve been working with her since last year on a short film called Holy Mole-y. During this time, she has shown excellent directing skills and has worked closely with me.

Website: https://shpark1596.wixsite.com/website-1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.h.6487/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirlyn-park-04579b21b