Interview with Jens Møller from Helsinki

I've always had a passion for drawing and creative expression. During my studies in architecture, I came to realize the potential of designing entire cinematic worlds through animation. Given my love for storytelling, this naturally became the path I chose to follow.

Anima is an award-winning character animation studio with a passion for art and cinema. Anima has been one of the leading 3D animation studios in the Nordic region for two decades! The studio is located in Helsinki and branched out to Kuala Lumpur in 2013.

The Anima team have produced 10,000+ minutes of aired animation ranging from animated TV series and feature films. We have a combined passion for character animation and telling stories through animation together with artistic ambition are the driving forces behind the studio’s success.

Creativity is to create. To imagine something and share this imagination with the world. To seek beyond the obvious and “surprise” yourself and others with your imagination.

To me, creativity comes into play whenever you embark on an idea that involves exploring new narratives or designs.

There are two layers of creativity. The first one is to invent and create something out of your own imagination and try to shape it into something. The other is when you need to take inspiration from an existing idea and develop it further into new directions or to give it a visual identity.

My favorite aspect of the creative process is when you're working with a fresh idea, trying to make it functional and breathe life into it.

My style is less of an artistic “wild and chaotic” style. I am more of a professional creative. Knowing what works and what can actually be financed through a long and extensive experience in animation and film making. So one could define me as a crafts man within the creative industry.

There is always a symbolic universe that you bring with you. But also a long work life in the industry all over the world has shaped me into a more international approach so I would not be confined to a certain region or in this case, country.

Any prize is an acknowledgement of the work we do and therefore means a lot. It's truly gratifying when others genuinely value and take pleasure in the work we produce. Thank you truly from the bottom of our hearts!

We strongly believe that this project deserves both attention and awards. It embodies a level of dedication, innovation, and excellence that sets it apart and makes it deserving of recognition and accolades within its field.

The most significant challenge we faced was navigating the collaborative process with a partner and client who had diverse cultural backgrounds and varying degrees of political involvement in decision-making.

Creativity doesn't count awards. Either you cannot help being creative or you don't. However, receiving an award can boost your self-belief even further.

The people working in the industry and their young hearts, the storytelling for children and family and the animation “language.”

Keep on getting better! Never let anyone tell you it is not a “real” job. Love your ideas.

Drawing, painting, graphic computer skills, 3D modelling programs and knowledge about your fellow humans.

The ease lies in having an idea, but the real difficulty lies in selecting the most suitable one.

The old Disney crew from 1950-1970 for the constantly pushing creative boundaries.

Don’t stop!