About Me

Who is Jess? – Click to view ‘CV‘

My name is Jessica McLeod-Yu and I am a Story Teller and 2D animator from Sydney, Australia. I am a chill and adventurous person who loves to draw and create. I am especially passionate about telling stories that uplift people. My hobbies include traveling and dancing. I’m known for my blue and pink hair and punk-rock fashion.

Online, I go by the name Rocket-Child, or rocket1111child and can be found sharing my art and inspiration of various social media sites, such as: DeviantArt, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Education:

I graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Diploma of Languages (2015) , and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (2016). I am currently doing my Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours), where I am writing a thesis on how the medium of animation can be used to portray internal states. I am also animating a shot film called “Awake”, which is about a kid’s emotional journey going through and over coming depression.

I call myself a story teller, because I am skilled in a variety of disciplines. I animate, storyboard, script write, and illustrate. I have also written and self-published my own fantasy novel called “The Wish Bringer”. Please refer to the Portfolio tab of this website to see my pervious work and history.

Freelance Artist, 2008 – Present

Wedding Table Numbers, 2018
“Conspirituality” animated segments for short film, 2018 – Current
“Morning Morning” animated music video, 4 minutes, 2017
Amputee Awareness Animation, 30 seconds, 2017
21st Birthday portrait, 2017
Banner Design – Stress less week, University of Newcastle, Australia, 2016
Coffee Cup Design – Pride Week, University of Newcastle, Australia, 2016
Illustrations, Yak Magazine, University of Newcastle, Australia, 2016
NUBUG animation – University of Newcastle, Australia, 2016
Adventures of Norge – Episode 2, University of New South Wales, Australia, 2016
Illustrations, Opus Magazine, University of Newcastle, Australia, 2015
Illustration, political magazine Politics Made Public, UK
Adventures of Norge – Episode 1, University of New South Wales, Australia
Animated run cycle, Lazorewka Studio, Russia
Self published fantasy novel: The Wish Bringer,

Group Exhibitions

“Conditions of Being Human”, Watt Space Gallery, University of Newcastle, 2016
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) Grad Show, Watt Space Gallery, University of Newcastle,2016
Finalist – Brenda Clouten Memorial Traveling Scholarship, Maitland Regional Art Gallery, 2016
Prize Winner – “Do I know you?” Student Art Prize, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle, 2016
2nd place, media division – Reslife Artshow, The University Gallery, University of Newcastle, 2016
Collaboration – Moon Animate Make-up Episode 2, 2016
2nd place – ICC Artshow, The University Gallery, University of Newcastle, 2015
Artist in Residence, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle, 2013
Sketchbooks of Rome, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle, 2013
A force of habit, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle, 2013
Kindred, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle, 2012
Sydney Royal Easter Show, 2007 – 2010

Solo exhibitions

Stall holder – Book Expo Australia, 2014
Stall holder – Smash; Sydney Manga and Anime Show, 2014
“The Wish Bringer” Book opening, 2014
Stall holder – Sydney Animania Festival, 2008 – 2010

Festivals:

I am also the Assistant Director at the Melbourne International Animation Festival (MIAF). My role is mostly administrative, which involves marketing via social media, writing up schedules and run sheets for the conference and festival, and liaising with the guests attending the festivals, and more. As a representative of MIAF, I also attended the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival in Hang Zhou, China, where I presented a speech at the Hang Zhou Summit about “Balancing The Social & Economic Benefits While Running A Festival” in April, and in May I was invited to the Australian International Animation Festival as a guest speaker to speak on the panel about animation in Australia.