Chloe Kacperski

Enjoying every moment of being a student 

Studying at BA (Hons) Animation (2D and Stop Motion) at USW has given me so many incredible opportunities I never could have imagined. I worked on a documentary for BBC Wales that actually aired on TV, and seeing my name—and all my coursemates’ names—in the credits was so exciting! I also earned an internship working on the Wallace and Gromit mobile app, which was a new and exciting experience. None of this, along with so many other amazing projects, would have been possible without the university. 

For my final year project, I created a short stop-motion film/music video about two girlfriends who have to adjust to a long-distance relationship when one of them moves across the country for university. 

Looking back, I might tell my first-year self not to be scared and to just go for it, but honestly, I wouldn’t want to change my uni experience at all. Even the small, awkward first encounters turned into great friendships, and any mistakes along the way became valuable learning experiences that shaped me into the person I am today. 

Studying Animation at USW feels like being part of one big animation family—corny as that may sound! The lecturers are mad in the best, most creative way, always pushing us to get the most out of the course. My coursemates became a second family, and with our shared love of animation, we all got on like a house on fire. Cardiff itself is full of animation-related events, from Cardiff Animation Night at Kongs to screenings at Chapter, making for the perfect class bonding trips beyond the classroom. 

Finding inspiration in day-to-day life 

I'm inspired by anything and everything! From the little plants growing through the cracks in the pavement to conversations with passersby, there is inspiration everywhere if you just look for it. 

In terms of animation, I love the director Elliot Dear. His commercial work, especially the John Lewis advert The Bear and the Hare and the BBC Christmas advert The Supporting Act, were hugely influential to me when deciding to pursue animation. 

Recently, I started making clay hand-painted pin badges and put them up on my Etsy shop (Cloooster). To my surprise, all 10 badges sold out within the same day of posting about them! Right now, I’m designing more pin badges while also planning other short film ideas and puppet builds to boost my animation portfolio.