JAMES ZHAO

Lightcore Studio

Hi there! I’m James — a 2D/3D animator from China, now based in Sydney and studying at UTS. I spend most of my time bringing characters to life with Maya, but I also dive into illustration, design, and the occasional photography experiment.

One of my proudest projects is Awakening — a short film I co-created with my teammate in just two months. It taught me that even “imperfect” stories can shine when they carry heart.

I’ve also recently co-founded Lightcore, a two-person animation studio where we explore bold, emotional, and slightly weird ideas in both 2D and 3D. Think of it as our little creative lab.

This site is my playground — whether you’re a recruiter, collaborator, or just another curious creative, let’s connect and make something unforgettable!

About me

Commonly used software:

2025 reel