Two young Filipino freelancer artists, Shameichi and Hoshilalei (Shamea and Kylie), created a groovy retro-styled heavily animated visualizer for singer-songwriter Mop the Kid.
This May 2023, Mop the Kid released an official visualizer for their song, Just Say Why. Transport yourself into this retro-themed world with rhythmic tunes that make you groove.
At first glance, many might assume that this animation was made by an agency with lots of manpower or maybe sourced from big studios. But the truth is, it’s not.
This visually stunning Just Say Why visualizer is created by two young Filipino freelance artists: Shamea Yoingco (@shameichii) and Kylie Cabug (@hoshilalei).
Indeed, with their creativity and skills—they were able to turn free-form scribbles and monotonous static sketches into a coherently-made nostalgia-themed animation and a dynamic retro multicolored 3-minute universe.
Collaborating, Making Magic, and Having Fun
While they are waiting for their graduation ceremony this 2023, Shamea and Kylie continue to dedicate most of their time to their passions: dabbling in digital art.
Starting out as classmates in college, these two have become partners in crime for around 6 years already—already familiar with each other’s work style, artistic tastes, and creative strengths.
With Shamea as the illustrator and Kylie as the animator—together, they combine their complementary skills and personalities, forming into a harmonious dynamic duo in their digital freelancing niches.
“Favorite moments ko lang kapag nag-sesend si Kylie ng updates doon sa animation. Parang nakakatuwa lang makita na in motion na [‘yung drawings ko].” —Shamea, Illustrator and Freelancer
Kylie also adds, “Sobrang inspiring din kasi gawin yung mga illustration ni Shamea.” Unquestionably, these two support each other in all ways possible.
As a team, Shamea mostly handles clients. She has been working with Mop the Kid multiple times for his album covers and he was the one who tapped Shamea for the visualizer.
They talked about their ideas through voice records only (introvert hacks). Mop the Kid giving the basic concepts, Kylie and Shamea talking about in-depth ideas in discord, Shamea consolidating these and relaying to Mop the Kid. In the end, the client still gave this dynamic duo the creative freedom to play around and make their magic.
“Na-discover ako ni Mop the Kid sa reddit. Nag-popost [din] kasi ako ng commission portfolios doon. And ever since, ako na gumagawa ng cover arts niya for his music. Until one day, he asked me if I do animation. And so I said yes, and dinamay ko si Kylie.”
Kylie mostly does the animation work in Shamea’s commissions. One of her previous animations for Mop the Kid was a video loop for Spotify Canvas.
“Memorable moment ko…kapag nasasabay ko sa beat ‘yung motion. Kasi nag-send si Shamea ng music [pre-released version]. So pinapakinggan ko ‘yun habang in-aaanimate ko ‘yung mga scenes…ang saya ng ganitong feeling. Pero struggle pa rin (laughs).” —Kylie, Animator and Freelancer
Fun fact: Shamea and Kylie blasted Japanese retro songs while working on the Just Say Why visualizer together!
Growing up with Childhood Inspirations
Growing up, Shamea and Kylie were fortunate enough to be surrounded by people who were encouraging of their love for drawing. Not only did they take the time to nurture them, but they also supported their dreams in all ways imaginable.
“For me, super early ako nag-start kasi kahit doodle doodle lang na drawings nung bata ako, grabe na yung praise sa akin ng adults around me. So naisip ko, ito na lang kaya gawin ko? Tas further ‘yun na-ignite nung may na-meet ako na friend, si Alyssa nung elementary. I found out that her dad was an animator from Toy Animation and nag-wowork on sila sa Anime Pretty Cure, which is magical girls…and doon ako na-inspire, doon ko na-discover na may trabaho pala sa drawing. And it’s animation,” Shamea says.
She also shared that her friend’s father drew Sakura Cardcaptor for her. Being given that as a little girl, it was truly a gem for her. She remembers cherishing that drawing and always tracing it back then. Definitely a core memory for a child with a passion for the arts.
“Nag-start din ako nung bata ako…naadik ako sa Anime and ginagaya ko siya— ‘yung mga Fushigi Yûgi. Na-realize ko na doon lang din ako nag-eexcel…So ‘yun na talaga ‘yung mindset ko na magiging artist ako paglaki. Tas ‘yung animation, nagkaroon ako ng idea na gusto kong malagay sa credits’ ganun, makita ‘yung name ko…and na-inspire ako doon,” Kylie says.
Kylie also shares that even though animation is very challenging and tiring—with all the long hours of sequencing and rendering in front of the screen—at the end, it’s ultimately fulfilling. Nevertheless, she is very thankful of her parents because they were never the type to hinder her from her goals and dreams in illustrating and animating.
Refining Skills & Finding their Own Art Styles
Kylie and Shamea both acknowledged where they are now: taking their time to find their voices as artists by practicing their skills in their favorite mediums, discovering what they like in art, and just putting themselves out there as creatives.
After all, that’s what sets them apart from those who steal their works—their dedication in making art: free to experiment in crafting and perfecting unique techniques to tea. “Art takes time,” Shamea mentioned. And as freelancers, they make sure to create the best pieces according to their client’s liking while sprinkling in their own flavors and mystique.
Shamea shares how important it is to learn the basics first—there’s no rush in creating. It shouldn’t be all about the clients. Taking that first step and making art for yourself can bring you to where you want to be eventually.
“As an artist, it’s important din na you hone your skills talaga instead of jumping onto projects without properly learning the basics…Ang dami ko nakikitang complaints na mag-quiquit na lang sila ng art kasi they’re not getting clients. But the thing is with that, before you get into those kinds of things—you need to really hone yourself more as an artist. Art for yourself muna until you get better.”
Shamea’s art is inspired mostly by Webtoons, Hiroyuki Asada, and old retro anime like Ranma and Sailor Moon. Kylie’s influences include her favorite webtoon, The Fantasie of a Stepmother, and her favorite manga, Akatsuki no Yona.
Kylie, on the other hand, is very hopeful with her sentiments about the future. Also an ode for artists like her now, she says that it’s very important not to compare themselves to other artists.
“Ako, ‘di ko masasabing may art style ako. ‘Di pa honed ‘yung sarili kong art style currently. Pero sana in the future, ma-hone na yung sarili kong art style…Pero may favorite ako, ‘yung Webtoon Art Style. So balak ko siya i-hone. In the future, sana maka-publish ako ng sarili kong Webtoon…”
Every journey of an artist is unique to their circumstances and is beautifully unpredictable—it takes a lot of patience for themselves as humans and to bloom in their own ways.
Manifesting a Future Making Art with Friends
Shamea and Kylie have high hopes for their futures as individual artists, as well as being part of an art-filled community with their comrades.
Fueled by kaleidoscopic memories making diverse colorful creations with their friends, these two creatives are hoping that one day, they can create an animation studio with the people who shared artistic (and non-artistic) pursuits with them.
“I really want to be successful with my friends, as we dream of creating our own studio. Parang ‘yun talaga ‘yung minamanifest ko. ‘Pag may nakikita ako [habang] nag-scroscroll ako sa Pinterest or sa Instagram Reels…iniisip ko talaga na gusto ko gawin ‘yan with my friends. Like matayo yung own studio namin, creating projects,” Kylie says.
Shamea also shares that starting small is key to achieving their dream. All together, they want to celebrate milestones, discover new opportunities, and reach their goals step by step—slowly building up to their dream studio.
“Starting out, we want to be an Art Circle muna, under the name Celestierie. We just want to attend conventions and sell merch muna. Until eventually, manifesting someday, na maging studio kami. And we get to work on more music videos like the visualizer of Mop the Kid and hoping na we get more people to join, so we can create bigger projects similar to the visualizer,” Shamea says.
They have been through many ups and downs with their friends 4seasonsART, Arte_Atinoi, and Neekhol—weathered storms, basked in rainbows, and even just idly enjoying lazy afternoons with them (in person or in Discord).
No matter how small, these people became a supportive community for Kylie and Shamea, empowering each other through and through.
And slowly but surely, even though they are taking baby steps—they are optimistic in meeting their visions, goals, and dreams as young freelance artists in the art and animation industry.
Follow Shamea as @shameichi on Instagram and Facebook; Kylie as @hoshilalei on Instagram and Facebook—all for more art updates, commission information, and future events. While you’re at it, check out Shameichi’s Webtoon here.
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