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Written and interviewed by Pavida “Patty” Changkaew | Edited by Anna Folsom and Sherry Liang  Meet Jay Asavabenya and Jin Jindawitchu, a dynamic duo of Thai animation directors whose backgrounds in architecture and passion for visual storytelling have led them from Bangkok to Los Angeles. Working across commercials, music videos, and mixed media installations, Jay and Jin are carving a unique path in animation through delicately crafted worldbuilding, cultural memory, and collaboration across borders.  From Classmates to Creative Partner Jin: “We’ve known each other since forever! At the time, we didn’t know much about animation as a career path...” Jin and Jay studied together in the International Program in Design and Architecture (INDA) at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, where they only used 3D modeling and animation tools for architectural visualization. However, after graduation, they started taking on commercial projects and gradually moved into directing their personal animated films. That was when they began exploring animation more intentionally as a storytelling tool.  Bringing Fictional Thailand to Life Some of their personal films include Himmapan and A Place to Call Home, which explore fictional versions of Thailand. Both are grounded in their desire to cherish the quiet, beautiful moments of everyday life in Bangkok that are often overlooked. Himmapan, created by Jay, is set in a futuristic Bangkok where spirit creatures live among humans in digitized form. It was inspired by the mythical Himmapan Forest in Thai literature. Jay creatively brought the fantastical element into an urban, tech-driven setting. The story is told through the lens of a motorcycle delivery driver, whose unique journey through the city captures the chaotic, surreal rhythm of Bangkok life—from floods and traffic to spiritual beliefs. Jay: “I want to play around with the fantastical yet futuristic look of the environment, and the focus was to use the environment to tell the story.” A Place to Call Home, created by Jin, takes a different angle, looking back instead of forward. She wanted to portray Thailand from the past, not the tourist version, but the spaces where her parents and grandparents actually lived. The film is rooted in her own family’s stories—specifically of, Chinese immigrants living in the Bangkok slums during the 1970s. Jin used actual voice recordings from her family to bring authenticity and nostalgia to the film. Jin: “My aim was to capture the essence of home from a childlike perspective…Moments that might seem unfortunate are transformed through the eyes of a child, where simple joys and empathy teach us to appreciate small moments and connect deeply with the place.”
Storytelling Through Space Jay: “With our background as architects from Thailand, our work is very textural and heavy on environmental design.” Beyond their foundational modeling experiences from the university, which were transferred later on into the 3D animation pipeline, the architectural background heavily influences how they think about space and storytelling. Environments become a powerful narrative tool, including objects, textures, sound, and even silence, that can carry emotion. They design the worlds with an eye for detail, thinking about how people or creatures live and interact with them. Every item has meaning, and every layout tells a story. Jin: “Most of our world designs are very user-centric. Who are the creatures or people living in this world? How do they live, and what do they do? When we think of design, we consider it from human, architectural, and urban scales. That’s how we add richness to the films and projects we work on.”
Lessons from Collaboration Jin: “When we transitioned from working independently to leading a team, we focused on understanding each member's strengths and interests. This approach allowed us to unlock their full potential...” From their experience, Jay and Jin have learned the importance of teamwork and the value of working with people who bring their own specialties and vision to the table. A good team not only lightens the workload but also opens up more creative possibilities. Each collaborator adds a new perspective, and that diversity of thought makes the work stronger. On top of that, as freelance directors, it is crucial to learn how to juggle multiple projects at once. They’ve found that it’s important to shift the mindset depending on the task, while one project can act as a break from the other. It helps if projects are in different phases of production. Jay: “...For example, I can work on project A brainstorming pre-production ideas during the day, which requires a lot of creative energy, and then animate for project B at night. Most of the time, our work gets collaborated with remote artists, so we will have to be mindful of the time differences as well.”  Growing as Leaders & Advice for Aspiring Directors Transitioning from independent artists to animation directors was a significant shift. They had to learn how to identify each collaborator’s strengths and support their growth. By fostering close collaboration, they saw a significant boost in both morale and overall effectiveness. Jay: “We have learnt along the way that there is such beauty in collaborating with other talents that share the same vision and passion as you.” For anyone who wants to become a director, it is important to find their unique voice by staying true to their interests and passions. There's no one right way to direct, and your perspective is your strength. Jin: “...As directors, who are also designers and animators, it's essential to carve out your own path and direct in a way that reflects your personal style and vision.” We’ve talked about their creative process and philosophy—now it’s time to see it in motion. Watch the trailers for Jay and Jin’s films below and discover why their work resonates so deeply with audiences worldwide. "A Place to Call Home" "Himmapan" Want to see more of their work? Follow Jay @j_asava and Jin @ploysjin on Instagram and stay tuned to Asians in Animation for more insightful stories.
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