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 Poster for Tea Leaves Last animatic pilot. Meet some of the vibrant characters who bring this captivating story to life. Illustration Credits: Henry Nguyen, Kylie Popa, and Saira Umar LOS ANGELES, CA, May 21, 2025 — Asians in Animation (AIA), the largest global community and accelerator for Asian talent in animation, has premiered Tea Leaves Last, a 2D pilot animatic that blends cultural fantasy with themes of heritage, identity, and magic. The episode, titled “Home,” follows a young girl’s journey to save her family’s tea farm and the legacy it represents.
Logline: Determined to help her family’s historic tea farm, Mya leaves her homeland seeking the secrets of forgotten tea magic. After she discovers a colonizing force that threatens to destroy her heritage, Mya’s pursuit of magic and allies becomes more imperative than ever. Created by Saira Umar, who also served as Executive Producer and Showrunner, Tea Leaves Last, explores tradition, history, and identity through a culturally rooted fantasy lens. “After landing on the idea of a Tea-based magical team, we delved into the rich history of Tea in Asian culture, and the role it played in empire-building. As someone of multiple Asian ethnicities, both sides of my family were directly impacted by colonization, something we were able to explore in this story. Off this, naturally, came explorations about what “Home” and family means to us, as many of us on the project are children of immigrants. We also wanted to explore the themes of cultural preservation, patience, and losing tradition to shortcuts and instant gratification, something especially pertinent in this day and age,” said Saira Umar. The animatic was developed by a full team of emerging Asian talent, who contributed across writing, visual development, and production. The pilot is part of AIA to shift how original stories are incubated and to place emerging talent at the helm of those stories. “We’re incredibly proud of Tea Leaves Last and what this program represents for Asian talent and the animation industry at large,” said Lexie Chu, CEO of Asians in Animation. “As the biggest Asian animation accelerator, AIA is transforming how talent is discovered, trained, and connected to opportunity. Under the leadership of Saira [Umar], Alice [Jiang], and Katie [Dizon], this program is redefining industry education. It puts the power to create and lead directly into the hands of emerging artists. We’re not waiting for the industry to open doors. We’re building our own stage and rewriting the future.” VOICE CAST The voice cast of Tea Leaves Last features Maxine Serna as Mya, Rebecca Danae as Wen Yi, Kelsey Jaffer as Jai, and Zoe D. Lee as Lyss. Jon Lu voices Lahpet and Buff Crew Member, with Saira Umar as Countess Sterling. Mya’s Parents are voiced by Cheryl Chong and Allen Chan. Additional cast is rounded out by Elijah Kim, Preston Young, Alex Bui, Stephanie Sim, Mimi Chen, Marlon Dance-Hooi, Madeline Dimayuga, Noël Wiggins, and Kim Quach. PRODUCTION CREDITS
FULL CREW The production of Tea Leaves Last involved more than 100 emerging artists and production volunteers from across the globe. The full team includes: Alexis Wong, Alice Jiang, Alice Li, Allen Wu, Amelia Clara Simanungkalit, Anna Maria Folsom, April Phillips, Ashley Whang, Aura Victoria, Benjamin Solomon Arnold, Bianca Bancolita, Brenda Do, Christina Park, CJ Tugade, Claire H. Chong, Clair Huang, Daley Lin, Daniel Whelan, Dasom Park, Dee Thater, Dorian Saisse, Elizabeth Hwang, Eric Bravo, Faith Baptista, Flo Young, Gabrielle de la Cruz, Genna Davis, Ginny Chayanit Sutichavengkul, Grace Zhang, Haley Chung, Hannah Duncan, Hannah Jin Young Kim, Hazel Oh, Henry Hieu Nguyen, Hye Lynn Park, Inaya Sher, Iryl Tan, Janice Chun, Jeffrey New, Jessie Wang, Josephine Ota, Jonny Yoon Dorais, Julia Wang, Julianne Li, Justin Ni, Kacey Layson, Kaitlyn Chen, Kelly Chen, Kevin Ho, Kim Kobashigawa, Kim Quach, Krish Geer, Kylie Popa, Lin Jin (DoubleS), Lucy Hoa Skrypzak, Lucy Xue, Madelaine Hoei, Mania Kazemi, Meeti Patel, Miki Kinoshita, Nat Chantharojwong, Natasha Daas, Nichole Isip, Nicole Concepcion, Nikolas Dela Cruz, Ning Wan, Noel Wiggins, Po Kei Nicole Wong, Qianyi Lu, Rachel Christian, Rebe Chen, Riana Seminio, Robin, Ruby Tam, Saira Umar, Samantha Ho, Samantha Rabino, Samantha Zan, Sara Marigomen, Sarah Linyao Feng, Seah Kim, Seline Abanto, Seungmin Oh, Seungwon (Simon) Lee, Shelby Dela Cruz, Shivani Devi Gobalakichenin, So Youn Rebecca Jeon, Sofia Geck, Sonu Thomas, Sophie Martinez, Stephanie Sim, Sunny Karnan, Tessa Wijaya, Theresa Kao, Topher Ngo, Vanessa To, Vivian Le, Vy-Anh Nguyen, Xena Seo, Yayi Ding, and Zerlinda Lee. ABOUT THE PROGRAM Tea Leaves Last was developed through AIA’s TV Pilot Pre-Production Program (4P), an eight-month immersive lab built by animation industry professionals to simulate the structure of a traditional animation studio. Participants collaborated across every stage of development, from writers’ rooms and storyboarding to character design, world building, and post-production editing. The result is a fully realized pilot animatic that reflects studio-level standards and original storytelling. This initiative builds on AIA’s earlier short film training program under the Animation Industry Immersive Lab. The TV Pilot Pre-Production Program expands AIA’s original production slate. Future programs will focus on feature animation and CG pipelines, with each track designed to provide real-world training while centering Asian creatives in leading roles. WATCH THE PILOT ANIMATIC Tea Leaves Last premiered on May 21, 2025, and is now available to watch on the official Asians in Animation YouTube channel. Watch here: https://youtu.be/kkmCAIchVGg?si=wr-8MtaaHf5-SQ9O ABOUT ASIANS IN ANIMATION Asians in Animation (AIA) is the largest global community and accelerator for Asian talent in animation. Founded in 2020, AIA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers mentorship, career pipelines, and training for emerging professionals. With more than 6,000 members in over 90 countries, the organization is committed to empower talent, drive industry innovation, and helping the next generation of storytellers lead by creating long-term access and increasing visibility for Asian talent across all areas of the entertainment industry. Visit asiansinanimation.org for more information. PRESS CONTACT For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact: Chloe Trinidad Head of Distribution Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiansinanimation.org Asians in Animation Announces Executive Leadership Shift to Champion Asian Voices in Animation2/15/2024
 From left to right: Lexie Chu, Dani Yuan, Katie Dizon Los Angeles, CA, February 15, 2024 — Asians in Animation (AIA), the largest global nonprofit community dedicated to empowering Asian talent in the animation industry, proudly announces a major leadership evolution.
Lexie Chu, one of the organization’s four founders, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Dani Yuan steps into the role of Chief Operations Officer, and Katie Dizon is named Chief Strategy Officer. This leadership team marks the culmination of years of visionary planning since 2023 to strengthen AIA’s mission of creating representation through education and mentorship. Under Chu’s leadership as CEO, AIA has grown from a passionate grassroots collective to an industry powerhouse with over 5,000 members spanning every major animation hub worldwide. Chu’s unparalleled expertise in business development and strategic partnerships—honed through her tenures at Netflix and Skydance Animation—has been instrumental in building AIA’s operational foundation and launching high-impact initiatives like the Asians in Animation Career Summit and Immersive Lab Production Program. “I am incredibly thrilled to lead the future of Asians in Animation alongside Dani and Katie,” said Chu. “Dani’s leadership paves the way for others to shine—it’s effortless and empowering, and it’s helped us sustain a vibrant volunteer team over many years. Katie’s visionary strategy and deep industry knowledge have been essential in building programs that mentor emerging talents and unite the brightest creative minds year after year.” Dani Yuan brings a unique and formidable leadership style shaped by their seven years in the United States Marines with the elite 4th Force Reconnaissance team, where they served as communications chief on deployments to Iraq and Mauritania. Following military service, Dani transitioned into the safety and security sectors for global innovators such as Google, Nvidia, and Pixar before dedicating their expertise to organizing and leading communities. As AIA’s Chief Operations Officer, Dani leverages their passion for organization and operational excellence to expertly manage the nonprofit’s broad range of programs and sustain its growth. “Leading operations at Asians in Animation is about creating space for others to grow and succeed,” said Yuan. “Our volunteer team’s passion and dedication inspire me every day—it’s a privilege to help empower such an incredible community.” Katie Dizon, Chief Strategy Officer, is a seasoned animation industry professional with experience spanning Nickelodeon Animation and Sony Pictures Animation. She has played a pivotal role in shaping AIA’s production programs, including the Animation Industry Immersive Lab’s four core tracks: 2D Production, CG Production, Series Pre-Production, and Feature Pre-Production. Katie’s deep industry relationships and strategic insight have been invaluable in forging partnerships and creating unique opportunities that elevate Asian talent on screen and behind the scenes. “I’m honored to help build the future of AIA’s production programs,” said Katie. “Our mission to mentor emerging talent and bring together the brightest creative minds is more vital than ever. Together, we’re shaping a more inclusive and dynamic animation industry.” Together, this leadership trio guides a robust team of over 120 dedicated volunteers and inspires thousands of community members, all united by the shared vision of amplifying Asian voices within and beyond the animation industry. The organization pays special tribute to Andrea Kutcher, who recently stepped down after a long and impactful tenure as Executive Director. Her foundational work paved the way for this new chapter of dynamic growth and empowerment. Asians in Animation remains steadfast in its commitment to providing mentorship, education, and career development to the communities and talents who need it most—continuing to lead the way toward a more vibrant, diverse, and inclusive animation industry. ABOUT ASIANS IN ANIMATION Asians in Animation (AIA) is the largest global community and accelerator for Asian talent in animation. Founded in 2020, AIA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers mentorship, career pipelines, and training for emerging professionals. With more than 6,000 members in over 90 countries, the organization is committed to empower talent, drive industry innovation, and helping the next generation of storytellers lead by creating long-term access and increasing visibility for Asian talent across all areas of the entertainment industry. Visit asiansinanimation.org for more information. |
