Sung Jin Ahn is the supervising director for The Legend of Vox Machina at animation studio, Titmouse. We spoke to Sung Jin Ahn about his experience on the show, the collaborative animation process, and more.

Interview with Sung Jin Ahn

Jenna: Can you please tell our readers a bit about who you are and your background?

Sung Jin Ahn: My name is Sung Jin Ahn. And I’ve been working in the animation industry for about 15 years. I started my career early at Titmouse as a prop designer on a show called Metalocalypse. Over the years, I focused my talents into storyboarding, which helped me break into directing while still young in my career. Since then, I have been fortunate enough to nurture a long lasting relationship with Titmouse, which has provided really cool opportunities to direct on shows like TMNT, Deathstroke, and now The Legend of Vox Machina.

Jenna: Did you always want to work in animation?

Sung Jin Ahn: Absolutely. From a very young age, I had a strong passion and love for animation. I was the kid that was always doodling on the side of their worksheets in class. I even got sent to the principal’s office on a few occasions because of it.

Jenna: Can you walk me through your role as a supervising producer and director at Titmouse?

Sung Jin Ahn: My role encompasses a pretty broad scope. First, it’s about building a good relationship with other creators and showrunners that are entering into the world of animation production. Once I get to learn about their ambitions and goals, I mold those ideas into a firm creative culture that becomes the identifiable language of a project/show. This helps with finding the right artists and informs them on what to expect and what is also expected of them.

From there, I am involved in every part of the animation process. From script, storyboards, design input, to final animation in Post Production. Best metaphor is a captain of a ship: leading the crew (artists) on the best path forward to meet our destination.

Jenna: Have you worked on The Legend of Vox Machina from the inception of the series?

Sung Jin Ahn: Yes. I was first introduced to Critical Role with their Kickstarter campaign. That is when I learned what D&D was and also what Critical Role was about. After the success of the Kickstarter campaign, myself and other talented artists started development on the animated series. We learned about the deep lore that Critical Role had built so far, and worked to find the right balance in the visual representation of both the world and its characters.

Jenna: When I spoke with creative director, Alexei Bochenek, at San Diego Comic Con, he discussed the intense collaborative process it takes to bring an animated series to life; from the different visions potential artists bring to the table, to what the creators of the characters have in mind.

Can you tell me about the collaborative process behind The Legend of Vox Machina?

Sung Jin Ahn: The creative process on Vox Machina has been the most fulfilling and fun experience in my entire career. The Critical Role cast are always so excited and passionate, and they allow a lot of freedom of interpretation from the artists. Whenever we get together for meetings or reviews, it really does boil down to a bunch of nerds trying to make something really cool. Very simple and pure. 

Jenna: How involved were the Critical Role cast in the animation process?

Sung Jin Ahn: The cast are always present in the process. Especially when we are trying to nail down any aspects about their own characters. But they also understand that too many voices can muddle the creative process. So we keep in contact with Travis and Sam for the day-to-day aspects. And reach out to the other cast members for milestone reviews and decisions. It feels like a good balance, and everyone’s voice has just as much impact.

Jenna: Were there moments where creators’ visions were at odds? If so, how did you navigate them?

Sung Jin Ahn: There is always a bit of interpretation when translating a flushed out story into a whole new visual medium. So we did a fair bit of problem solving and compromising during the process of the animated series. But I am really grateful that the Critical Role cast were always compassionate and understanding, never hesitating to offer other solutions or options. This is so crucial when making such a big ambitious show like Vox Machina. I wouldn’t say that there are any big specific moments that stand out to me. Most of the experiences boil down to: “How can we make this animation friendly?”

Jenna: What are/have been some of the most difficult aspects of animating The Legend Vox Machina?

Sung Jin Ahn: Definitely having seven main characters is a big challenge. And the bear. The bear is the cherry on top.

Jenna: What are you most proud of with your work on the upcoming season 3 of Vox Machina?

Sung Jin Ahn: Animation is a very challenging and fragile process. Even after 15 years, I still feel like I haven’t mastered it. But seeing how amazing Vox Machina has turned out, being ambitious season after season, I am most proud of the team that has grown and bonded from this process. Both here and with our overseas partners, Production Reve. It truly takes a collection of many talented artists and individuals to accomplish such an amazing show. And that in itself, is a true blessing and a gift.

Season 3 of The Legend of Vox Machina

Everything is at stake in the long-awaited Season 3 of The Legend of Vox Machina. The Chroma Conclave’s path of destruction spreads like wildfire while the Cinder King hunts down Vox Machina. Our lovable band of misfits must rise above inner (and outer) demons to try and save their loved ones, Tal’Dorei, and all of Exandria.

About Titmouse

Since its inception nearly 25 years ago, Titmouse has evolved into an award-winning, multi-hyphenated animation studio and pop culture brand. Some of the studio’s most celebrated recent projects include Big Mouth, The Legend of Vox Machina, and The Venture Bros. With the strength of a major studio and the mindset of an indie company, Titmouse is one of the most well-known animation studios in the world. Titmouse challenges the idea of what an animation company can look like by focusing on comedy, subversive and counterculture communities. The company has also expanded into other avenues for fans to enjoy including merchandise, live shows and events, festivals, interactive experiences, and so much more.