Kezia Khomasurya
BA (Hons) Animation, 2012
Singapore
Bristol itself was as beautiful as it had appeared during my research; it’s a vibrant and artsy city, while being smaller than London, and for where I was in my life at the time it was perfect. “
I loved drawing from a young age and was known as the “artsy kid” at school. Even then, I sensed that animation was what I wanted to pursue, though I could not yet fully define it. My father sent me to art school to study fine art, but I quickly realised that traditional painting and technical instruction alone were not enough for me. I wanted something that combined creativity, storytelling, and visual expression in a broader way. As I grew older and became more fascinated by films and visual storytelling, I finally understood that animation was the perfect fit.
At the time, I was living in Indonesia as a Chinese Indonesian, though I had been born in Singapore and also held Canadian citizenship through my father. Interested in studying in Singapore, I explored different colleges and eventually found a lecturer who convinced me that animation would merge my love of art with filmmaking and storytelling. I enrolled at Temasek Polytechnic in the early 2000s, when Pixar films such as Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille were dominating animation culture.
Initially, I preferred traditional hand-drawn art and looked down on digital artists who lacked drawing skills. However, I soon discovered the incredible possibilities of digital tools and embraced them fully. At Temasek, we studied animation, film, and video production with the aim of preserving the beauty of hand-drawn animation within the digital era. Although traditional animation remains beloved, the industry has largely shifted towards CGI because of cost, efficiency, and audience expectations.
Temasek’s practical, hands-on approach helped me develop technical animation skills. A lecturer from Manchester encouraged me to continue my studies at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol, where I could transfer my credits and complete my degree more quickly. Drawn both by the programme and by the idea of living in the UK, I graduated from Temasek in 2010 and moved to Bristol the following year.
Studying in the UK was transformative. Bristol was vibrant, artistic, and culturally exciting. More importantly, I found myself surrounded by students who were deeply passionate about creativity. Unlike many students I had encountered in Singapore, who often pursued education mainly for grades or expectations, my classmates at UWE genuinely loved storytelling and artistic experimentation.
While I arrived with strong technical skills, I realised I lacked confidence in storytelling and imagination. At UWE, I learned that animation is not only about mastering software but also about creating meaningful stories. My classmates inspired me with their willingness to experiment and pursue ideas even when they lacked technical certainty. That environment taught me the importance of creativity, originality, and thinking beyond limitations.
After graduating, I returned to Singapore due to a government tuition grant obligation. I worked first in animation, then as a producer, and later in graphic design and digital media. Producing showed me I had managerial abilities beyond creative work, though the demanding pace eventually led to burnout. In 2018, I returned briefly to the UK before the pandemic brought me back to Singapore in 2020.
Over the years, I have worked across animation, production, and design, refusing to be boxed into a single identity. My future plans include pursuing a master’s degree in Business Management in Arizona to combine creativity with leadership skills. I believe animation and media remain among the world’s most powerful storytelling tools, capable of transcending language and culture. My advice to others is simple: do not let yourself be confined by labels. Step outside your comfort zone, embrace new experiences, and create your own path.
Returning to Malaysia in 2014, I completed my chambering in civil litigation at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill, one of the country’s largest law firms, before being called to the Malaysian Bar in 2015. In 2020, I established my own civil litigation practice. Running a firm and mentoring younger lawyers has reinforced one key lesson: academic qualifications alone are not enough. A strong CV, effective communication skills, and professionalism are essential in securing opportunities. Above all, success in law depends not only on intelligence, but also on character, values, and integrity.
