Thirada “Tida” Kangwankiattichai

LAYOUT ARTIST, WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS; CONTRIBUTOR, MOANA 2

Industry : The Arts

Thirada “Tida” Kangwankiattichai is a Thai layout artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios, recognised for her contributions to the film Disney’s Moana 2. Born and raised in Bangkok, Kangwankiattichai developed an early passion for drawing and cinema, often collecting DVDs during her school years. Despite this interest, she initially pursued a degree in logistics engineering at Silpakorn University as animation was not a prominent career path in Thailand at the time.

In 2014, Kangwankiattichai moved to Vancouver, Canada to attend the Vancouver Film School where she studied 3D Animation and Visual Effects. This decision marked a turning point as she realised animation could be a viable profession. After completing her studies, she gained experience working on various projects including DC League of Super-Pets and Leo from Netflix. In 2023, she joined Disney as a layout artist, a role that involves determining camera angles, animating characters, arranging lighting and adding effects to convey the story effectively.

Her work on Moana 2 was particularly challenging due to tight deadlines and the high quality expected. Kangwankiattichai employed techniques like Enhance Depth to create balanced compositions and carefully planned camera movements to enhance storytelling. She views animation as a blend of art, technology and storytelling, aligning with her creative aspirations. Kangwankiattichai hopes her achievements inspire other Thai animators and creatives to pursue their passions in the animation industry.