Pasadena Convention Center
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Mai Shirai (She/Her)

Storyboard Artist Animator
Mai Shirai is a Japanese-American animator, storyboard artist, and visual storyteller with a passion for creating emotionally resonant characters and worlds. Throughout her career, she has contributed to a wide range of animated projects, bringing a strong foundation in character acting, visual development, and cinematic storytelling to every production. Mai served as an animator on the award-winning animated short film Odd Dog (2019), where her expressive character work helped bring the film’s heartfelt story to life. She later joined the creative team behind Oren’s Way (2023) as a story artist, helping shape the film’s narrative through compelling visual storytelling. Oren’s Way went on to become Oscar-qualified in 2025. Known for her thoughtful approach to character-driven stories and collaborative spirit, Mai enjoys exploring the intersection of emotion, humor, and visual narrative. She is passionate about supporting independent animation and helping create meaningful stories that connect with audiences around the world.

PARTICIPANT SCHEDULE

Frame by Frame: The Greyscale Animation Journey

Room 204 | Keika Lee | Eun Bi Chang | Lexy Harvas | Mai Shirai

Join the creators behind “Odd Dog” and the Oscar-qualified “Oren’s Way” for a behind-the-scenes look at the journey of making independent animated short films. From early concept to final frame, the panel explores the creative, technical, and emotional process of bringing unique stories to life at Greyscale Animation. Plus a special sneak peek at our futures projects!

Skill Level: General Audience

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