Junjie “Jake” Zhang is an award-winning independent animation artist, illustrator and educator living in Hong Kong. He likes to explore and develop different visual styles to express his artistic opinions and stories. Most of his films are dark-humorous, ironic, and fantastic, reflecting social and political issues indirectly. Jake Zhang holds a BA in Digital Media from China Central Academy of Fine Arts and a MFA in Animation and Digital Arts from University of Southern California. His films have been awarded and selected in festivals all over the world, including Jury Award in 55th Ann Arbor Film Festival (2017), Storytelling Designation Winner in Adobe Design and Achievement Award (2015), Gold Award in Animation Support Program, Distinction Award in Athens Animation Festival (2016), etc.

After serving as Professor of Animation at Savannah College of Art and Design for five years, he is now one of founding faculties and Assistant Professor of Practice at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Computational Media and Art thrust area. His recent research interests include storytelling in virtual reality, screen design & world building strategies, Creator & user experience in process of creating. Besides, he founded his artist studio Jake Weird Power in Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre in August 2019.