Storyboard Artist Crystal Kan discusses why she’s a “comedy Swiss army knife” for her craft, the Guild experiences that led her to become a Shop Steward, and her commitment to being a safe space where TAG members can share their concerns.
Name: Crystal Kan
Job Title: Storyboard Artist
Production: President Curtis
Contact Info: stewards-prezcurt@tag839.org
Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
As a Jersey kid, I’ve always had a passion for visual storytelling, making comics and animation as a vehicle for comedy. It wasn’t a smooth ride, graduating from a state college with an art degree during the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. I spent a few years in tech retail while being an unpaid animation intern, freelancer, and web-comic artist.
Eventually, I decided to “YOLO” across the country to Los Angeles for greener pastures and took a bunch of storyboard classes to up my skills. I finally landed my first paid storyboard gig in 2016 and then my first Union gig in 2017. Over the last decade, I hopped around a bunch of Union studios, working on 2D and CG shows for pre-school, kids, and adults. At this point, I’m like a comedy Swiss army knife for storyboards!
Crystal with the TAG Tax Incentive Task Force at the Assembly Revenue and Tax Committee Hearing in Sacramento in 2025.
What do you love most about working in animation?
I love working together with kind, funny, and skilled people who are passionate about art and storytelling. Since I usually end up on comedies, it’s extra fun when we’re all trying to make each other laugh either through drawings or jokes.
Crystal debuting the Taggy puppet at the Rally 4 Animation in 2022.
Why did you volunteer to serve as a Shop Steward?
When I was first at Nickelodeon in 2018, I sat a few cubes down from one of the Shop Stewards at our studio. While on that show, I saw my first Master Agreement negotiations as a regular member and asked my Shop Steward a gazillion questions during that whole process. That sparked my interest in getting involved with union activism, learning more about The Animation Guild, serving on the Executive Board, volunteering for negotiations, running events, and doing political advocacy for our members. I figured these actions were a more productive use of my time, and it actually is making positive changes in the animation community. Now that I’ve acquired all this knowledge over the years, I can pay it forward and educate more members about our Union!
TAG Tuesday at Nickelodeon in August of 2018.
As a Shop Steward, what are your priorities in helping TAG Members at your studio?
I like to keep an open door/desk/DM policy for TAG members because oftentimes it’s hard to navigate all the intricacies of our industry. I try my best to be a trusted resource for TAG members and offer support when requested. Sometimes people just need a safe space to vent and talk things through so we can figure out a viable path forward. No matter what, I let the member decide for themselves what they want to do, and I am here to help.
Learn more about Crystal on her website.
Follow her on Instagram.