Hsiang Chin Moe

“You’re back. That is everything.” 回來就好 This was the quiet theme of 2025. I did not know how much those words could hold. Now I carry them with me into 2026, ready to offer them back to those beside me. We are here again. And being here is enough. When there was nothing left to lose, something else began to surface. Pulled forward by forces and held still by moments of helplessness, even roofless ones, I learned to lower my head and face what I had scattered along the way. Unspoken emotions. Pieces of identity. Things I thought were gone. When I finally looked up, I realized I was not alone. People had been there all along. Saying nothing. Offering everything. Holding space. Gently reminding me, without words, that I had always had a home I could return to. Not a place, but a feeling. Something steady. Something warm. Step after step. Always moving toward that brief opening at the mountaintop, where the world widens and the heart softens. What mattered was rebuilt. You returned. We returned. In finding our way back to the beginning with honesty, something lasting quietly took shape. The version of me I thought had been lost is on its way back too. There is relief in knowing we are here. Together. Cheers to 2026. 新年快樂

The tiny fairies slip between roots and shadows of giant trees, dancing and singing along their hidden paths. They appear only when they feel like it, carrying the pure joy of being found. And honestly, so do we. Huge thanks to wise Antonio for revealing this secret corner of the world, and to my road-trip buddies for wandering the wonder with me. I’ll be back to hunt for more fairies and who knows, I might turn into one… if you let me. 🧚‍♀️💕🌲

This year at @annecyfestival , I sat next to @rebeccasugar at the @wia.animation luncheon. It was not the first time we had met, but it was the first time we shared a meal together. I desperately wanted to invite her back to meet our @svanyc students, but I was trying very hard to play it cool. Before I could even find the courage to ask, she turned to me and said, “One of the songs I wrote, called Ice Water, is about my life at SVA as an art student. Can I go back to SVA and share it with everyone?” My brain froze, but my head nodded over and over. On November 8, 2025. Rebecca returned to SVA with her creative partners Ian Jones-Quartey ( @ianjq ), Chris Burns ( @exit73studios ), and Alex Myung ( @alexmyung ); all @svanycalumni . Their presence was truly magical. Through the making of Ice Water, This is a Love Song and Hill to Die On, they shared thoughtful, honest, and remarkably generous reflections on their creative journeys. The day ended with Rebecca’s intimate and heartfelt performances, which filled the room with emotion and created a moment none of us will ever forget. The space was full of talented friends who came together to celebrate animation, music, art, beauty, truth, and partnership. We were reminded of how powerful and meaningful community can be and how deeply it matters now and for many years to come. Standing on stage as the host, I had flashbacks of the last five years being the chair of @svabfaanimation with so many challenges, setbacks, and a great deal of personal loss. But the Lonely Magic event is healing and evokes something far stronger. Love rises above every hardship. Love fills the room, lifts the heart, and gives meaning to every bit of work we do together. The cheers, the appreciation, the laughter, and the tears we shared were beyond anything I imagined. They were beautiful because they came from our students, our alumni, our faculty, our staff, and everyone who believes in what we are building collaboratively. #AniFam and beyond is real! I never chose animation, yet it has become one of the most purposeful parts of my life. It led me to meet extraordinary people whom I now call my people. I hope I am your person, too. ❤️

So much joy seeing our @svanyc @svabfaanimation @sva3danimationvfx family blooming at @lightboxexpo ! Our students becoming artists, alumni finding their voices, and teachers shining with their own creations. Every smile and spark filled me with pride and happiness. You are all writing such bright chapters, and I love watching them unfold. 💫💛 Extra love to the alumni who ran over to say hi and saved me from getting lost in Pasadena! 🤪 Awesome seeing the lovely and smiley faces of: @artab.ananf @kirbyallen @itspollyguo @patten_pending @heyddderek @tortietoon @maru_pilla @kangminlim_art @levmaxine7 @serncernsern @paintbucketfool @nashnatta @grasshaha @servankenyu @nurvawna @nikkibehjat @k.dizoro @snowysalad @discount099 @up_for_gabs

@lightboxexpo is a swirl of art, heart, and the people who make both shine. No levels, no ladders, just all of us on the same floor, mingling, giggling, discovering, and falling in love again with the beauty of creation and the souls behind the screens. 💕 This year, I feel like one of the luckiest peeps alive, surrounded by friends I adore, and who, rumor says, adore me right back. If you are reading this, yes, it is you. Wink! 😚

We are taught to face ahead but what if ahead isn’t where our hearts dream to reside? Let’s turn away gently and bravely for just a brief moment to feel alive. Then, we go wherever we want!

Overlooking the Tamsui Harbor, a man called to his pigeons. He raised his flags gently, a ritual passed down through generations. His birds responded not by landing, but by circling, again and again, tethered by something unseen. They never flew too far, yet they didn’t return either. Not until a final burst of fireworks cracked through the sky, sparking memory like a door being knocked on from within. Then, one by one, they came home. Watching love in motion as how we orbit the people and places we belong to. Testing distance and trusting the pull. Sometimes, we need a sign to return. And sometimes, home waits quietly beneath the sky, arms raised, never forcing, just calling.

This is an auto-reply from my sun-soaked soul. Currently waltzing into the wild with 5% brainpower and 0.6% inbox access. If it’s urgent, I dare you to find me in the forest. Bring snacks. And rhythm. If you do catch me, grab my hands and let’s dance like the credits are rolling. Happy summer solstice 🌞, you beautiful weirdos!

Thirteen @annecyfestival trips in, and this one felt lighter, warmer, and full of heart. Emotions ran wild; laughing one minute, crying the next. I was lucky to be surrounded by dreamers who live for stories and breathe animation like it is pure joy. We did not just watch life go by. We rewrote it, together, with extra sparkles, a touch of chaos, and a whole lot of love. One day, we followed a French hill wizard (yes, he is real and in the form of Antoniochrist) and found ourselves on a mountaintop. With the sun above and the lake below, we discovered magic in the space between where we thought we were going and where we beautifully arrived. Thank you, Annecy, and to all the friends I shared it with. For the wonder, the mischief, and the mosaic we became.

😱 I DID IT!!! 😭 Wrapping up the last spring session with landing #RocktoFakie all by myself! Skateboarding is about letting go of fear, self-doubt, and all the noisy thoughts whispering about injury and disaster. It’s also about letting go of Pei’s hands (thanks always 💖), stepping out of the comfort zone, and just being. Sure, I totally slammed my butt right after this clip 😂 so who knows when I’ll land it again. And I know this trick is and should be so easy… But today, I’m celebrating this moment. I stuck with it. I tried. I did it. 🛹💪✨ Bwahahahah!

Two weeks ago, I had the honor of sending off the Class of 2025, our largest graduating class yet. They hold a very special place in my heart because we experienced so many “firsts” together, including our new labs, an updated curriculum, and a growing team. I was overwhelmed with emotion after celebrating their animated short films, and this photo and video captured a true moment that reflects the relationship I have with my students… They are really the ones taking care of me. 😊 The roles are not exactly reversed, but it speaks to how our #AniFam is built on trust, support, and genuine care for one another. Okay, fine. 😜 It is also a poetic way of admitting that I cried a lot! 😭 Here is an excerpt from my speech at our Animation Celebration: “Dear Class of 2025, I’m incredibly grateful for your trust in me, in @svabfaanimation , and in @svanyc to support you both creatively and academically. Graduation may feel like a huge milestone, and it is. But years from now, when you look back, you might realize it was just a sparkle. A fleeting, shining moment. Still, I want you to know that this sparkle has brought so much light and life to me, to our team, and to the faculty. For that, we thank you. Saying goodbye is hard! What comes after today may feel uncertain, even a little scary. But you are not alone. If you could make it through this journey, there is nothing you cannot do. This #AniFam will always be your home away from home.” I wish I could tag all 114 of you! Congratulations! ❤️ Special thanks to @thisisntjimmy for being the most amazing partner 🙇🏻‍♀️ because I really couldn’t survive the last 5 years without you.

Still caught between seasons, while Mother Earth holds her breath. A moment suspended between what has passed and what is yet to come. Like petals on water, we float, but not aimlessly. The turning of seasons happens seamlessly and gently, yet the world we live in stands in a more dramatic pause. Change is no longer a choice, but a necessity.