Steve Ahn has wanted to work in animation since junior high.
For anyone looking to work in animation its a dream job.
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Flooded with offers he turned them all down.
He actually stopped counting after fifteen.
He knows how cheesy this sounds but,
This is my destiny.
When you talk to Steve Ahn its like youre speaking to a real life anime character.
No, he doesnt have crazy hair or pilot a giant robot.
Growing up in Korea, Ahn loved watching animated shows and dreamed of creating his own.
However, he never dreamed of working for companies like Disney, Pixar or even DreamWorks.
I think that was why it was easy for me to leave.
It wasnt about reputation or fame.
It was about creating and craftsmanship.
For years Ahn honed his skills onVoltron: Legendary Defender.
It was there he slowly discovered the kinds of stories he wanted to tell.
Making things go into a deeper personal level of a characters emotion and directing dramatic moments.
Those are the areas that I really, really enjoy.
Unfortunately the American animation industry isnt usually interested in those kinds of stories.
(Ahn speaks to a group of art atudents at San Jose State University.
Image courtesy ofSteve Ahns Instagram.)
Ahn slowly developed several pitches, includingBlossom Detective Holmes, for several years.
Since crime mysteries often involve murder and blood, he knew hed have to make it himself.
It was sad leaving all his friends behind but having creative freedom was worth it.
It was scary at first but the story ofBlossom Detective Holmeswas burning inside him.
I really like Sherlock Holmes so what if I created a very similar vibe?
I also kind of wanted to create a character thats well known to fans already.
Its a kind of prequel of Sherlock Holmes.
(Skylar and Jamie) are connected to Sherlock Holmes and Watson.
Her weakness however is the smell of blood.
This is why, unlike Sherlocks pipe, she keeps a flower in her mouth.
It protects her nose from the smell of blood.
Unlike Holmes, who chases after the invisible evidence of scent, the meticulous Jamie chases after visible evidence.
Could this criminal be tied to Skylars trauma?
Skylar and Jamie are heavily inspired by Ahns two daughters.
My first one is one is definitely very tomboyish, Ahn says.
Skylar is a fun loving, tomboyish character.
My second daughter is very feminine.
Jamie likes to wear dresses and make-up.
Im not really into creating a show where the story really doesnt continue, like a sitcom Ahn says.
I think your life is a long journey and characters have a long history.
Long format is great for that.
The characters will be beacons of light in a dark world.
I think it will be pretty similar to Korra and Voltron, Ahn says.
Its just there will be things like blood and guns.
Things the major studios dont allow.
He wrote, storyboarded, directed, animated, and composited every frame of his short over three months.
Blossom Detective Holmeswas eventually completed in November of 2017 and shown in a limited screening online.
Now the plan is to finish the rest of the pilot with help fromKickstarter.
I want to work with people who are a strong force in TV, Ahn says.
Former team Voltron or team Korra people.
Good people from well-known industry studios.
Any funds Ahn cant raise, hell just work on those parts himself even if it takes much longer.
Ahn is putting his heart and soul out into the word.
Other artists might worry theyve made the wrong decision at some point but Ahn says hes fearless.
This is what I want to do, he says.
Every day is joyful.
Every day I feel Im going in the right direction.
I know there are people who want to see this kind of show.
No jokes like in a sitcom where you forget what happens.
More than anything Ahn wants this story and its characters to affect people.
Be courageous but its not about being rebellious and being mean to the world.
Being courageous can mean you accept forgiveness.
There are many ways to be courageous.
Every human being has a story.
Everyone has pain and trauma.
I just want to say… its very cheesy but love is the answer.
One could even say that message is his destiny.
