INTERVIEW
With some special effects and a vivid imagination, Mitchel Wu brings toy figures to life, revealing a different side to these iconic characters
When preparing for this interview, the discussion at the Digital Photographer office inevitably turned to the cartoon characters that inspired us when we were young. Whatever their background, it’s a topic that connects people and, despite growing up on the other side of the World, Mitchel Wu’s work features many of the characters that influenced our childhoods.
As we spoke to the Los Angeles-based Wu by video call, the toy figures sitting on shelves in the background reminded us of the movie Toy Story, with Wu resembling the human main character, Andy. However, whereas Andy is an ordinary kid who plays with his toys until they come to life when he leaves the room, Wu is the one bringing the toys’ characters to life. “As I work, I find myself in the same thought process I had as a child when I played with toys – weaving stories and pushing forward,” he says. “I’m rediscovering the joy, reconnecting with my 10-year-old self, while enjoying the creative freedom of writing my own stories – that’s what drives me.”
Wu has a unique approach to storytelling. Using a range of toys, props and special effects, he tells an alternative story of the characters, often with an added sense of humour. Here, he explains how he creates these miniature worlds around the figures and how he carved out a career in this field.
