At just 24 years old, 2D animator and freelance illustrator Tajha Winkle has garnered remarkable success, showcasing a talent worthy of international broadcast. The Jamaican creative recalls seeing signs of her career path in childhood, where she loved telling stories and was obsessed with cartoons. However, it wasn’t until the 11th grade, while contemplating her future career, that the idea of becoming an animator was presented to her. Initially considering law and journalism, she felt naturally drawn to the arts and pursued a BFA in animation at the University of the West Indies (UWI). She graduated with first-class honors in 2021, amidst the pandemic, having already started freelance work and fiercely determined to make a name for herself in the industry.
Since then, Tajha’s portfolio has grown impressively, with her work being featured on prestigious platforms like Sesame Street. Recounting her first ‘big break,’ she detailed being approached by local animator George Hay to join a team pitching for Sesame Street’s number blocks segment. Despite the stress of her final year exams at UWI, she accepted the proposal, forming a team with George and her classmate Chevon Irving. Their successful pitch and subsequent production experience were both challenging and deeply rewarding. “Once we got over that and we got it on the screen, it was like, ‘Wow, I feel like I can take on anything at this point,’” she reflects.
Tajha’s early success, which she attributes to “a mixture of circumstance and determination,” has been confidence-boosting, even emboldening her to approach other big companies and feel open to other prominent prospects. With this positive mindset and attitude, Tajha is always seeking to outdo herself: amidst highly competent candidates, she knows she has something unique to offer.
“Even if I don’t feel as qualified as another candidate, I have something to bring to the table. I keep that confidence and try to relay that to all my clients because, hey, there’s a reason you’re interested in my work. And maybe I haven’t reached a certain point as other candidates, but I know that I can deliver for you and that’s most important,” she noted.
Self-assured, focused and driven, Tajha has built a favorable reputation in a supportive, yet highly competitive field. Thankfully, the animation community in Jamaica, according to Tajha, is close knit and “extremely caring.” She noted that her peers are always looking out for each other, ensuring that opportunities for work and fair remuneration are accessible to others.
“There are lots of group chats with fellow animators and we share knowledge, we share experience, we help each other find jobs, and we’re always pulling each other in on projects. It’s an extremely supportive community and I’m really lucky for that,” she said. Internationally, however, she noted that competition for work is much fiercer and the environment is more fast-paced, with “aggressive deadlines” often being the norm.
Tajha’s ultimate career goal is to become an art director, driven by a desire to bring teams together and create something beautiful. “I think that art that’s not driven by that kind of ego but that’s driven by community is always a much better-received product,” she asserted.
In terms of business acumen, Tajha is well-prepared. Her diverse educational background includes subjects in economics, management of business, sociology, and digital marketing certifications from Google. Valuing continuous learning, she actively seeks resources to invest in herself. For instance, she frequently listens to business podcasts and applies tips she’s learned to managing her business. From her experience, though, word-of-mouth marketing has been an extremely effective strategy for growing clientele, with whom she cultivates strong, professional relationships.
Tajha’s niche in children’s animation is a deliberate choice, as she recognized a gap in the Jamaican market. “We want to see stuff that reflects our own society,” she explained, emphasizing her commitment to creating culturally relevant content:
“I chose this niche specifically in Jamaica because I realized that most of our animated stuff is not actually for children; it’s for adults or for PSAs. I realized that there weren’t really a lot of people doing that, especially in terms of educational content that’s also fun for children. So I decided, okay, I think that this is something that I’m good at because my art style is very cute…”
Despite current challenges, Tajha remains optimistic about the future of Caribbean animation on global platforms like Netflix. She believes that coming together as a region to pitch ideas collectively can help showcase regional work to larger organizations. She noted that there are already notable projects from Jamaica, such as those by Listen Mi, a local studio that collaborates with international organizations like Giphy, and the animated/live-action hybrid “Black Girl in the Ring,” directed by Saeed Thomas.
Ultimately, Tajha Winkle’s career wins are a testament to her skill and something much deeper — the life changing power of determination and self-belief. As such, she is undoubtedly poised for greater and exponential success. After all, she doesn’t just envision excellence, she sets it in motion.
This feature is part of our podcast ‘Tagged: A Business Tips & Triumphs Series,’ designed to promote creative women in business. To learn more about Tajha Winkle and her professional offerings, please visit the links provided below:
Check out Tajha Winkle’s portfolio: https://ahjat1.wixsite.com/tajhawinkleportfolio
Connect with Tajha Winkle: https://linktr.ee/Tajha_Winkle
