Melissa Ishihara

Melissa Ishihara is a Canadian-based illustrator and motion designer whose art is inspired by early 2000s media and flat graphics. She enjoys designing distinct characters with striking compositions and animating them into visual stories that come to life through motion design.

Her practice focuses on character-driven illustration, designing cute, lively girls, and exploring how animation can add personality and narrative. Outside of work, you can find her enjoying horror movies, ice skating, or crafting jewellery. Melissa hopes to continue developing her skills in 2D animation and work on projects that combine illustration, character design, and motion.

Girlfriends

A wallpaper collection project exploring how motion design, illustration, and a little bit of coding can create an immersive experience right on your desktop.

College Firsts

These postcards are designed to be sent home to celebrate milestones like your first college party, your first internship, or other moments of growth during your time in college. Rooted in the simple idea of staying connected, the postcards give students a way to share their experiences away from home while maintaining a sense of closeness with their families.

Maria & Dudu

A story that follows Maria, who meets a fairy prince named Dudu in the streets of São Paulo. Discover how, through bravery and courage, she overthrew the prince’s fairy godmothers. A retelling of the Scottish ballad of Tam Lin.