Bikram was bit by the animation bug at a young age and tried to emulate the style of shows and movies from all around the world in his non-stop doodling. Nothing was safe from the overabundance of ideas spewing from his overactive imagination, whether that be a piece of scrap paper, the blacktop with some chalk, or the neighbor’s dog. Sorry, Pickles!

Growing up as a first-generation immigrant in a family of six, art was not really considered a viable option as a career. Courses such as math and English were at the forefront of priorities as was becoming an engineer. However, waking up to Saturday morning cartoons with a giant bowl of cereal lit an unquenchable appetite for art and animation that could never be quelled.

Alongside completing the standard educational courses, he also undertook many art courses in order to convince his parents, and mostly himself, that a profession in art was a possibility. Thankfully, however, after many years of proving he was a capable well-rounded student, he was granted the opportunity of being accepted into the Animation/Illustration program at San Jose State. Alongside being accepted in such an amazing program, he was also a part of the Shrunkenheadman Club where he finally met his people and felt like a place where he belonged. Working alongside those with similar aspirations and goals inspired him to grow each day.

Upon graduating with a Bachelors in Animation/Illustration, he headed back to his hometown in Sacramento to find a career in any art related field since breaking into the animation industry proved to be much more challenging. He enjoyed creating graphic designs and fabricating props for various clients but knew deep down that was not what he ultimately wanted to keep doing. There was no other choice, he had to go back to his roots in storytelling and animation.

Thus began the journey of going back to the fundamentals and further educate himself about cinematography, life studies, reviewing notes from past mentors/instructors, and applying everything he had learned so far to become a better artist. He even acquired a zoo pass and made mandatory weekly zoo drawing trips to help him become a better draftsman. He was learning so many aspects of story that had previously alluded him which led him from one discovery to another and snowballed into a runaway train that could not be stopped.

Storyboard after storyboard, design after design, he kept at it. After the long journey of countless days of studying his craft, growing as an artist throughout all, and never giving up, he was finally selected for the Nick Artist Program! The sheer excitement could not be contained or explained by any words. The dream of working and learning from the amazing individuals at Nickelodeon had finally at last come true!