YiFei Pei

houdini artist / 3D generalist

Arts / Entertainment / Publishing

Raleigh, Raleigh

Services offered

CG Generalist / specialized in FX

Like many others who entered this industry, I’ve always carried a dream of working in film. While Avatar and Harry Potter inspired many of my peers (In fact, I missed seeing Avatar in theaters because I was too busy in high school 😢), it was Pacific Rim and Michael Bay’s first Transformers that truly ignited my passion for visual effects.

Over the years, I’ve worked with a variety of tools, including Houdini, Maya, 3ds Max, and Nuke — but Houdini has always been my favorite. I’m especially drawn to its node-based, procedural workflow, which strikes a perfect balance between logic and creativity.

My focus is on developing procedural tools and FX setups to create a wide range of effects and modeling as well as some CFX, such as cloth simulation and character soft body explosions. These effects have been featured in productions like The Flash, Horizon, and One Piece.

Recently, I’ve been actively learning Unreal Engine, with a particular focus on integrating procedural asset workflows into real-time production pipelines

software: Houdini, Maya, 3Dmax, Nuke, After Effects.

3d generalist

Houdini artist

Visual effects artist

Fx artist

Approximate rate: USD$ 45 per hour

Experience

I began my career in FX, working on large-scale simulations and R&D for projects such as The Flash, Horizon: An American Saga, and Netflix’s One Piece. Over time, I have shifted my focus toward environment creation. I see myself as a 3D generalist with a focus on procedural environments, and my FX background strengthens my ability to simulate natural phenomena, enhance realism, and develop tools for efficient production. Recently, I have also been expanding my skills in Unreal Engine, exploring real-time environment building to remain versatile across both film and interactive pipelines.

Education

I graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a master's degree., specializing in Visual Effects with a focus on Houdini. In addition to my passion for simulation and procedural workflows, digital environments, lighting and unreal engine.

My academic journey began with a B.A. in Digital Media Art, where I gained a broad understanding of film production, including directing, shooting, and post-production. During my junior year, I discovered 3D software and quickly developed a strong interest in visual effects—an experience that led me to shift my career path and pursue it wholeheartedly. I’m continually inspired by the creative and technical challenges in VFX and am excited to keep pushing my skills forward in this field.