When Silence Speaks Louder Than Words: Nimberly’s Quiet Universe on YouTube

In this feature, we explore Nimberly, an animated character created by Kimberly Placide, whose quiet presence creates a world of stillness, subtle storytelling, and emotional resonance. What began as a personal exploration in self-portraiture has grown into a fully realized animated universe on YouTube, where every frame reflects Kimberly’s meticulous attention to detail, her introspective approach, and her ability to communicate complex emotions without words.

Kimberly’s practice spans multiple mediums, blending drawing, animation, and visual storytelling to build immersive narratives that are at once intimate and universally relatable. Nimberly embodies the power of silence in art, showing how stillness can convey meaning, emotion, and narrative in ways that dialogue sometimes cannot. Through her work, Kimberly demonstrates how animation can function not only as entertainment but as a reflective and therapeutic practice, offering both artist and viewer moments of quiet contemplation.

Q: Let’s start off with a fun icebreaker: If Nimberly could step out of your work and join you for a day, where would you go and what mischief would you get into?

 A: Haha, such a fun question! I think me and Nim would do a bit of shopping, get something to eat, and chill by the water. So basically everything Nim already does!

Q: What aspects of your early life or upbringing do you feel quietly shaped the way you create and see the world today?

 A: Since childhood, I’ve always enjoyed moments of peace and visual stimulation, so I think that desire for calmness, coupled with vibrant visuals, carries through in my work.

Q: Can you describe the moment or process when Nimberly first began to take form and what drew you to explore her as a character?

 A: I’ve been working in the realm of self-portraiture for many years. A lot of my work reflects me, or my mental disposition, directly. With Nimberly specifically, I first made her character for a children’s book but then shelved the project. Then, after getting into animation and seeing indie animators on YouTube, I decided to “grow Nim up” and create an animated short of my own.

Q: When you first created Nimberly, her silence was not a conceptual decision but a practical one. At what point did that absence of voice begin to feel intentional?

 A: Great question. I think after making the second episode, I got a good grasp of the genre Nim accidentally fell into and knew that I wanted to make that permanent. I also like that any language can understand Nim.

Q: You have worked across various mediums over the years. What has moving between them taught you about yourself?

 A: I definitely learned that a lot of the work I’ve been making has all been following a single purple thread of creative expression. The work used to seem random to me, but looking back at everything, each piece makes sense and has all been part of a semi-imaginative world.

Q: Taking that a step further, do you feel like being a creative has helped you explore thoughts or feelings that are not always conscious?

 A: Yes, of course. Making work has been very therapeutic for me and captures a great deal of my emotional state without me always realizing it. I thank Jesus that I have this creative ability to help make sense of some things that words can’t always capture.

Q: Fill in the blank: As a parting thought, one word that reflects your work __________.

A: Introspective.

Nimberly’s world demonstrates that silence can be just as expressive as dialogue. Through YouTube animation, visual symbolism, and introspective storytelling, Kimberly Placide has built a universe where viewers can reflect, feel, and connect in their own way. Her work highlights the impactful potential of contemporary animated art as both a personal practice and a universal medium. By embracing stillness and subtlety, Nimberly reminds us that the quiet moments in art often speak the loudest and that sometimes, what is left unsaid resonates far beyond words. To see more of Kimberly Placide's incredible work and stay updated on her latest projects, be sure to follow her on Instagram  and visit her Youtube !