Ziad Magdy

Q: Tell us about yourself and your journey as an animator (How did you get  started? What inspired you to get into the animation space? Etc.) 

My grandpa, an artist, cast a magic spell over me with his work. Then, at six, he  showed me how to draw a traditional Egyptian man – I did it! Happiness exploded.  Years later, a "Naruto" episode flickered into my life. "Sasuke vs. Orochimaru" blew  open my world. Animation became my obsession. I devoured art, school, and self taught animation. I became an animator. Now, I hope to ignite that same spark in  others. 

Q: What animation style/s do you animate in? How has your style evolved over time?

I started with Naruto’s animation style as it was the first to inspire me, and as I study more references and styles, I found that my favorite styles are from (Mappa studio, Wit studio, Studio Mir, and THE LINE Animation studio”

Q: Are there any animators, films or art movements that inspire your style?

Titan, Naruto, jujutsu kaisen, Chainsaw Man, Avatar the last air  bender, Avatar The legend of Korra) 

Animators (Arifumi Imai, Spencer Wan, Weilin Zhang, Hiroyuki Yamashita, and  Shingo Yamashita)

Q: What genre do you find most fulfilling or enjoyable to animate?

Action/Adventure

Q: What tools and software do you use?

• Adobe photoshop
• After effects
• Cinema 4D
• Blender
• Clip Studio paint

Q: What does your creative process look like? What comes first?

The following steps are a summarized version of the production pipeline

• I usually read the script of the project and get the Vibe and the overall feeling.
• watch as many references that would fit in the project direction as much as possible.
• make a couple of concept art for characters and environments.
• storyboarding and animatic
• character designs
• backgrounds designs
• animation
• compositing
• sound design

Q: Which part of the animation process is your favorite? (character design, storyboarding, animatics, etc.)

I love the first parts of the projects when I start collecting ideas, developing  concepts, and watching tons of references.  

I also love compositing as it shows me every part of the process coming together and lets me see the results of the hard work that was put in by the team.

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring animators based on personal experience and industry insights?

• put your work on social media platforms no matter how bad you think your art is.
• focus on getting the best possible results, and never cut corners.
• be professional, reliable, and respect deadlines.
• pick up some sales and marketing skills.
• workout to avoid back and neck pain.
• life is too short to give up on your dream.

Q: How do you navigate periods of creative block?

I usually travel, hang out with family and friends, or watch a movie. Watching more content gives me new ideas and melts away the creative block.

Q: What did you enjoy the most about the latest story you animated for Storiaverse? What was the most challenging?

I really loved the alignment of the story to my animation style and bringing the amazing characters to life. The most challenging part was to develop a customized pipeline of the production and finding the right people for this story, and I loved it, it was fun.

Q: What motivated your decision to collaborate with Storiaverse?

Aside from the great story and the amazing characters, I loved the  professionalism and the clear communication. I also love the creative freedom that Storiaverse provides to explore and try different  styles and approaches.

Q: How do you think animation can play a role in promoting diversity and representation?

Every culture has its own unique touch in animation, whether it’s colors, patterns, music and shapes. Incorporating these little details in an animation, helps in creating a rich diverse world

Q: What do you love most about the animation space and what draws you to adult animation specifically?

Animation is a very flexible medium and it’s the most expressive one, as each artist has their unique touch. It captivates scenes and represents emotions and actions in a way that no other medium can.

Q: Where do you think the animation industry is heading?

The animation industry is evolving by the day; it’s becoming easier to bring your stories to life with various tools and software. There is no better time to bring your stories to life and join the industry than now.