Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546404
FALL 2026 19 S T O R Y & V I S I O N style that uses a limited number of polygons to create a 3D object. What if this technique was used for the animals, with the addition of a hand-painted texture to make them look like wooden sculptures? When it came to the animal's movements, "the story demanded a more sincere and realistic approach," he says. "And I really wanted continuous shots because, in my head, the environmental crisis is a continuous thing." This allows the audience a fuller immersion in the characters' journey, heightening the emotional impact. Reza's experience gave him knowledge of the whole production pipeline, allowing him to serve as the film's Production Manager, Writer, and Director. In the latter role, he mapped shots fully in advance, working out camera angles in his head "because the budget limited us to only three iterations max for storyboards, three iterations max for design," he says. As for that budget, he was the one doing it, as well as the scheduling and hiring a full crew to do everything from art direction to animation to rigging. Despite its apocalyptic theme, After Us is a moving story of connection and hope, premiering at the Oscar- qualifying SPARK Animation festival in October 2025. Since then, the short has won three Leo Awards, including Best Animation Program, and Reza was offered a job as a Production Manager on the upcoming The Simpsons Movie 2. Now living in L.A. with his wife and daughter, he has a bible and pilot for an animated series, and he's working on original stories for animation and live-action projects. Having achieved his "Hollywood movie" goal, he's well on his way to his next career milestone. Learn more about mediaspace. nfb.ca/epk/after-us/. —Kim Fay previous page: Concept art for the film's coastal environment. this page: (from top) While his intent was to keep the animals as realistic as possible, Reza says: "We sized the polar bear up three times because he serves as a mythical character."; Concept art and character poses for the wolverine illustrate low-poly design.