Character profile

 For "The Void," the casting process was strictly digital. In animation, your character isn't just a person; they are a visual synecdoche—a small part that represents a whole generation. I wanted to create a protagonist that every A-level student in Dubai (and beyond) could see themselves in.

The Protagonist: Maya

  • Age: 17

  • Role: The "Everyman" of the digital age.

  • Motivation: Seeking instant gratification through variable-ratio reinforcement (notifications).

  • Physical Trait: The "Text-Neck" posture. I spent a lot of time refining Maya’s silhouette to emphasize the downward tilt of the head, which has become a defining physical characteristic of our generation.

The "Casting" of a Silhouette

I made a deliberate creative decision to move away from a highly detailed character. In my early sketches, Maya had distinct features, but I realized that specific details create distance. By transitioning her into a minimalist silhouette once she enters the "Void," I am utilizing Simplified Iconography.

According to comic theorist Scott McCloud, the more "cartoony" or simplified a face is, the more people can project themselves onto it. By "casting" Maya as a silhouette, she stops being a stranger and starts being a mirror for the viewer.

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