The visionary behind beloved characters like Mushu and Simba teaches aspiring artists how strong design begins with simple shapes and purposeful storytelling

Sharjah, May 2, 2025

The 3rd annual Sharjah Animation Conference (SAC) opened at Expo Center Sharjah on Thursday with celebrated Disney animator Tom Bancroft leading a masterclass on ‘Master Character Design’.

“Every great character begins with a great personality. So, before you even put pencil to paper, you need to understand who your character truly is,” the animator behind iconic characters from Mulan, The Lion King, and Aladdin told the packed hall, as he walked them through the process of building characters that are not only visually appealing but emotionally resonant.

In collaboration with Onshur, the initiative will develop a storybook for children aged eight and above, launching at the upcoming Sharjah International Book Fair

Sharjah, May 2, 2025

As part of its continued efforts to promote cultural awareness among young people, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has signed a partnership with Invest Bank to develop a children’s storybook focused on financial literacy. The initiative is a collaboration with the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur), a key SBA programme that supports sustainable publishing in the UAE.