Acclaimed animator guides participants through expressions, poses and shape theory, offering a rare glimpse into the process of crafting memorable characters

Sharjah, May 2, 2025 

The opening day of the 3rd Sharjah Animation Conference (SAC 2025) lit up with the creative spark and seasoned insights of Disney veteran Sandro Cleuzo, at his workshop, “Character Design Essentials: From Concept to Final Illustration”.

Addressing a full house, the acclaimed animator, known for his work in Mary Poppins Returns (2018), The Iron Giant (1999) and Nimona (2023), shared a masterful breakdown-technique of his character creation process. “Designing characters is like directing actors – you have to know who they are, how they move, and what they’re feeling”. 

Continue reading Sandro Cleuzo inspires next-gen illustrators with his winningsecrets behind expressive characters at SAC 2025 →