Meet Armin Ebadat | Storyboard Artist & Animator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Armin Ebadat and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Armin, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
Honestly, I feel like the main inspiration that comes to mind is something that isn’t really shown in my work; and that is Super Mario. I tend to create pieces that depict a more horror or sci-fi type genre. However, before all this that was not the case. It was the first grade when I picked up a pencil and used it for something other than boring homework. What drew my attention “haha” to art, cartoons, and animation was every Super Mario video game I owned. I would either pause the game I’m playing to draw what I see on the screen, which is a very similar technique used for storyboard artists, or buy the video game guide books and not use them to help throughout the game, but instead, sketch out the characters and scenes in the books. There was just something about the colorful characters with their bouncy action poses and unique sense of environment that just got me hooked. And then the second I saw all of these aspects being used for an animated Super Mario Bros. film, that just made me want to work for feature and television even more.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
This was definitely not an easy journey, but one that I will always be proud of. People sometimes view storyboards and think they just all look the same, yet they’re all different in their own ways. They hear about a sequel to a well-known animated film being released and wonder why it took longer than it needed to. The truth is, those who view what is in front of the screen are completely unaware of what it takes to get to that point when behind the camera.

Storyboarding, my primary profession, is the work of drawing a story visually before it is turned into a finished animated project. It is highly demanded for different fields like feature, television, gaming, music videos, and so much more. So I asked myself why did I choose this specific path, what is the purpose of my work, and why am I inspired to make it in the way that I do? The truth is simply that I want to create more entertainment in the world. Art isn’t something I like to do, it’s something I could not live without doing. I have my fair share of demons in my mind and rain clouds following me above my head everywhere I go. However, as difficult as it might be sometimes, they haven’t won yet. You don’t need to be a professional to make art, and you should never let insecurity for the result keep you from the therapy of creating.

Creating art has always been an escape from that little demon emotion that lives inside of me that I like to call “depression.” The traumas we go through give depth to our character and meaning to our lives, as long as we are able to climb out of the trenches and get a healthy perspective. One of the qualities that helps to set me apart from other artists is the fact that I love to try new techniques and explore a variety of mediums. I think that quality mixed in with my joy in entertaining others allows my mind to wonder & create artwork that is visually pleasing to the human mind. I got to where I am by continuing. As I move forward in life, I attempt to improve in any way I can. Essentially, the lesson I’ve learned is to practice and practice and practice. I know that sounds cliche, but there is a reason for that. It differs from a talent coming to one naturally as opposed to learning constantly and improving on that skill. Sometimes you find the good in nature or an interesting story from your personal life, but I prefer to look for it in people. Observing people is how you bring that magic to life on the big screen while at the same time adding your own creative flair to it, which is how animation is created.

In terms of professionalism, I’m still growing and improving. The animation world isn’t easy, and as someone with limited experience, there is still so much I am learning. My goal is to one day reach the right eyes and form a conversation that could inspire others in similar ways that inspire me to create. That is my story that I hope the world remembers even when I’m no longer on this Earth.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In one week? Yeah that’s pretty easy. First off, I would have to show them Universal Studios. I mean it’s basically one of the top locations for anyone who is visiting LA for the first time. We’d go early in the morning to get to all of the rides and shows before the park starts to get more filles and make sure to hit every spot, from Harry Potter to Nintendo World.

But we are also in SoCal, so if you also haven’t checked out the beaches (Malibu, Venice, Santa Monica) then did you really go to LA? I know sometimes certain parts of LA have been considered hit or miss by most people, but personally I think taking a nice hike down the trails of any of those spots on a nice sunny day just hits differently, and in a good way. During the week, when it’s not too busy, it is a great opportunity to check out the many works of art that LA has to offer. Some galleries and museums I recommend are LACMA, Museum of Contemporary Art, and Mr. Brainwash Art Museum. As far as food goes, Little Tokyo is an absolute hotspot for different Asian meals. And then there’s Tehrangeles, home to some of the best Iranian/Persian food you can find.

By the end of the week, I think it would be nice to check out the Funko Pop Museum in Hollywood. Not only do they have life-sized funko pops for a variety of popular characters, but you can even customize your very own funk pop of yourself, which I think would be the best way to end the week in LA by going back home with a little a reminder of why you came to visit in the first place.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The person who absolutely deserves some recognition is my amazing wife, Melissa. She has been my number one fan throughout my entire animation journey. From helping me look for roles to motivating me to work harder on my portfolio, this girl honestly kept me going no matter what obstacles came my way. Love you! I’d also like to give a shoutout to my mentor Raj Ramkallawan, who has taught me an extensive amount of knowledge on working as a storyboard artist for feature films and how to make your audience really care about your art. And of course, I have to thank my parents. When I graduated high school and had no idea what I wanted to do with life, my dad was the one who reminded me that I am truly an artist, and an artist talented enough to make a career out of it. My mom was the one who was there for me, both emotionally and physically, in order to be able to afford my courses and fulfill that career path. Thank you both!

Website: https://www.arminebadat.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebadasign/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arminebadat/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/arminhammur

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ebadasign