Meet Daniel Cipriano

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

Hi Daniel, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

When I decided to start my own business, my first thought was to seek more freedom and work with something I truly love. I knew this would bring me not only professional satisfaction but also personal fulfillment. However, it wasn’t easy at the beginning. Leaving a “stable” job, or as many call it, a “secure” job, took courage. Even so, I was certain that I needed to pursue my dream of working in the world of entertainment and art. That passion was what motivated me to move forward, do what I love, and at the same time inspire other people.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

My art is the combination of everything I love: telling stories, creating worlds, and bringing ideas to life in ways that move, entertain, and inspire. I am a filmmaker, screenwriter, author, and professional illustrator, founder of Costa Leste Filmes, co-founder of Dragão Escola de Desenho, today the largest drawing school franchise in Brazil, and partner at Dragão Studios.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working across various areas of film, animation, and cultural production. I was the creator, screenwriter, and director of the feature film Matadores de Aliens do Espaço Sideral 2025, released by Telecine, and I also contributed to the production of the international animated feature Nahuel y el Libro Mágico, available on Disney+. In animated short films, I created, wrote, and directed titles such as Caçadores de Lendas, Aninha Joaninha (for preschool audiences), Santos Dumont e os Jovens Inventores, O Circo Misterioso, Eco Guardiões, and Bobi e Nina (animal care). I also produced the animated short Desventuras Espaciais.

In live action, I produced and directed short films such as Exoterra, O Mistério da Luz do Trilho, and Envoltos, as well as cultural documentaries like Capoeira Viva, Dengo Dengo, and Hino de Navegantes. Each project brought new challenges, and by overcoming them, I learned the greatest lessons of my journey: perseverance, passion, and the importance of working with people who share the same vision.

It wasn’t easy to get here. I had to give up a steady job to pursue my dream of living from art and entertainment. But what drives me is the certainty that through my creations I can touch audiences and inspire others to follow their own dreams. I want the world to know that my brand and my story are about believing in the impossible, turning ideas into reality, and proving that imagination has no limits.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

If my best friend were visiting the region, I would make sure to show them the places that mean the most to me and truly reflect who I am. We would start in Navegantes, my hometown, which holds a special place in my heart and says a lot about my life. Living just a few meters from the beach, a walk along the coast would be essential, feeling the energy of the sea and visiting the city’s lighthouse, which even inspired the symbol of my company, Costa Leste Filmes.

I would also take my friend to Beto Carrero World, a theme park very close to my home, for a guaranteed day of fun. Then, we would explore the Vale do Itajaí, visiting the towns with German influence and enjoying some of the region’s natural wonders, like the canyons and parks of Santa Catarina. If time allows, we would also visit other incredible places in the state, with breathtaking landscapes and unique cultural experiences.

When it comes to food, we would definitely try the pizza from my city and enjoy a proper barbecue, which I truly believe are the best in the world. It would be a week full of adventures, flavors, stunning scenery, and moments that reflect my life, my culture, and my passions. By the end, my friend would not only get to know the region but also a glimpse of what inspires me and makes me who I am.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, my dear wife, Claudia, for believing in me and in my dreams, and for always listening attentively to my stories and ideas for each new project. I must also mention my great partners, who have been essential to my career: Galo Eich, who has been by my side from the very beginning, offering not only financial support but, above all, unconditional friendship; and José Raue, who has been fundamental to the entire creative side of our journey.

Website: https://www.instagram.com/costa_leste_filmes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielcipriano.oficial/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPNjvQ4hpqM

Image Credits
None of the photos will require credits; they are all my own property.