Meet Maryam Sefati: Visual Development and background designer artist for Animation

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

Hi Maryam, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I dont have a private self-owned Business, and what I do is helping studios and their teams to design backgrounds for animation projects.

I have started to work in animation in Iran. As soon as I realized there are some animation studios in the country making cartoons, I lost interest in the Fashion major I was studying at the time and got a job in Saba Studio. Watching animations and studying them became my obsessive hobby back then and still is from time to time.

I worked for six years in Iran before I moved to the United States in January 2011. During that six years, I tried animating for 2D animation, 3D animation a little, and advertisement and visual effects for movies till I decided my passion is holding a pen in my hand to draw till I am too tired to hold it.

I fell in love with environment design for animation. There is a charm in drawing and designing backgrounds and objects in it for cartoon characters. Every time we create a dreamy world, we are excited for kids and young minds to enjoy. This job helps me in real life to pay attention more to everything I pass by or live with, to appreciate small things, and adore them. Any chair, mug, pot, or plants,… . They all have so much to tell, and there is so much we can have in our relationship with them. They can be all so dear and so inspiring.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
No job is easy! Some people think art is easy but what they dont see is that each artist on earth dares to act like a God and create something new every day. Giving life to thought and sending it to others’ hands so their moments can be improved in life. Acting like God is no easy.

It’s hard for me to say what is special about me or list all my achievements because I couldn’t earn anything if it was not because for the help and support of my friends and co-worker. Whatever we did we did it together.

Art and drawing specifically, was something I got interested in early age, and I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to. I love animation and did even as a child because it’s a work of magic. Imagine the joy a child receives while drawing their favorite things, and when they see the possibility of giving life to that drawing, they are flying near clouds in the sky from excitement.

What I like about animation is that you get to work in a group. You get to receive their support and offer yours in return. The support and help come in the forms of feedback, and encouragement, and helping each other to go forward.

What I learned in a working environment like this is that you and your career will be as good as how you treating others. Respecting one another and being understanding, easy to be reached or communicating with, and honesty will be the keys to your success in animation. Along with enough skills to keep your work quality good.

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?
Usually, when people visit LA they already made a list of places they want to go and I like to follow them and see what are they interested in.

For me walking in a busy street is delightful. I like to sit or walk and look at the people of the city and their faces, their pets and outwears, or the buildings, plan trees, electric poles and all the other things that made the whole town came together as it is and growing to be in every moment. I like to smell each neighborhood and its habits and its foods. each part of town is adventurous as it is. If I can have a friend who shares the same interests I am beyond happy.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The first one would be my husband, Hani Sadjadi. He stood in front of our Iranian culture to support my independence and career as a woman. He gave me courage when I didn’t have it, and he did sacrifice his career and dreams, so I get to have the dream career I always wish for.

The Animation community in Los Angeles has been very much like a family to me. It’s a very diverse family, and I always feel at home when I am at work. By that, I mean I dont feel like an immigrant here or an outsider.
Especially these days, I can also be more the Iranian I am. Over the past decades, Iran’s culture got so divided that two Iranians can be so different as if they grew up in seperated countries. Sometimes with my American friends, I feel more accepted, and my stories and experiences are more valid. My thoughts and who I am is welcomed as it is. I don’t have to change my mind or appearance for anyone, as I would in most Iranian communities.

I have been so lucky to be working with so many men and women who trusted me and allowed me to be part of the American animation industry. Many thanks, especially to my good friends, Drake Brodahl, Chris Tsirgiotis, Israel Sanchez, who have opened so many doors for me and have been supporting me in my path here, along with all the people who I had the privilege of getting to know and work with them. The respect I have received here was something I never had while I was working in Iran.

Website: http://maryamsefati.com/index.html

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Image Credits
Maryam Sefati