Mohamed has always loved animation and was fascinated by cartoons as a child.
So, when he discovered software he could use to make his own animation at home, it was the beginning of his journey into the animation industry.
Now 31, Mohamed is a lead animator at A Productions, where he has worked for over five years across two stints. Prior to this role, he worked for London studios and studied animation at the University of Westminster.
His first big break was an internship that he secured through Creative Access, a social enterprise that provides career-long access, opportunities, support and training to ensure the creative economy better reflects society.
“It was nice to try a few different roles as it helped me understand where I wanted to go”, reflects Mohamed.
“Being a lead animator involves helping our animation director, informing the team of what’s going on, and, if any juniors need guidance, we are usually the first port of call. My favourite part is supporting the junior members of the team as I find it rewarding to see their development.”
Whilst at A Productions, Mohamed has worked on a range of shows, including JoJo and Gran Gran, the multi-award-winning pre-school series produced by BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions in association with A Productions for CBeebies.
He also worked on Sesame Street: The Nutcracker Starring Elmo and Tango, an animated festive special for which A Productions developed the animation and design look for Sesame Workshop. Mohamed’s currently working on segment animations for Series 54 of the iconic Sesame Street series.
“A Productions is a really nice place to work. It is one of the few companies I’ve worked at where people have very close bonds with their colleagues. You know that you’ll still know them further down the line and there’s a great sense of morale”, says Mohamed.
His tips for those looking to break into the animation industry? “I would say never give up and don’t under-estimate your network, the people around you. You build each other up as you progress. It can be a tricky industry to get into, but I’d say don’t give up – know you’ll progress and grow.”