Episode Description: In this episode of Behind the MAGIC, we go behind the scenes of the student capstone animated short “Behind the Paper.” Director Estefania Mora joins host Brenna Verner to discuss the creative journey of bringing this character-driven film to life inside a full studio-style production pipeline at the Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex.

The film follows Archie, an architecture student facing creative block as his final sheet of paper seemingly comes alive — resisting, challenging, and ultimately pushing him toward rediscovering his artistic voice. Through humor and expressive animation, the project explores themes of pressure, persistence, and the unpredictable nature of creativity.

The conversation dives into the evolution of the story from pitch to final  ...