Episode notes
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 animation, the structure of the production pipeline, and the realities of balancing storytelling with technical execution and deadlines. The team also reflects on working with industry mentor Chris Bailey, whose guidance on character performance, staging, and visual storytelling helped shape the film’s direction and strengthen the students’ professional workflow.
This episode also highlights collaboration within the student production team, lessons learned during development, and how the capstone experience prepared students for careers in animation and game development.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
- The origin and evolution of Behind the Paper
- Building a short film through a studio-style pipeline
- Creative challenges and technical solutions
- Working with industry mentor Chris Bailey
- Team collaboration and production roles
- Skills students developed for industry readiness
- Advice for future MAGIC capstone teams
About the Project: Behind the Paper is a MAGIC capstone animated short that blends humor and character-driven storytelling to depict the emotional journey from creative stagnation to breakthrough, showing how imagination can transform obstacles into opportunities.