Skip to content

Magic
Maia.

Film & TV / Character animation

Little worries. Big adventures.

The project

Meet Maia.

Six-year-old Maia has a busy imagination and plenty of questions. When she falls asleep, the stories, toys and feelings from her day become a world she can explore—with her faithful duck by her side.

In that world she is Magic Maia: a daring version of herself who finds the courage to try. Her adventures bring warmth and humour to the small challenges that can feel enormous when you’re growing up.

Format: Animated storytelling
Treatment: Character design / Visual development / 3D animation

Maia cuddling Ducky beneath a blue sky

Maia asleep beside her cuddly toy Ducky

Books and a skateboard in Maia’s bedroom

Halloween sweets and toys in Maia’s bedroom

A drawing of the ogre in Maia’s bedroom

Designing Maia and Ducky.

Maia’s design balances everyday warmth with superhero confidence. Exploring her poses, expressions and dream-world costume gives both versions of the character a shared personality. Ducky brings a gentle counterpoint: a treasured toy at bedtime and a wise, funny companion in her dreams.

Finished Magic Maia and Ducky character poses

Early pencil sketches exploring Maia’s poses

Magic Maia superhero costume sketches

Maia character turnaround drawings

A sheet of Maia’s facial expressions

Meet the dragon.

The dragon’s design developed through colour studies, pose sketches and expression sheets before moving into 3D animation.

Playful dragon character expressions and poses

Dragon colour design explorations

Dragon pose and movement sketches

Dragon facial expression sketches

Dragon character turnaround drawings

Maia meeting the dragon in a moonlit village

Dragon tumbling through the village

Dragon breathing magical green fire

magic maia animation film still

Meet the ogre.

Character poses and facial expressions explore the ogre’s softer side, carrying his personality from the drawings into the finished 3D character.

Friendly green ogre 3D character poses

Ogre pose and costume sketches

Ogre facial expression sketches

Selected work

More Move.

Snowy harbour village with a small figure in a yellow coat beneath a pink sky.

Song for Hope.

A festive animated music video about kindness and connection.

Two reindeer holding mugs in a snowy Christmas landscape.

Santa’s in the Chimney.

A playful Christmas music video, animated in Toon Boom.

Audible audiobook character illustration

Audible.

Immersive, intimate experiences.

Meta

Meta.

Playful 3D visuals exploring data, privacy and digital interactions.

Bird & Blend’s yellow and silver Magic Whisks with matcha lattes and playful illustrated flowers.

Bird & Blend.

Live-action filming and playful animation for the Magic Whisk.

Dollop Creative.

A plasticine-style 3D logo animation with a well-timed splat.

LEGO City 3D animation and AR experience

LEGO City.

3D animation and an interactive AR city for LEGO.

Tot the Mouse smiling at a game-show podium in the woodland.

HSBC.

A woodland game show helping children get to grips with money.

Further reading

Explore the thinking behind the work.

Your next big idea starts here

Let’s make
things Move.

Have a brief, an idea or a project you’d like to discuss? Send us a message or give us a call to get the ball rolling!

hello@moveanimation.com +44 (0)1273 916 995