Taking animation and Bangladesh to a new height
Growing up, watching 'Samurai Jack' and 'Dexter's Laboratory', Wahid Ibn Reza idolised the show's writer and director, Genndy Tartakovsky. After years, Wahid Ibn Reza finally achieved the opportunity to work with the man himself in 'Hotel Transylvania 3', making his dream to work in Hollywood come true.
For the opportunity to work with his childhood idol, Wahid Ibn Reza - currently residing in Vancouver, Canada - chose to work with Sony Pictures Imageworks as an Associate Production Manager. Previously, the visual effects team led by him received an Oscar nomination for the stupendous effects in Marvel's Doctor Strange. Also, his visual FX team of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 received an Academy Award nomination. He has also worked in Avengers: Infinity War's special effects but only for a few months.
The talented personality, who took Bangladesh to a new height, is now in the country for Unmad's 40-year-anniversary. From being a writer to a filmmaker, Wahid Ibn Reza claims that Unmad has a special place in his heart. He started his career with writing for Unmad and his first ideas were sketched by Ahsan Habib.
“For me, telling stories has always been a passion. I first started writing poetry and scripts for TV commercials. However, my final goal was always to tell stories,” says Wahid. He would always sit at his desk and watch his imaginations come to life, adds Wahid. “That's the fun of being a writer!”
Today, Wahid brings stories to life through animation. As an Associate Production Manager, Wahid is in charge of two teams and has to make sure that artists have everything they need to fulfill their task and to stick to deadlines. He is also associated with a studio in Bangladesh called Maverick. “We're working on a children's series called Chacha Bahini,” he says. “I am personally developing the series and working on many more. All of them, coincidentally, are animation.”
While working in the line of animation and creating CGs, Wahid says that it is very important to be disciplined and persistent. The creations require a bigger budget than usual. Hence, he would like to request investors in Bangladesh to look at it as building an industry, not just a business. Also, for the growth of the CG industry in Bangladesh, the Government's support is also needed.
“In Canada, if you're opening an animation shop, you get a certain incentive, for example -cheaper and tax free computers,” says Wahid.“This is something the Government can do to facilitate the industry here as well. It is a long process but, if the Government takes an initiative, investors and creators will be able to take the risk.”
Wahid refuses to lose patience in this long process. Over the years, he moved up the ladder with his hard work. Once he returns to Vancouver, he will start working on Angry Birds 2 while simultaneously working on other projects. Very soon, Wahid is also hoping to release the teaser of his animation work on our Liberation War, by the end of this year.