Animation Maestro Vaibhav Kumaresh Brings the World of Animation to Life at ISDI

Animation is often seen as magic on screen, but behind every memorable character lies observation, craft, experimentation and storytelling. This is exactly what students of ATLAS ISDI – School of Design & Innovation experienced during an engaging masterclass by International Emmy nominated animation filmmaker Vaibhav Kumaresh.

Founder of Vaibhav Studios, Vaibhav has spent over two decades shaping some of India’s most recognisable animated characters and campaigns. From the iconic Amaron Battery clay animation commercials to the mischievous Vodafone Zumis and the globally acclaimed micro-short series Lamput for Cartoon Network, his work has left a lasting imprint on Indian animation.

Great Characters Come from Real Life

During the session, Vaibhav took students behind the scenes of his creative journey sharing how some of his most beloved characters were inspired by people from his own life. A grandfather’s quirks, a strict school teacher and everyday personalities around him – all transformed into animated characters through observation and imagination.

Understanding the Animation Process from Idea to Screen

The masterclass became a deep dive into the animation process, as Vaibhav screened several of his films and explained how ideas evolve from concepts to finished animated stories.

By walking students through story development, character design, storyboarding and production workflows, he highlighted how animation combines creative storytelling with structured production processes.

Exploring Multiple Animation Techniques

One of the most fascinating aspects of the session was Vaibhav’s demonstration of different animation styles. Students explored a wide spectrum of animation forms from stop motion, puppet animation, glove puppet animation and clay animation to digital 3D animation used in large-scale productions.

By showing actual project clips, he helped students understand how each technique brings its own texture, movement and storytelling possibilities.

Building Iconic Characters for Brands and Media

Vaibhav shared insights from several memorable projects, including his work on the MTV Poga series, the Samsung V Super Singer advertisement, and the creation of Simpoo, the unforgettable angry Sardaar math teacher who became a pop culture favourite on Channel V India.

Through these examples, students saw how animation can play a powerful role in branding, advertising and character-driven storytelling.

Crafting Animation Through Experimentation

Students were particularly fascinated by the breakdown of the famous Amaron Battery clay animation campaign, where Vaibhav demonstrated how physical materials like clay can be transformed into expressive characters frame by frame.

He also spoke about collaborating with global studios like Rhythm & Hues Studios, highlighting how collaboration and experimentation are essential in pushing creative boundaries.

Storytelling That Travels Across the World

A highlight of the session was the story behind Lamput, the minimalist yet globally celebrated animated micro-short series that went on to receive an International Emmy nomination.

Vaibhav explained how strong character design and visual storytelling can transcend language barriers and connect with audiences worldwide – an important lesson for students aspiring to create globally relevant content.

The Importance of Telling Stories Rooted in India

Beyond techniques and projects, Vaibhav spoke passionately about telling stories rooted in Indian culture. He shared how his childhood fascination with Amar Chitra Katha shaped his storytelling sensibilities and inspired him to create narratives that reflect Indian culture and humour.

That passion has now culminated in his studio’s ambitious project Return of the Jungle, a 100-minute Hindi animated feature film that he is directing and producing.