Pegah Izadian is an Iranian animation artist and researcher with a focus on the field of experimental animation. She is an experienced animation director, producer, screenwriter, and puppet designer. Pegah has collaborated with the universities as an instructor, examiner, and speaker and published four research papers discussing contemporary experimental animations. She holds a master's degree in Animation Directing and a bachelor's degree in Handicrafts from Tehran Art University. Pegah's MA dissertation entitled New Expressive Ways in Experimental Animation received the first prize from the 9th Tehran International Animation Festival. CV (PDF)
 
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2017-present
Stop Motion Puppet Design


In 2017, by mixing handmade design experience and stop motion animation experience, I made my first stop motion puppet which was originated from my personal character. Then I started my career as a puppet designer and doll maker until now. (see Puppets)


2012-present
Experimental Animation Filmmaking and Studies


In 2012, besides writing my thesis I made an animation that was called Me Who Is Not Me. I used various techniques such as pixilation, photo animation and rotoscoping. After this experience I got the idea of using everyday tools and materials to create stop-frame animations. This idea led me to create another film named Spin with scanner animation technique. It received positive feedback from Tehran International Animation Festival. During testing many other techniques, I found mobile phone as a new tool for experimental filmmaking and made Octo in 2017 which has been officially selected and screened at many festivals. This process led me to create an augmented version of Octo and publish it as an effect/filter on Meta, and I managed to continue filmmaking by this effect as an ongoing online AR project. (see Films)

During animation courses, I was impressed by experimental animation. As a result, I wrote my thesis in 2012 with the title of New Expressive Ways of Experimental Animation, which received a diploma of honor from the ninth Tehran International Animation Festival in 2015, and has encouraged me to expand my studies and write four research papers. (see Publications) After that, Iran's ASIFA magazine interviewed me about self-expression in experimental animations in 2019.


2015-2022
Collaboration with Universities and Festivals


In October 2012, 2013 and 2015 I was invited to speak about new era of experimental animation at Tehran Art University "International Animation Week" celebration. After that it was my honor to become a jury member of the first Animation Studies Student Conference at Tehran Art University sponsored by the Society for Animation Studies (SAS) in 2016. I have been continuing my cooperation with some universities such as Al-Zahra University, Maziar Advanced University of Royan and Tehran Art University as a sessional animation lecturer. Furthermore, in 2015 I volunteered to collaborate with the ninth Tehran International Animation Festival as the administrator and curator of workshops and conferences.

2009-2017
Various Experiences in Animation


After one year of working as a freelance jewelry designer, I decided to follow again my main enthusiasm for art in animation. I found animation as an area where I could express my feelings. So, I started studying animation at Tehran Art University in 2009 and gaining many skills such as animating, character design, visual compositing, editing and script writing. Then I chose to continue script writing as a freelancer from 2012 until now and collaborated as a co-writer in Farid's Riddles animation series.


2003-2009
Jewelry Design + Graphic Design


In early years, seeking for a way to enter the animation fields, I started my work with graphic design which was more related to animation and my interest in studying about forms and compositions. Then I was admitted to Tehran Art University for studying handicraft in September 2003. I learned the fundamental principles in art and design and as my graduation project in 2007, I made a mixed-media jewelry collection inspired by natural motifs.