Short-films, video games or immersive simulations are produced at MAGIC as a capstone project during the second academic year. All students are granted the opportunity to pitch an idea for a project. Selection is based on having an original idea, strong and defined characters, production feasibility and the potential to elevate MDC MAGIC and our community through its message.
Selected projects are then paired with executives and professionals from animation studios currently partnering with MAGIC as part of our mentorship program. Visit MAGIC’s YouTube Page to watch all students’ projects created and produced at the Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex.
“Dig & Learn” Mobile Game
“Dig & Learn is the newest partnership with MAGIC. This virtual scavenger hunt uses augmented reality so visitors, both in the park and online, can uncover key educational artifacts that celebrate the history of The Underline and its surrounding neighborhoods,” said Breanna Faye, chief technology officer for Friends of The Underline.
The game allows visitors to learn about cultural and historical figures, native flora and fauna, cultural artifacts, and buildings and neighborhoods representative of Miami’s vibrant and diverse history and residents. Users can ‘dig’ for objects and learn about Miami co-founder Mary Brickell, the Native American tribes of Florida and discover fossils hidden in the Florida oolite coral limestone, among other interesting facts and pieces of history.” Dig & Learn, a mobile game that bridges technology with history and the great outdoors. The game is available for download at the Apple and Google Play stores.
Class of 2021
“A Lesson in Magic” created by Hannah Roza
Produced by Gabi Lecusay; Original Music Composition by Joseph Guerra (NWSA); Character Voices by Luis Adolfo Chiurliza, Solanch Dominguez, Mikayla Queeley (NWSA). Industry Mentors: Miriam Luciow, Gigi Gomez, Alejandro Vergara, Daniela Campos, Paula Vargas (Nickelodeon) Faculty – Silvia Sayas
“Bunny & The Hidden Treasure” created by Veronique Vilpin
Produced by Narda Munga, Dania Larsen, Amaya Alleyne; Original Music Composition by Ryan Rodriguez (NWSA); Character Voices by Mikayla Queeley, Julio Otero, David Gutierrez (NWSA). Industry Mentors – Cesar Sakai, Susan Guzman, Eduardo Bragin (Univision Communications, Inc.) Faculty – Silvia Sayas
“TeraFlow”
Lead Producers – Emmanuel Ojeda and Erik Breto ; Lead Programmer – Abraham D. Anez-Martinez. Industry Mentor – Leah Hoyer (VP Creative at Wizards Games) Faculty – Mel Tomeo
Class of 2020
“What’s the Buzz!?” created by Daniel Cortes
Produced by O’Neal Isaacs & Daniel Ozuna; Original Music Composition by Nicolas Velasquez (NWSA); Character Voices by Daniel Cortes, Vianca Collazo, Frank Montoto & Roly Gutierrez (NWSA). Faculty: Silvia Sayas
“A Balanced Breakfast” created by Brenna Verner
Produced by Yesenia Grisales & Anthony Leon-Delgado; Original Music Composition by Nicolas Velasquez & Javier Albornoz (NWSA); Character Voices by Isabel Tucen, Isabella Stevens, Dani Vazquez, John Mazuelos & Hailey Hafer (NWSA). Faculty: Renata Ballo and Erwin Santacruz Animation and Game Development
“Amazônia” – A Virtual Journey into the Amazon Forest, created in partnership with The Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Produced by Segundo Correas & Steve Camacho ; Art Leads by Emily Lao, Sarah Loeber & Maria Camila Sanchez Mejia; Gaming & Programming by Lead Daniel Centanni; Narrated by Viviam Lopez . Faculty: Mel Tomeo, Alvaro Sanint and Mauricio Ferrazza
“InterGalactic Food Truck” created by Laura Manresa & Rafael Antonio Morales
Produced by Amanda Linares & Amber “Aurora” Leonard; Original Music Composition by Joseph Guerra & Alexander Ruiseco (NWSA) Faculty: Juan Borrero
Class of 2019
“The Berlin Wall” – An Augmented Reality Simulation, created in partnership with the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
A virtual reality simulation of the story of the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification of Germany after the cold war. Animation Lead: Elias Soler and Gaming Lead: Oliver Simkovski. Original Soundtrack by Nicolas Velasquez. Selected to be part of the “Wunderbar Together” initiative by the German General Consulate, celebrating 30 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Download the app and play (Berlin Wall presented by MAGIC): Google Play
“Siberia, The Frozen Front” created by Viacheslav Burmistrov
Produced by Thomas Villanueva and Kenny Zambrano. Original Soundtrack by Indira Labanino-Leon. Project Mentor: Leah Hoyer.
“Toying Emotions” created by Victoria Garcia
Produced by Angela Prudhomme. Original Soundtrack by Nicolas Velasquez.
“Foxy’s Style” created by Lourdes Avila
Produced by Alexis Garcia. Original Soundtrack by Jose Luis Hernandez. Project Mentor: Drew Tolman
Visit MAGIC’s YouTube Page to watch all students’ projects created and produced at the Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex.
MAGIC Faculty & Staff
Mauricio Ferrazza, Department Chairperson; Ariana Fernandez, Assistant to the Chairperson; Jose Soto, Academic Lab Manager; Silvia Sayas, Instructor Animation & Game Art; Mel Tomeo, Instructor Game Dev & Design; Juan Borrero, Instructor SEDT; Ana Guzman, Instructor Entec; Adjunct Faculty: Rame Rampson, Kolos Schumy, Hung-Chum Kao, Vanessa Velasquez, Alejandro Roque, Alvaro Sanint, Humberto Lopez and Gabriel Ramirez. Nicole Garay, Secretary I; Ieon Skepple, Chris Argueta and Segundo Correas, Academic Tutors.
Special Thanks
Madeline Pumariega, Dr. Malou Harrison, Dr. Beatriz Gonzalez, Cristina Mateo, Dr. Jeffrey Hodgson, Dr. Susan Epstein, Patrice Bailey, Mark Cole, Sarah Tuskey, Manuel Perez, Viviam Lopez, JC Acosta, Tatiana Rodriguez, Jennifer Rogers, Cesar Sakai, The MDC Foundation and New World School of the Arts. MDC Board of Trustees: Michael Bileca (Chair), Nicole Washington (Vice Chair), Dr. Anay Abraham, Roberto Alonso, Marcell Felipe and Bernie Navarro.