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.
Class of 2023, Premiere’s on April 26th, 6:30 PM
“Little by Little” story by Katherine McGuinness
Produced by Alejandro Ramos Cervantez; Original Music Composition by RSchlinler Derenoncourt (NWSA); Character Voices by Nicole Pagella, Emily Rivera (NWSA) & Katherine McGuinness. Industry Mentors: Cesar Sakay, Susan Guzman, Eduardo Bragin with Televisa Univision.
“Arcade Palace” story by Josh Mobley
Produced by Andrea Pettus & Daniel Andres Noya; Original Music Composition by Brian Awad (NWSA); Character Voices by Jonathan Rownson & Jose A. Ramirez (NWSA). Industry Mentor: Drew Tolman, Producer, Disney Jr’s T.O.T.S. & Founder ProducersPool.com.
“Bay of Pigs”
Lead Producer – Erick Sanchez; Lead Programmers – Joshua A. Alvarenga; Story by Priscilla Nieto; Original Music Composition by Brian Awad (NWSA); Industry Mentors: Aquiles Presilla, COO at Diario Las Americas.
Download and Play the Game for PC
“Engine Trouble”, created by Alejandro Torres
Lead Producer – Alejandro Torres; Lead Programmer -Pedro Terra ; Story Lead – Ralfo Manzur; Original Music Composition by Schlinler Derenoncourt (NWSA); Industry Mentors: Sebastian Baixas, Lucid Dreams, LLC.
Class of 2022
“Camp Galaverano” story by Silvia Sayas
Produced by Paul B. Wurmann; Original Music Composition by Ryan Rodriguez (NWSA); Character Voices by Frank Martinez, Dena Barros, Chantal Mendoza, Cayden Trigoso and Julian Alvarez (NWSA). Industry Mentors: Cesar Sakay, Susan Guzman, Eduardo Bragin with Televisa Univision.
“Hercules & Hippolyta” story by Ariana Rodriguez & Fernando Pimentel
Produced by Ariana Rodriguez; Original Music Composition by Joseph Guerra (NWSA); Character Voices by Mikhael Mendoza, Shaina Joseph, Emily Valdez, Janine Johnson, Giovanny Marin, Lorenzo Veloz (NWSA). Industry Mentor: Kimberly Dennison, VP of Creative at Gaumont Animation.
“Everglades Adventure”
Lead Producer – Armando de Armas ; Lead Programmers – Fernande Del Rios and Alexander Slyzinger. Industry Mentors: Allyson Gantt, Dyllan Turffs, Antonia Florio at the National Parks Services.
Download for “Everglades Adventure” is available on the Apple and Goggle stores.
“Chip & Chop”
Lead Producer – Alexander Alvarez ; Lead Programmer – Yelena Lavitskas. Industry Mentor: Leah Hoyer, VP of Creative at the Wizards of the West.
Download for “Chip & Chop” is available on the itch.io site.
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
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; Ana Cruz, Assistant to the Chairperson; Jose Soto, Academic Lab Manager; Nicole Garay, Secretary; Silvia Sayas, Assistant Professor Animation & Game Art; Mel Tomeo, Instructor Game Dev & Design; Adjunct Faculty: Rame Rampson, Hung-Chum Kao, Gabriel Ramirez, Romario Marshall, Jeffrey Schutte, and Sandra Andrade. Julian Alvarez, Audio Engineer and Chris Argueta and Shona Rose, Academic Tutors.
Special Thanks
Madeline Pumariega, Dr. Malou Harrison, Dr. Beatriz Gonzalez, Ana DeMahy, Dr. Jeffrey Hodgson, Dr. Susan Epstein, Manuel Perez, Ana Martinez, Sarah Tuskey, Manny Lorenzo, Viviam Lopez, 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, Maria Bosque Blanco, Marcell Felipe and Ismare Monreal.