The character of Amir
Before animation, before storyboarding, even before the first final script: you have to find the character.
The entire R&D phase was drawn by hand in 2D using Clip Studio Paint. Dozens of development sheets, tested silhouettes, and revised proportions. A character who will carry an entire series is not decided in a single session.
The starting point: two worlds in one outfit.
Amir comes from the streets of Harlem and from the mosque. The design had to communicate both at a glance, without any possible hesitation.
That led to a combination found nowhere else: a short-sleeved qamis, a cap bearing Amir’s A, and sneakers. Prayer clothing and the uniform of the sidewalk, worn together without compromise or disguise. It is exactly who the character is, and exactly the journey taken by the man who lends him his voice.
The body tells you the character.
A slightly rounded form, never angular: Amir is not a threat; he is a shelter.
A firmly grounded stance, solid legs, balanced weight. The character holds his ground. Nothing moves him.
An average height, neither imposing nor fragile. He is literally at eye level with the people he speaks to.
And a full beard, faithful to the original—we do not betray the model : )
Smiling, dynamic, active.
That was the most important correction in the final rounds of development. The first versions portrayed a wise man who was a little too composed, a little too static. But Amir is not a motionless mentor delivering pronouncements from a bench.
He walks, crosses the street, sits beside people, and laughs. We turned the smile up a notch and made the posture more mobile. He is an active character, present in his city—not above it.
This is the design that went into animation.
©2026.Silhouette Brothers
