Jumal Sam explained that seeing animated films as a child left a lasting impression on him. Already passionate about drawing, transitioning to animation felt like a natural progression. He began by sketching characters in various poses and then transferring them into Windows Movie Maker. Despite describing the process as challenging, he found it enjoyable. One of his main challenges was releasing; Guyana was not big on animation and he realised that he needed a job outside of his passion.
However, a friend later took him to the launch of the Guyana Animation Network, where he met Rowen Willabus, his current employer at IntellectStorm. After compiling his portfolio and resume, he landed an interview and has been working with IntellectStorm ever since. This employment opportunity propelled him further into his animation journey, allowing him to develop his craft significantly.
He said he developed several critical skills, one of which was his interpersonal skills. In his first year, he pushed himself out of his comfort zone by giving talks about animation and his creative process, which was challenging due to his introversion. Additionally, he became adept at project management, emphasising that keeping track of all his projects was crucial for efficiency and job completion. This organisational skill made his work more thorough and polished.
Sam has continued to step out of his comfort zone and embrace the challenges that come with his career. He explained that he has developed a mindset where he never says no when asked to do something. Instead, he prefers to troubleshoot the problem and find a solution. He described his approach as driven by curiosity, which helps him push forward. Sam emphasised the importance of being patient with himself and working through potential problems methodically. He noted that jumping into a project without careful consideration would cloud his mind, so he takes the time to think things through before attempting a challenging project.
Having faced challenges at the start of his animation career, he has made steady improvements. In the beginning, he realised that many of his characters looked similar—they resembled him. He explained that it was simply easier for him to use his own features as a reference and animate himself, though he was doing this subconsciously. Once he became aware of this tendency, he began to draw characters that did not resemble him. However, someone pointed out that many of his characters were white. This, too, was influenced by what he had access to and the impact of major studios like Pixar and Disney. Upon realising this, Sam began to create characters that were more representative of the Caribbean.
This realisation, he said, taught him not to rely heavily on a culture that is not truly reflective of his environment. It pushed him to look at his surroundings and draw inspiration from what is reflected in his reality.
He said that sculpting his own environment has made his work easier, though he describes his work as more conceptual, relying heavily on his imagination to build worlds and people. He also mentioned that practising meditation and mindfulness has helped him focus. His mind would often work too quickly, but these practices have helped him remain focused and more productive in a mindful and relaxed state.
Diving into projects without clearing his mind can become chaotic, and anxiety can hinder his ability to produce any artwork. He noted that even ten minutes of mindfulness can be beneficial to his creativity, making his art much more intentional. Overthinking what something should be and getting anxious about the creative process can actually hold him back due to the fear of his art not meeting his expectations. He emphasised the importance of trusting the creative process and not getting flustered by it.
Sam is currently working on a sci-fi film called “Creatures and Tales”. The story follows three Guyanese children who are placed in a virtual space where they learn about the tales of different Guyanese creatures. The main character comes from a nuclear family with both parents being entrepreneurs, but they are mentally distant from him. Feeling neglected, he becomes obsessively drawn to the game, spending more time in the virtual world than in reality. The game ultimately serves as a cathartic experience, helping him navigate his feelings and find a way to escape his sense of neglect.
