Nader Soliman is an Egyptian artist based in Toronto, graduating with a BFA in Experimental Animation at OCAD University. His creative journey is inspired by his rich cultural background, the cinematic wonders of superhero movies and animations that helped shape his childhood. He specializes in 3D Animation and VFX to craft bold, boundary-pushing narratives and visuals. With a passion for innovation, he aims to captivate audiences by blending storytelling with advanced digital techniques, pushing the boundaries of animation.
January 2211
3D animation, 1920 x 1080p, 2025
My thesis short film January 2211, is a 3D sci-fi animation set in Egypt under a totalitarian AI dictatorship. The story begins in Tahrir Square, Cairo, during the 2011 revolution against Hosny Mubarak’s 30-year dictatorship. The protagonist, involved in the protests, is knocked unconscious and transported into a dream-like realm where he meets OMNI Ra, an AI Pharaoh who promises a perfect Egypt governed by artificial intelligence. However, the protagonist soon realizes the future is not as perfect as it looks. This work is deeply personal, reflecting my experiences growing up in Egypt and witnessing the events leading up to the 2011 revolution. I vividly recall the protests, the violence, and the hope that followed Mubarak’s resignation. However, Egypt’s political and economic instability, countless elections, and continuous leadership changes left the country in uncertainty. Inspired by the rise of AI technology, the idea of an AI-run government in Egypt emerged as a way to critique the ongoing cycle of failed leadership and broken promises. The title January 2211 suggests another uprising, 200 years after the 2011 revolution. For production, I used AI motion capture for body animations, facial motion capture in Unreal Engine. I built Tahrir square in Blender using a Google maps plugin and reference images. Drawing inspiration from Orwell's ""1984,"" the Seven Sleepers story, and Ancient Egyptian culture, I aimed to merge futuristic, ancient symbolism and political commentary. The Eye of Ra symbol in the story represents surveillance and protection, critiquing AI-driven governance and authoritarianism. My goal was to create a politically engaging work that highlights the dangers of AI leadership.
