Mohd Azhari
Animator and Motion Graphic Designer, Centre for Content Creation, 2009
Diploma in Animation & Multimedia Design
I would say that the Generasi Baru programme has indeed given new hope and new routes to success and opporturnities for young, talented and creative Malaysians to pursue a higher education.
07 August 2009
Official Website
Small Town Boy meets Industry Giant
Written by Christine Chan
After serving in the country’s National Service programme, Mohd. Azhari had ambitions of becoming a soldier. His mother, who noticed her son’s talents in the arts, decided to enroll him in Limkokwing University under the Generasi Baru programme instead, a qualification that has granted him a ticket to work alongside Malaysia’s most renowned cartoonist, Datuk Lat. Christine Chan has the story.
Working with Malaysia’s ambassador of drawing, Datuk Lat is certainly an opportunity that doesn’t pass by often. Most often, it might be once a lifetime opportunity and becomes an experience not to be missed, but this was the opportunity that occurred for 21-year old Mohd Azhari bin Ahmad.
“Wow, it was like a dream come true to work with someone of significance and who possesses great talent,” said Mohd Azhari.
Taking his experience as an animator and motion graphic designer at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Mohd Azhari displayed his skills when he was appointed by Datuk Lat for a stage animation project in conjunction with the 16th World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) May 2008. Six scenes, each of them sketches from Datuk Lat, came to life with each depicting “What’s going to happen next” during WCIT’s gala dinner.
The scenes definitely kept one entertained, with each scene lasting for approximately 10 seconds to one minute. The scenes are indeed short but it definitely narrates the gala dinner with precision. Some of the funky namesb given to the scenes are “Limbo Rock”, “James Boon”, “Space Durian”, “Bye Bye”, “Dinner”, “Guitar” and “Lelong”.
I’ve learned how to communicate and work with successful people and learn from them as much as I can, it’s not about creating something new by myself anymore, it’s about learning to adapt to the client’s wants and direction, instilling flexibility in creativity
One of the best scenes is the “Space Durian”. “Space Durian” illustrates an astronaut with a Malaysian flag aka Datuk Sheikh Muszaphor Shukor and a durian fruit floating in the space ship.
“Datuk Lat wanted to promote Malaysia in the eyes of the foreign guests of WCIT. It shows Malaysia’s achievement of sending out the first Malaysian to space in the Soyuz-FG rocket and to promote Malaysia’s popular local fruit delight, the durian,” explained Mohd Azhari.
Working on such a major project with Datuk Lat is certain to be something Mohd Azhari will always cherish. “Datuk Lat is really down to earth, always guiding me, sharing his knowledge and ideas.”
“I’m more matured now,” said Mohd Azhari as he laughed softly. “I’ve learned how to communicate and work with successful people and learn from them as much as I can.”
“It’s not about creating something new by myself anymore, it’s about learning to adapt to the client’s wants and direction, instilling flexibility in creativity,” added he.
Managing six different set of scenes was challenging for Mohd Azhari but he was not alone. Wong Jenn Ting, an animator and motion graphic designer, also worked hand in hand with Mohd Azhari throughout the project.
On the subject of Mohd Azhari’s future plans, he confides that he wishes to open an animation company called ‘Azimax’. “Azi is my nickname and ‘max’ means maximum, hence I am all out to give my best to my clients and bring my business to an international level,” expressed Mohd Azhari with full confidence and hope.
Mohd Azhari is certainly going somewhere in life with his high determination and aspiration. But does he ever imagine how life would have been like for him had he decided on a different path after his studies?
“It was my early hopes to join the army after serving my National Service,” Mohd Azhari chuckled. His mother, nonetheless, recognized the talent in art that was nestled in him and encouraged him to enter Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.
“My mother was my true inspiration; she too had a beautiful talent of sketching portraits using pencil or charcoal,” confessed Mohd. Azhari, who is a Negeri Sembilan native born in the small town of Jempol.
I would say that the Generasi Baru programme has indeed given new hope and new routes to success and opporturnities for young, talented and creative Malaysians to pursue a higher education.
Knowing she had to give her son the opportunity that she did not have during her younger days, with her full love and confidence in her son, she supported Mohd. Azhari all the way as he entered the “Generasi Baru” programme jointly run by FELDA and Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. Mohd. Azhari’s life has never been the same again.
“I would say that the Generasi Baru programme has indeed given new hope and new routes to success and opporturnities for young, talented and creative Malaysians to pursue a higher education,” Mohd. Azhari concluded.
