efehan

Efehan Elbi

I am an award-winning animator, writer, and interactive designer in Toronto.

With a constant desire to craft stories in animation, code, poetry and prose, and music, my current project IN COLD DARK aims to bring these mediums together for an interactive tale of life choices, regret, and striking spacey futures.

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In Cold Dark

Game | In Progress, 2017 - Present

as done\undone ~ Creator, Director

Three years scouting the distant reaches of the galaxy. You’ve been all on your own, but now it's time to head back, to SAGI 499: a divided colonial society on the edge of the Sagittarius spiral, and your home. Old friends calling, new faces to meet, political turmoil … and hints of something far stranger. What will you choose?

Team

Efehan Elbi ~ Game Director, Story, Writer, and Illustrator
Miguel Garcia ~ Environment Design, Pixel Artist and Writer
Adam Capoferri ~ Programmer, Interaction Designer, and Gravity Engineer
Sebastian Szczachor ~ Audio and Ambiance

Mirror Mountain Film Festival, 2019 -- Ottawa, Ontario
Comics x Games, 2021 -- Toronto, Ontario

>> Site and Playable Demo

Rainfall

Short Film | 2016

Writer, Director, Animator

Jessica experiences her first date, her first kiss, and her first heartache after an unforgettable evening in the storm.

Cast and Crew

Starring:
Molly C. Quinn

Directed / Animated by:
Efehan Elbi

Produced by:
Aleksey Matviyenko

Original music:
Joel Harvey

Beverly Hills Film Festival, 2016 -- Hollywood, California
Rome International Film Festival. 2016 -- Rome, Georgia
Seattle Shorts Film Festival, 2016 -- Seattle, Washington
Mirror Mountain Film Festival, 2016 -- Ottawa, Ontario
Canadian Film Fest, 2017 -- Toronto, Ontario
British Animation Film Fest, 2017 -- London, UK

Win
Best Animation, Beverly Hills Film Festival, 2016
Audience Award, Seattle Shorts Film Festival, 2016
Best Director, Mirror Mountain Film Festival, 2016
Best Director (shorts), Canadian Film Fest, 2017
Best Sound, British Animation Film Fest, 2017

Nomination
Best Animation, Seattle Shorts Film Festival, 2016

Upcoming

Codename: Starry

Cozy Game | In Progress

Creator

Escape your troubles! See the stars! Take on a chill freelance contract, and spend as long as you want out on the rim, discovering new systems. Visit Distant Star's nethub for more information!

Science Fiction Novel

Poetry Book | In Progress

Author

Drama in the Voye, in the Waie.

(Novel)

Novel | In Progress

Author

Currently in writing, a continuation of an earlier written work, at long last.

A Few Grand Letters

Poetry Book | In Progress

Author

A collection of poetic works by Efehan, collected into a book for the first time.

2021

Era

These Castles Album | 2021

Composer & Synth

Era is written and recorded largely during the first months of the pandemic, as well as refined through-out. An interrupted journey, violent and disjointed songs that represent this turmoiled time in chipstyle. Written and played entirely on Korg DS-10 or Korg DSN-12.

Available on all streaming sites

2020

One Thousand Towns

These Castles Album | 2020

Composer & Synth

One Thousand Towns is an album written and edited over the last few years. The entire album represents one journey, an ode to the beautiful game soundtracks that have inspired These Castles, as well as well as an attempt to evoke a consistent narrative in chipstyle. Written and played entirely on Korg DS-10 or Korg DSN-12.

Available on all streams Listen on Spotify

All To Say

Poem | 2020

Author / Performer

A spoken-word poem about deep love and connections.

Published by Feels Zine, Kinship Issue.

2019

Bloodsuckers: Mosquito Meal Quest

Museum Game | 2019

with the Royal Ontario Museum ~ Designer, Coder

An interactive experience featured in the Bloodsuckers: From Legends To Leeches exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum, a 3D education interactive where the player looks for their next bloodmeal as a mosquito in the woods.

"Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches" exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum, 2019

Win
Overall Winner at the 32nd Annual American Alliance of Museums Excellence in Exhibition Competition

Shipper

Zine | 2019

published by done\undone

A visceral short story. Two girls take an unsanctioned journey out into the wilds beyond their vella, unbeknownst to their elders.

For sale at Word on the Street and Canzine, 2019

2019 Singles

These Castles Music | 2019

Composer & Synth

These Castles is an electronic sound, inspired and powered by the gorgeous video game soundtracks, both old and new, thoughtful pauses and the adventures you haven't found yet. Written and played entirely on Korg DS-10 or Korg DSN-12.

~ Dawn
~ Glass Hearts
~ At Grace Point
~ Eternity

Available on all streams Listen on Spotify

Odd Squad Mobile Unit

Television | 2019 - Present

with Sinking Ship Ent ~ Compositor, Animator

Animation and compositing work on Sinking Ship Entertainment's follow up to their hit series, Odd Squad.

Endlings

Television | 2019 - Present

with Sinking Ship Ent ~ Compositor, Animator

Animation and compositing work on Sinking Ship Entertainment's follow up to their hit series, Odd Squad.

2018

In The Reaches

Illustrated Storybook | 2018

published by done\undone ~ Author, Illustrator

“In The Reaches” is a collaboration between Efehan Elbi and Melinda Kamath, a sprawling journey through striking landscapes, a colourful cosmos, and beautiful scriptwork, art and the prose itself written by Efehan and the beautiful calligraphy by Melinda.

Canzine & Word On The Street, 2019
Launch event at Glad Day Bookshop, 2018

Zuul: 3D Fossil Viewers

Museum Interactive | 2018

with the Royal Ontario Museum ~ Designer, Coder

An interactive experience to view 3d scanned fossils of Zuul, a new species of dinosaur discovered by the Royal Ontario Museum.

Exhibition launch at the Royal Ontario Museum, 2018

2018 Singles

These Castles Music | 2018

Composer & Synth

Available on all streams Listen on Spotify

2017

House of Anansi: Holiday 2017

Ad | 2017

for House of Anansi ~ Animator

A collaboration with Patrick Gray to bring to life beautiful illustrations, showcasing House of Anansi's holiday packages and deals.

2016

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Rainfall

Short Film | 2016

Writer, Director, Animator

Jessica experiences her first date, her first kiss, and her first heartache after an unforgettable evening in the storm.

Cast and Crew

Starring:
Molly C. Quinn

Directed / Animated by:
Efehan Elbi

Produced by:
Aleksey Matviyenko

Original music:
Joel Harvey

Nomination
Best Animation, Seattle Shorts Film Festival, 2016

Space Breakers

Feature Film | 2016

with Family Contact ~ Actor, Camera

"The year is 1991, the universe is not our own, but rather a high-technology utopia wherein humanity stretches across multple star-systems, and manages an addiction to cream-based foodstuffs and perpetual body-modification.

Following an altogether alien holiday celebration, three bros (Zak Tatham, Aaron Mancyzk and Efehan Elbi) witness a commercial for an intergalactic mall known as "the biosphere", and, with the help of Zak’s sister Tima, hijack a spaceship in an effort to fulfill the libidinal desires promised by the advertisement.

Cast, crew, and more info

The resulting adventure is an anarchic comedy that pays tribute to JOHN CARPENTER’S DARK STAR and Tarkovsky’s SOLARIS, but with a hyperactive energy akin to the work of Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, and a transgressive edge reminiscent of John Waters."

Made by:
Zak Tatham, Aaron Manczyk, Jacob Wiebe, Efehan Elbi, Joe

What The Film Fest, 2016 -- Toronto, Ontario

Odd Squad Season 2.5

Television | 2016 - 2017

with Sinking Ship Ent ~ Digital Graphics, Animation

Digital graphics and interactive apps for the shooting and later post work on Sinking Ship Entertainment's third season of their hit series, Odd Squad.

Bookaboo

Television | 2015 - 2016

with Sinking Ship Ent ~ Lead Animator

Compositing and re-illustration work, followed by animation to bring storybooks to life as read by a celebrity each episode.

Lain & Jess

Zine | 2019

published by done\undone

Short stories centered around Lain and Jessica, best friends from Moonlines and other connected works.

2015

Moonlines

Novel | 2015

Author

Recently-dumped and searching for distraction, Lain comes across an ad seeking an investigative partner (objective to be made clear upon acceptance). She can't resist responding. Later, as the shadows gather around her, ashes in her hands, Lain wonders how far into the darkness she is willing to go.

Team

by Efehan Elbi
Cover art by Jennie Ziemianin
Edited by Amanda Lucier

Word On The Street, 2019
Canzine, 2016-2019
Released as eBook on all major platforms

The Adventures of Napkin Man

Television | 2015

with Little Tugboat ~ Compositor

Compositing animated elements, including Napkin Man himself, into the real world backgrounds and moving camera shots.

Earlier

Genevieve: Chapter

Graphic Novel | 2013

Author, Artist

Word On The Street, 2019
Canzine, Many Years
TCAF, Many Years

Living With Friends

Web series | 2010 - 2013

with Family Contact ~ Actor, Director, VFX

Surreal webseries starring Aaron, Zak, and the soon lost Efehan, where friends try to live and thrive together in a world of romance, goths, and sci-fi diversions.

Multiple theatrical screenings, 2010 - 2013 -- Toronto, Ontario

Cold East (Written By A Kid, ep 5)

Web series | 2012

for Geek & Sundry ~ Director, Animator

"No imagination is greater than that of a kid! Today’s hottest online directors bring these videos to life, inspired by the inventive and fantastical tales told by real children."

Directed and animated a fun and dark tale of life in a surveilled refrigerator community, as told by Ryan.

Crew

Episode directed & animated by Efehan Elbi
Music by Aaron Manczyk
Special features by Zak Tatham
Project Management by Katlyn Olo

150k+ views, YouTube

So Then Don't Wait

Short film | 2012

Director, Animator

Vimeo Staff Pick, 2008

San Francisco Indie Fest, 2009 -- San Francisco, California

Felicia Day's The Flog

Web series | 2012 - 2014

for Geek & Sundry ~ Animator

Join Felicia each week as she explores new experiences, curates the best links from around the web, and connects with her fans, friends, and family.

Design and animation for a fully animated intro sequence.

250-500k+ views, YouTube

Genevieve: Past

Graphic Novel | 2012

Author, Artist

Word On The Street, 2019
Canzine, Many Years
TCAF, Many Years

Ancestors

Music video | 2011

with Jed Whedon & The Willing ~ Director, Animator

Ancestors is a view of a broken and worn out Earth as a ship takes off.

Fantastic Planet Film Festival, 2016 -- Sydney, Australia

Best Music Video, Fantastic Planet Film Festival, 2016
Vimeo Staff Pick, 2011

The Gunslingers II

Short Animation | 2009

Family Contact ~ Director, Animator

The Gunslingers

Short Animation | 2008

Family Contact ~ Director, Animator

Beverly Hills Shorts Festival, 2009 -- Beverly Hills, California

Genevieve: Volume One

Graphic Novel | 2009

Author, Artist

Word On The Street, 2019
Canzine, Many Years
TCAF, Many Years

That Autumn Feeling

Short Animation | 2008

Director, Animator

Vimeo Staff Pick, 2008

Calamitous Orphan for the E.L.E.

Short film | 2008

Director, Animator

"My shining super-parents think I'm worth nothing. Consequently, I want to get into the League, but it might be hard because I burn down a lot of the bridges I walk over literally, on accident, and I'm sorry for those dizzy travellers, but I'll create dizzier."

Selected for extra featres on Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog DVD, 2008

Attackulus

Student Film | 2004

Director, Animator

A student wrestles with a calculus equation, literally.
Live action + animation hybrid.

Toronto Student Film Fest, 2004 -- Toronto, Ontario

3rd place in Overall Film Production, TSFF, 2004