Spread the love

Tisha Virani

Artist Profile

Welcome to Scaredy Cats Studios — where imagination meets intention.

Founded by Tisha Virani, Scaredy Cats Studios is an animation and graphics company dedicated to bringing ideas to life through the power of visual storytelling. We believe every client has a unique vision, and we make it our mission to craft tailored creative solutions that capture your voice, elevate your message, and resonate with your audience. Whether you’re building a brand, telling a story, or creating something entirely new, we’re here to turn your ideas into vibrant, engaging visuals with care, creativity, and character.

Blending her love for film, storytelling, and drawing, Tisha has built a career rooted in visual imagination and handcrafted detail. Inspired early on by Cartoon Network, Laika Studios, and artists like Henry Selick, she developed a deep passion for both 2D and stop-motion animation—especially the lifelike, atmospheric quality that makes the medium so uniquely expressive.

Tisha holds a BFA in 2D and Stop-Motion Animation from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. She is proficient in industry-standard software. Professionally, Tisha specialises in 2D and stop motion animation, with a growing body of work across the US and the UAE. She has served as an animator and fabricator on The Golden Calf (Studio X, San Francisco), contributing to concept design, stop motion set and prop fabrication, 2D animation, and paper-cut animation. Her stop-motion set design for the project earned her the Winner title at the Academy of Art University Spring Show 2023, with her stop-motion puppet work receiving Runner-Up.

Tisha also contributed to Patricia Arquette’s directorial debut Gonzo Girl (RH Negative Entertainment) as a paper-cut puppet fabricator and stop-motion animator, and she has worked with several Los Angeles studios—including Meralta Films as a Post Assistant, providing transcription, editing notes and graphics supervision for Netflix docuseries such as Muslim Matchmaking and Bollywood Dance U. At Imaginerick Studios in LA, she expanded her fabrication skills with creature and SFX fabrication, prop design, and prosthetic application work.

In Dubai, Tisha works as an Animator, Designer, and Creative Assistant with Artistree, creating assets for pitch decks, social media, and branding, animating motion graphics and short films, and helping organize and host art exhibitions and workshops. She has also collaborated long-term with First & Ten Productions as a graphic designer, storyboard artist, editor, and production assistant—storyboarding for brands such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Red Bull, and supporting productions including the Emmy Award–winning Indian Matchmaking. Earlier in her career, she worked in social media management for Versatile Group, adding content strategy and digital branding to her skill set.

In addition to her animation work, Tisha is currently a full-time freelance animator and graphic designer, collaborating with clients across the UAE and India. She specialises in creating brand assets, pitch materials, and custom logo designs, offering tailored visual solutions that help companies establish a clear and memorable identity. Through her freelance practice, she continues to bring storytelling, design, and craftsmanship together—ensuring every project, big or small, receives thoughtful, creative attention.

Tisha Virani

Artist Profile

Animation has always been a passion of mine as I’ve always seen it as a way to combine my love for film and storytelling with my love for drawing. I’ve always loved finding ways to elevate the way I’m creating art and I think the best way to watch it come to life is through animation. Some of my biggest inspirations growing up were the shows on Cartoon Network as well as the projects of Laika Studios and I would love to work for either of those companies one day. I have always had a very intense fascination with stop motion animation in all its forms. I always have loved the way that everything has such a lifelike and handmade quality to it, and how all the so-called ‘imperfections’ add to the character of the story itself. I also love the aesthetic and style of it and especially how it naturally lends itself to darker or creepier stories and allows for a very unique style of character and set design. I am inspired by Henry Selick and his character design in films such as the Corpse Bride and Coraline. His design leans well into the inherent creepiness that comes with the animation form while still creating an aesthetically pleasing visual.

As an animator, I am looking into pursuing 2D Animation and Stop Motion Animation in particular. As of now I am qualified to work as a junior animator, a storyboard artist and a production assistant in the industry. My goal is to be able to spearhead projects of my own design as well take on roles such as senior animator. My qualifications include a Bachelor’s Degree in Animation and I also have relevant work experience as storyboard artist, an editor and also a production assistant as well as stop motion fabrication and set building experience. I am proficient in industry standard software including, but not limited to, Toon Boom Harmony, Maya 3D and Adobe Suite. I also possess a well rounded portfolio that shows a range of work from animation specific work such as character turnarounds and set design to fine art elements such as figure drawing. I am hoping to work on advancing my background art as well as take my character animation up to a professional level. Along with school, I have pursued external opportunities as well, for example a mentorship under a renowned Art Director who has over twenty years of experience in the field.