Sy Huq becomes first Bangladeshi-American creative executive in Japan’s anime industry

Sy Huq (Sayem Huq), a Bangladeshi-American film director, screenwriter, and producer, has become the first Bangladeshi-American creative executive in Japan's anime industry. He joined D'ART Shtajio, the first major African-American-owned anime studio in Japanese history. Huq's films, including Things That Fall (2019), Boys (2021), and Oh, Mighty Ocean (2022), have won numerous awards, including an AT&T Film Award, a Stage 32 Film Award, an ISA Fellowship, and an Imagine Impact Creators Network Screenwriting Staff Pick. He also produced The Journey (2022) with Toei Animation and Manga Productions, the first-ever animated feature film collaboration between Japanese and Saudi studios. As the new lead executive producer, Huq will spearhead the studio's creative and strategic initiatives, acting as a bridge between anime production in the East and the West. Arthell Isom, CEO of D'ART Shtajio, expressed gratitude for Huq's appointment and expressed gratitude to Animation Magazine for providing a platform to inspire generations of multi-faceted storytellers. Huq was born in Trondheim, Norway, and graduated from UCLA's Professionals Programme in Producing.