In a Portland animation studio, two girls aged 8 and 9 have accomplished what many adult filmmakers only dream of — creating a stop-motion animated short that’s now screening at international film festivals. Their film, What We Imagined, explores themes of identity, imagination, and belonging, and represents a new model for youth creative education where children aren’t just learning about filmmaking — they’re becoming filmmakers themselves.
Behind this achievement is Shubhavi Arya, founder of Kids Studio, who understands the journey from young creator to international recognition firsthand. At age 12, her debut animation premiered at the Viborg Animation Festival in Denmark and Golden Snail Animation Film Festival in Serbia. By 16, she had written and directed Adventures of Malia, a story about a young girl who transforms into a mermaid to fight ocean pollution, which screened at over 49 film festivals in more than 18 countries, including the prestigious Chicago International Film Festival.
Now, instead of being the one on screen, Arya guides children through every step of professional film production — from storyboarding and character design to animation and post-production. Her approach combines her expertise as a licensed behavioral therapist with her background in animation, computer science, and health informatics, creating an inclusive learning environment that supports children of all abilities, including neurodivergent learners.
The success of What We Imagined demonstrates the effectiveness of this methodology. Written, designed, and animated entirely by the two young filmmakers with Arya serving as guide rather than creator, the film represents a shift in how youth creative education can work. Rather than teaching children to replicate adult work, the Portland-based studio empowers them to develop their own voices and tell their own stories.
Arya’s most recent personal work, Aniyah, a cinematic drama about motherhood, sacrifice, and migration directed in her early twenties, has screened at more than 27 film festivals in over 25 countries. This mature emotional vision and international perspective now inform her work with young animators, helping them understand that their stories can resonate globally.
The studio operates as part of the Aria Alessia Kids Center, a sibling-led initiative co-founded with software engineer Saatvik Arya, who was selected for over a dozen international film festivals by age 14 for his animated short Tempest. Together, the Arya siblings have created a platform where animation becomes more than an artform — it becomes a tool for identity formation, personal growth, and global dialogue.
This cross-disciplinary approach, blending behavioral psychology with technical animation skills, creates a unique educational model. Children learn not just the mechanics of filmmaking but also develop emotional insight, storytelling abilities, and creative confidence. The studio’s emphasis on child development and cognitive psychology ensures that young creators are supported throughout their creative journey.
As What We Imagined continues its festival run, it serves as proof that children’s voices deserve to be seen and heard on the same stages as established filmmakers. Through Kids Studio’s innovative programs, a new generation of animators is emerging — one that doesn’t have to wait until adulthood to share their perspectives with the world.
The movement Arya has built extends beyond teaching technical skills. It’s about fundamentally changing who gets to tell stories and when they get to tell them. In an industry where young voices are often overlooked, Kids Studio stands as evidence that age doesn’t determine the value or impact of creative expression.
