TEAM
FAHAD FAIZAL - Director
Fahad is an animation director, illustrator, and creative producer from India with over 20 years of experience in animation, design, and visual storytelling. A graduate of the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, he founded Plankton Collective, an award-winning animation and design studio, and co-founded Babakiki, an illustration and design practice exploring books, art, and handcrafted narratives. His work spans animated films, title sequences, advertising campaigns, educational content, and immersive storytelling experiences for clients including Netflix, National Geographic, UNICEF, Cartoon Network, YouTube, Apollo Tyres, and JBL. Fahad's practice blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, creating stories that are thoughtful, playful, and emotionally resonant. Passionate about illustration, publishing, and original intellectual properties, he continues to explore new ways of combining animation, design, and narrative to create meaningful experiences across films, brands, and cultural projects.
SUNAINA COELHO - Art Director
Sunaina is an illustrator, designer, and visual storyteller from India with over 2 decades of experience in illustration, publishing, and handcrafted visual communication. A graduate of the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, she is the co-founder of Babakiki, an art and design practice exploring books, illustration, and creative products, and has also co-led Plankton Collective on a wide range of animation and design projects. Her work spans children's books, editorial illustration, branding, animation, educational content, and visual storytelling for clients including Netflix, National Geographic, UNICEF, Cartoon Network, and YouTube. Inspired by everyday life, nature, and folklore, Sunaina's practice celebrates warmth, curiosity, and the handmade. She is passionate about creating meaningful visual experiences that encourage imagination, connection, and wonder across books, films, exhibitions, and collaborative creative projects.
SOORAJ NAMBIAR - Producer
Sooraj is a filmmaker, writer, director, and producer with more than two decades of experience across documentaries, advertising, corporate films, and feature cinema. A graduate of the National Institute of Design (NID), he has spent his career working at the intersection of storytelling and production.
Over the years, he has collaborated with organisations such as UNDP and the World Bank, brands including Amazon, Toyota, Reliance Trends, and Wildcraft, and production houses such as Aamir Khan Productions and Dibakar Banerjee Productions. He was Associate Director and a member of the writers’ room for Zwigato, working closely with Nandita Das on the film’s development.
Alongside his work as a filmmaker, Sooraj has taught at design and academic institutions across India, mentoring students in storytelling, filmmaking, and visual communication. He continues to develop original feature films and narrative projects.
HUGO RIBADEAU DUMAS - Research & Partnerships
Hugo is a researcher, writer, and cultural curator from France. He holds a PhD in urban studies from EHESS (Paris) and has over a decade of experience with international organisations and consulting firms, including the Aga Khan Foundation, the Agence Française de Développement, KPMG, and Altai Consulting. His work has focused on urban development, culture, and media ecosystems.
Hugo has been actively involved in India’s independent cultural scene. In Delhi, he co-created Indie Talkies, a platform dedicated to promoting Indian independent cinema through curated screenings. He also served as Guest Editor for the magazine Motherland, contributing to discussions around cinema, society, and underground culture.
Hugo grew up in Paris but has been living in India for nearly fifteen years. He speaks Hindi, Bangla, and Urdu, and is particularly interested in storytelling, alternative cultures, and the evolving creative industries of India.
Graduation Project Fellowship
At Plankton Collective, we support graduation projects by emerging animation designers from design schools across India. The programme is designed to nurture original voices by helping students develop their graduation films through creative mentorship and financial support.
Selected participants receive six months of guidance from our team, covering storytelling, visual development, animation, and production. Alongside mentorship, we provide financial assistance to help bring their projects to life.
Applicants are selected through an open application process based on the strength of their project proposal, concept pitch, and creative vision. Our goal is to create an environment where young filmmakers can experiment, refine their craft, and graduate with films that reflect their unique perspectives.
Email your pitch document to hello@planktonmail.com with the subject line: Application for Graduation Project Fellowship.
