The world of animation has been a part of our lives as early as 1927 when Walt Disney created his first animated series and films, titled Oswald and the Lucky Duck. One year later, in 1928, Oswald was changed and transformed into the all-time favorite character we now know as Mickey Mouse. Fast-forward to today, the global animation market size is estimated to be at $391 billion, and a slice of it has belonged to Cyprus since 2008.

Two years ago, FutureTalks met with Michael Kalopaidis, the visionary founder and owner of Zedem Media, an animation powerhouse founded and based in Cyprus. As we delved into his inspiring story, it became evident that Michael's passion for his craft and his unwavering determination have propelled Zedem Media to remarkable heights in the world of animation.

Michael's journey began with his pursuit of a media management education, which took him from the vibrant cityscape of Chicago to the cultural hub of London. Equipped with valuable knowledge and a burning desire to make a difference, he returned to his homeland, Cyprus. Little did he know that the company he initially worked for would eventually become Zedem's most valued client, setting the stage for their rise to prominence.

In 2008, Zedem Media was born, blending the realms of animation and live-action to create captivating videos for live distribution—an unconventional concept at the time. Their early projects involved producing video content for corporate training, presenting Michael with the challenge of compressing two-minute videos into a mere two megabytes. Undeterred by limitations, Zedem Media soon ventured into more advanced animations, sparking a transformative chain of events.

An opportunity arose when Zedem joined a global competition organized by IEEE, the world’s foremost technical professional organization committed to advancing technology for the betterment of humanity. The task was to create an animated video that explained fuzzy logic, a precursor to artificial intelligence and machine learning. 

Zedem emerged victorious, catching the attention of TED, the renowned platform for sharing innovative ideas. TED offered a collaboration, leading to the creation of the first TedEd animated lessons—a groundbreaking initiative that brought together creatives and academics on a global scale, one lesson being “Eureka!”. Together, they successfully completed over 35 animated projects, solidifying their collaboration as a true passion project turned resounding success.

From this remarkable journey, Zedem Media aimed to expand their horizons from the shores of Cyprus to the vast global landscape. Michael knew that to achieve such growth, he had to be an extroverted entrepreneur, not limiting his thoughts to the local market but instead envisioning the vast opportunities the world had to offer.

This led to a number of collaborations from organizations around the world. With Canva, the Australian start-up unicorn, to PwC Belgium, The School of Life in the UK, the European Commission, and more recently, the prestigious Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (MFA). The MFA entrusted Zedem with creating a film illustrating the intricate process of crafting Greek vases, which are part of the museum's esteemed permanent collection.

But the studio does not limit itself to only client projects. The studio also invests in its own original works. One of their standout accomplishments is the short film "Parrot Lady," a poignant tale funded by the studio itself and supported by the state. The film depicts the life of an elderly lady who chooses to dwell on the streets with her parrots, driven by a fear of passing away unnoticed. "Parrot Lady" garnered recognition at 55 festivals worldwide, including 10 Oscar-qualified events, and received approximately 10 esteemed awards—an astonishing testament to the studios' storytelling prowess.

As Michael dove deeper into the business side of the animation industry, he shed light on its three distinct pillars. Firstly, the commission pillar caters to various clients and projects, enabling the studio to leverage their expertise and deliver top-notch content. Secondly, the realm of feature films and short films, although not always lucrative, serves as a platform for passionate storytellers to bring their visions to life and hone their craft. 

Lastly, the realm of TV series and episodic animation emerges as a significant business, necessitating substantial funding and investment for a full season. Michael explained the intricacies of pitching processes and the importance of seeking broadcasters and investors to transform these creative concepts into reality. To adapt to this landscape, Zedem embarked on developing their own intellectual properties (IPs) in the form of TV series two years ago.

Their hard work paid off when their first animated series project, ‘The Makers’, was accepted into the prestigious Cartoon Forum, Europe's largest pitching forum for animation. This milestone caught the attention of a prominent distribution company in the United States that agreed to join as the distributor of the series.

Michael emphasized the importance of staying attuned to industry trends and cultivating meaningful interactions with clients and investors. Identifying and nurturing talent is also paramount, as Zedem Media constantly seeks to match their projects with skilled individuals who can contribute to their success. Furthermore, investing in the development of IPs, such as movies and TV series, is a strategic move to solidify their position in the industry and explore new avenues of creativity.

In the Future Talks episode, Michael expressed that, “the main challenge for Cyprus-based studios is scalability. There is simply not enough home grown industry-ready talent. Simultaneously, attracting talent from more mature markets proves to be very challenging.” 

In response, Zedem actively engages with universities in Cyprus, creating synergies that aim to foster growth and innovation in the audio-visual and animation sectors and help young graduates in entering the market. Zedem also collaborates with selected freelancers around the world. As global connectivity becomes increasingly enhanced, the future of Cyprus seems more promising in gaining a stronger position in this creative industry.

In a conversation with Michael, he shared his perspectives on Zedem’s impact, their journey, and what the future holds for Zedem Media and the animation industry.

“Reflecting on the last two years since our talk with Michael Tyrimos, I am very happy with the impact that we had on our local community. As a studio, our vision is to create a positive social impact through the art of animation. We do that either through our personal projects or through our various collaborations with non-profits, research institutions and startups.

In the past two years, we completed many projects that fall within this direction but few stand out. Specifically, we helped ‘Insavior’ a local startup to launch an app that aims to support women who face any kind of threat from violent behaviors. We’ve supported Birdlife Cyprus and the Cyprus Forestry department with their publicity campaigns and we are also happy to say that we won a Golden Carob for our film on ‘Heartland of Legends’, an initiative by the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism.

We’ve also created projects that deal with Cyprus’ cultural heritage. More specifically, we’ve worked with the Athienou Museum, the Antiquities Department, the Ministry of Education and more importantly the Cyprus Food Museum with whom we created an interactive project on the history of Halloumi. We have also supported Yiannis Christoforou, a fellow filmmaker, with pro-bono work so that he could complete a very promising short film titled ‘Underground’.”

For aspiring animators and creators, Michael offered invaluable advice. He encouraged them to adopt a global mindset, exploring opportunities beyond the boundaries of Cyprus. By continuously investing in personal growth and skill development, animators can stay ahead of the curve and embrace future projects with enthusiasm. Michael emphasized the importance of forward-thinking, urging creatives to ponder their next steps and envision the projects they aspire to create or be part of - and then plan their future in a way that helps them achieve their goals.

The profound journey of Zedem Media and its visionary owner, Michael Kalopaidis, exemplifies the power of passion, determination, and a global perspective. From humble beginnings, Zedem has evolved into a creative force, leaving an indelible mark on the animation industry. Their collaborations with global organizations, accomplishments in film festivals, and other ventures reflect their unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries and telling captivating stories.

As Zedem Media and its creative team continues to pioneer the Cyprus animation landscape, they remain an inspiration to aspiring animators, showcasing the potential of the industry to create jobs, attract investors, and in shaping cultural fabric. More importantly, Zedem creates a positive social impact through the support of various local and international non-profits and startups. With an eye on the future, Zedem and its team are poised to soar to even greater heights, armed with their creativity, innovation, and a resolute commitment to artistic excellence.