Antônio Carreira Alvim de Macedo Soares: Turning Personal Stories into Powerful Worlds
For 14-year-old Brazilian creator Antônio Carreira Alvim de Macedo Soares, animation is more than just a creative outlet. It is a way to transform personal challenges into meaningful stories. His passion for drawing, storytelling, and film has driven him to create his own original universe, beginning with a spark from childhood inspirations like The Amazing Spider-Man (2008) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
From Sketches to a Full Universe
Antônio began his journey by drawing endlessly and dreaming up stories. Over time, these sketches evolved into characters, and those characters turned into complete narratives. “I started making mini animations on my iPad,” he says. When one idea felt ready to grow into something larger, he developed a full script and visual direction, then assembled a team to bring his drawings to life.
A Unique World Built From Within
What sets Antônio’s work apart is the deeply personal nature of his project. “This was created by a 14-year-old who transformed a problem in his life into an audiovisual piece,” he shares. The result is a fantasy world full of color, emotion, and imagination, grounded by a drawing style and narrative structure that are entirely his own.
Guiding the Vision
As a director and visual lead, Antônio took an active role in shaping the animation. “You cannot have an audiovisual piece without someone to guide it,” he says. From script to screen, he was hands-on and not afraid to ask for revisions or push for stronger visuals. “I am the guy who says ‘do it again’ if it is not right,” he adds with a smile.
Striking the Right Balance
Creating a story that matched the vision in his head was not easy. “The first script had a completely different idea from the final version,” he admits. His biggest challenge was finding balance, which he calls the “Ying and Yang of animation,” between his imagination and the reality of production. Through collaboration and adaptability, he brought that vision to life.
Tools of a Young Creator
Antônio used Procreate on his iPad to create the entire visual concept for his film. Once completed, he passed the artwork to an animation team who helped bring his characters into motion. His approach combines personal artistry with teamwork, allowing his original ideas to move and speak in vibrant new ways.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Antônio hopes his work encourages other young creatives to bring their ideas to life. “I want my stories to inspire children and young people who have this artistic gift inside them,” he says. His message is clear: take something difficult, turn it into something creative, and let that story reach others.
Big Dreams on the Horizon
He is already planning more. His goal is to develop an animated series about Joaquim and Call that spans several seasons and reaches a wide audience. He also has other projects in mind, exploring new characters and stories. “If Joaquim and Call is successful,” he says, “maybe I will return to that universe again someday.”
Advice for Fellow Creators
“If you believe in your idea, it is already more than special,” Antônio says. He encourages others to take risks, even when they are unsure how their work will be received. “Do not be afraid to tell the story you want to tell.”
Gratitude and a First Step Toward a Dream
Antônio ends with a heartfelt message. “I love working with these characters that are so special to me. I am very happy they were recognized in this festival.” For him, this recognition is not the end. It is just the beginning of something much bigger. “This is one step toward a dream that is getting closer to becoming a reality.”
To see Antônio’s work, visit https://www.instagram.com/joaquim_call/.