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I'm Matt Stroud, a Maltese illustrator and animator focused on narrative-based art for children, blending entertainment with educational storytelling. I studied graphic design before discovering my passion for storytelling, and after completing a Masters in Animation I fell in love with pre-production and the role it plays in shaping art that resonates with young audiences. With over a decade in the industry, I've illustrated more than 30 children's books for publishers like Merlin, Klabb Kotba Maltin, BDL and Outlook, won four Terramaxka National Book Prizes, and created animations for the National Literacy Agency, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, and various organisations. I also co-created the Maltese preschool series Emme, which has gained wide appeal and is used as a teaching aid in many schools for Maltese literacy.…I'm Matt Stroud, a Maltese illustrator and animator focused on narrative-based art for children, blending entertainment with educational storytelling. I studied graphic design before discovering my passion for storytelling, and after completing a Masters in Animation I fell in love with pre-production and the role it plays in shaping art that resonates with young audiences. With over a decade in the industry, I've illustrated more than 30 children's books for publishers like Merlin, Klabb Kotba Maltin, BDL and Outlook, won four Terramaxka National Book Prizes, and created animations for the National Literacy Agency, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, and various organisations. I also co-created the Maltese preschool series Emme, which has gained wide appeal and is used as a teaching aid in many schools for Maltese literacy.

Matt Stroud

Illustrator, Animator, Graphic Designer, +2

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I'm Matt Stroud, a Maltese illustrator and animator focused on narrative-based art for children, blending entertainment with educational storytelling. I studied graphic design before discovering my passion for storytelling, and after completing a Masters in Animation I fell in love with pre-production and the role it plays in shaping art that resonates with young audiences. With over a decade in the industry, I've illustrated more than 30 children's books for publishers like Merlin, Klabb Kotba Maltin, BDL and Outlook, won four Terramaxka National Book Prizes, and created animations for the National Literacy Agency, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, and various organisations. I also co-created the Maltese preschool series Emme, which has gained wide appeal and is used as a teaching aid in many schools for Maltese literacy.…I'm Matt Stroud, a Maltese illustrator and animator focused on narrative-based art for children, blending entertainment with educational storytelling. I studied graphic design before discovering my passion for storytelling, and after completing a Masters in Animation I fell in love with pre-production and the role it plays in shaping art that resonates with young audiences. With over a decade in the industry, I've illustrated more than 30 children's books for publishers like Merlin, Klabb Kotba Maltin, BDL and Outlook, won four Terramaxka National Book Prizes, and created animations for the National Literacy Agency, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, and various organisations. I also co-created the Maltese preschool series Emme, which has gained wide appeal and is used as a teaching aid in many schools for Maltese literacy.

Available to hire

I’m Matt Stroud, a Maltese illustrator and animator focused on narrative-based art for children, blending entertainment with educational storytelling. I studied graphic design before discovering my passion for storytelling, and after completing a Masters in Animation I fell in love with pre-production and the role it plays in shaping art that resonates with young audiences.

With over a decade in the industry, I’ve illustrated more than 30 children’s books for publishers like Merlin, Klabb Kotba Maltin, BDL and Outlook, won four Terramaxka National Book Prizes, and created animations for the National Literacy Agency, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, and various organisations. I also co-created the Maltese preschool series Emme, which has gained wide appeal and is used as a teaching aid in many schools for Maltese literacy.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Intermediate

Intermediate

Language

English

Fluent

Maltese

Fluent

Work Experience

Freelance Illustrator and Animator at Esplora

September 1, 2016 - Present

Freelance illustrator/animator providing educational and promotional artwork and animations; illustrated 2 ecological picture books; collaborated with multiple publishers.

Children’s Book Illustrator at Esplora (Freelance)

September 1, 2016 - Present

Illustrated 16 children’s picture books for Merlin Publishers, A VC Publishing, Klabb Kotba Maltin and Outlook.

Illustrator at Ziguzajg

January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2024

Illustrated the main artwork for the 2022-2024 Ziguzajg festivals; contributed over 60 festival artworks; created intros/trailers for festivals based on the poster.

Explainer Animations Designer / Animator at CRPD

January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2025

Created explainer animations and graphics for the 2024 campaign; produced five animations for the 2025 awareness campaign.

Animator at National Book Council Malta

January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2023

Animated trailers for the 2021 and 2022 Malta Book Festivals; animated five book trailers in 2022; co-illustrated the large backdrop for the 2023 London Book Fair stand.

Illustrator / Designer at National Literacy Agency

September 1, 2016 - Present

Co-created, animated and illustrated the preschool web series 'Emme' (12 episodes) to be used as teaching aids in schools.

Illustrator at Malta Literacy Agency

September 1, 2016 - Present

Illustrated 12 big picture books used in reading sessions.

Animator at Malta Literacy Agency

September 1, 2016 - Present

Animated 11 2D short animations to Maltese nursery rhymes for educational purposes.

Designer/Animator at Malta Philharmonic Orchestra

September 1, 2016 - Present

Design and animation of 10 2D shorts totaling 40 minutes for the MPO Family Fanfare Concert.

Illustrator / 2D Animator at JP Advertising

September 1, 2016 - Present

Illustration and animation of a 2D 30s promo for Pfanner juice brand.

Storyboard Artist / Designer / Animator at Marketlink

September 1, 2016 - Present

Storyboarding for live-action promos; design and illustration of a mascot for J.Best Baked Bean; animation of a 30s promo for Hudson Group.

Mascot Designer at Radisson

September 1, 2016 - Present

Design and illustration of a mascot for family and child-oriented areas of their hotels.

Assistant Professor at American University of Malta

January 1, 2020 - May 31, 2021

Lecturing, tutoring and workshops for undergraduate students in 2D/3D animation and film studies.

Animator and Compositing Artist at Stargate Studios Malta

June 1, 2017 - April 30, 2018

Animated and composited 3D character elements for 'Sabuesos' (Spanish TV), plus compositing for 'Medici' (Italian TV) and 3D character work for 'Liliane Susewind' (German film).

Graphic Design Manager at The Coca-Cola Company / General Soft Drinks Ltd.

August 1, 2014 - September 30, 2016

Create and design artworks as part of branding; manage visuals for Coca-Cola products and national campaigns in Malta.

Head of Graphics at Media Link Ltd.

December 1, 2013 - August 31, 2014

Conceive promos/intros; brand/ad design; edit footage and animate assets for broadcast and web.