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Saira UmarChief Creative Officer & Writing Program Lead
Saira Umar is a part of the core leadership team of Asians in Animation, and as Chief Creative Officer will lead creative storytelling strategy across the organization’s expanding slate of original projects. Joining in 2021, she previously led the Creative Department, which was in charge of creating graphics for social media, spanning topics of Asian representation in animation and media. More recently, she served as Program Lead and Executive Producer (Showrunner) for the 2025 TV Pilot Pre-Production Program, an eight-month industry simulation creating a 40+ minute animatic episode, 'Tea Leaves Last.' Through these efforts, she has led and mentored over 250 emerging Asian talents including artists, writers, production, voice actors, and composers. Saira writes immersive stories that leave a lasting, positive impact, and is especially passionate about stories grounded in themes of identity, family and culture, and following dreams, with a touch of whimsy. With a interdisciplinary background including musical theater, psychology, and fashion & scenic design, she brings these sensibilities as a creative leader to always keep the big picture in mind. Currently, she works as a Production Assistant at Marvel Animation and previously worked at Titmouse on various shows including Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld, Digman!, and KEVIN. Saira has written for PBS Kids, Skillsville, and trained as a screenwriter in the PBS Children's Writing Program. She was previously a Semi-Finalist in the Disney Television Writing Program, Universal Animation Writing Program and Walt Disney Imagineering Imaginations. She also trained with the Writers' Guild Foundation in their Support Staff Training Program, as well as under executives through Unlock Her Potential, Creative Futures Collective, and Women in Animation. Previously, she also participated in Disney College Program in Disney World, was a cancer research fellow with the National Institutes of Health, and has worked as an Humanities and Arts teacher and curriculum developer. In her spare time, she also loves puzzles & escape rooms, enjoying good food, and crafts. An avid lover of books and immersive stories, she especially loves mythology & world cultures. CONNECT Website |
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