Dr Monireh Astani

Senior Lecturer

Digital, Tech, Innovation & Business

Dr Monireh Astani is a researcher and practitioner in animation, creative, and immersive media, with a PhD in Media Studies. With over a decade of professional experience in animation and media production, Monireh is now a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Creative Industries at the University of Staffordshire, leading the Animation Program’s 2D pathway. Monireh’s research and practice interests include the application of art and technology for education and mental and physical well-being, immersive and interactive education and storytelling, employability in animation and creative industries, cultural and creative practices, animation production, and experimental media arts.

 

Dr Astani welcomes PhD candidates from all creative disciplines.

Professional memberships and activities

- Society for Animation Studies (SAS)

- Innovate UK’s Immersive Tech Network

- Creative Edinburgh

Academic qualifications

- PhD Media Studies, Maynooth University, Ireland

- MA Animation, Tehran University of Art, Iran

- BA Visual Communication (Graphics), Alzahra University, Iran

 

Expertise

- Animation Production

- Pitch Development

- 2D Animation

- 2D Cut-Out Animation

- Storyboarding

- Visual Design

- Creative and Cultural Practices

- Animation Theory & Practice

- Animation History

- Iranian Animation

- Experimental Art

- Education and Employability

- Research

- Practice-based Research

Research interests

- Animation Production

- Application of Art and Technology for Education

- Application of Art and Technology for Mental and Physical Well-being

- Immersive and Interactive Education

- Immersive and Interactive Storytelling

- Cultural and Creative Practices

- Experimental Media Art

- Employability in Animation

- Employability in Creative Industries

Grants

- ASIFA-Hollywood’s Animation Educators Forum 2020-21 Scholarship

- Maynooth University HEA COVID-19 Fund

- John and Pat Hume Postgraduate Research Scholarship

Teaching

- Animation Production

- Pitch Development

- 2D Animation

- 2D Cut-Out Animation

- Animation in Virtual Reality

- Storyboarding

- Story Development

- Animation Theory & Practice

- Animation History

- Abstract and Experimental Animation

- Adult-oriented Animation

- Iranian Animation

- Life Drawing

- Visual Design

- Creative Media

- Education & Employability

Publications

- Astani, M. 2024, “Beyond Representation: Reimagining Shahnameh in Abstracted Forms of Animation”, Animation Studies Journal, vol. 19, to be published in December.

 

- Astani, M. 2024, “The Art of Animation-Making in Virtual Reality: Current Pipelines and Future Possibilities”, BUV x SU Research Symposium, British University Vietnam (BUV), Vietnam, 15-19 July.

 

- Astani, M. 2022, “The Emergence of Zahhak: A Practice-based, Reflective Analysis of Reconstructing an Ancient Narrative into Abstracted Animated Forms”, 33rd Society for Animation Studies (SAS) Annual Conference, Teesside University, UK, 26 June-3 July.

 

- Astani, M. 2020: “A Media Specific Analysis of Animation’s Abstraction in Adaptations of Shahnameh”, The Visioning the Future Online Seminar Series: Students Artistic Experiments, Ireland, 24 September.

 

- Astani, M. 2019: “Cultural Adaptation and Appropriation of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh”, The Association of Adaptation Studies (AAS) 14th Annual Con-ference, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic, 19-20 September.

 

- Astani, M. 2019: “Animation and its Creative Language in Cultural Adaptation”, 31st Society for Animation Studies (SAS) Annual Conference, Lusófona University, Lisbon, Portugal, 17-21June.

 

- Astani, M. 2018: “Adaptation and Audiences: The Problematic Nature of Cross-Cultural Adaptations”, Irish Audience Studies Network Inaugural Symposium, Maynooth University, Ireland, 5 December.

 

- Astani, M. 2016: “A Fantastic Adaptation: Investigating the Elements of Fantasy within the Context of ‘Shahnameh’ as a Popular Source of Adaptation in Iranian Animations.” ASIA ANIMATION FORUM 2016 Animation+ Collective of Imagination, pp. 177–194. Bucheon: Asia Animation Forum (AAF).

 

- Astani, M. 2016: “The Representation of Urban Humans, Spaces and Relations of Contemporary Iran in the Animated TV Series ‘Traffic Culture”, 28th Society for Animation Studies (SAS) Annual Conference, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, 26-30 June.

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021