DIYA GHEITH

TIME ARTS

Artist Statement

The intensity of battles in cartoons, anime, and real life has always intrigued me. Some of the best Animated projects I’ve ever seen are fight scenes, giving me chills just from their intensity. From the monologue to the clash of two characters that defy reality in their strength. I set out to create a fight scene between two characters, one evil and the other good. Some of the punches and moves were inspired by UFC fights I’ve seen over the years. But overall, my true inspiration came from newer episodes of One Piece and Hotel Transylvania. I took the expressive, over-the-top style of One Piece, while using the fluidity and rubber-like movement of Hotel Transylvania. The heart of this project is a grounded, semi-realistic 3D animation where bodies stretch and move beyond the limits of possibility, making it surreal. Bodies ripple through the environment; the line between reality and fantasy begins to blur. When a character dodges a blow, their movement becomes rubber-like. When punches land, they don’t just connect, they create impact: they bounce, they squash, they shake the world around them. I wanted this piece to live in that space between intensity and playfulness—where combat feels fierce, but fun. A visual experience that’s grounded yet larger-than-life, inviting viewers to step into a world where the rules bend, but the story still hits hard.