Creative Media Industries Institute Students Turn Children’s Book Into Animated Series

ATLANTA — When Isosceles Jane, a spirited isosceles triangle with a knack for teaching friendship and geometry, makes her leap from the pages of a children’s book to the screen, the magic behind the transformation comes from a team of Creative Media Industries Institute students. What began as a classroom connection has grown into a professional opportunity, giving these emerging creatives a real-world taste of what it means to be game designers, animators and storytellers.

How It All Began

Jeasy Sehgal

The story starts not with Jane herself, but with her creator, Kajal Magal. Known professionally as the finance director at the Georgia Health Policy Center, Magal is also a children’s book author with a vision: to bring her book "Isosceles Jane" to life through animation and interactive media.

In fall 2024, Magal enrolled in CMII Professor of Practice Jeasy Sehgal’s Real-Time Virtual Production Masterclass, offered to Georgia State faculty and staff. The experience sparked connections that would prove invaluable. Shortly after, Sehgal invited Magal to speak in his Game Design Portfolio class. There, her vision for "Isosceles Jane" resonated with a group of students eager to put their skills into practice.

By spring 2025, that spark had grown into a full-fledged collaboration. Magal administered an art test and conducted interviews with 10 students, ultimately selecting seven to join her studio as contractors on a paid internship. Those chosen were Jose Luis Nunez Aguilar, Jason Arthur, Chris Calbert, Tewelde Knight, Sydney Milton, Julia Wilson and Howard Wood.

“It created a closed loop of entrepreneurship,” Sehgal noted, watching his students transition seamlessly from classroom projects to professional contracts.

Building Jane’s World

"Isosceles Jane" is more than a book about shapes. Its story weaves geometry with life lessons about belonging, teamwork, acceptance and creativity. The book also reinforces learning through a built-in geometry index. For Magal, adapting it into animation meant finding collaborators who could merge technical know-how with artistic imagination.

That’s where the CMII interns came in. Each was hired for a specific role, from animation to design, but the project soon demanded more.

“I am incredibly grateful for the creativity and skills our interns have brought to the animation project, helping to bring 'Isosceles Jane' to life,” Magal said. “Each intern was selected for a specific role. However, they have all stepped out of their comfort zones to learn new skills and contribute to areas all across the project. Many of them are even providing voices for some of the characters. I have been very impressed. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with this talented team and to witness their growth in both craft and confidence. It has been such a fun journey, and I look forward to beginning the work on episode two next month.”

For the students, the project offered something rare: a paid contract to create, experiment and collaborate on a professional production while still in school. Though some have since graduated, Aguilar and Calbert remain at CMII, carrying the experience with them as they step into new opportunities.

What’s Next for 'Isosceles Jane'

Magal is just getting started. Phase 2 of the project launches in October 2025, expanding into a second animated episode and even an educational game. She is also developing additional episodes and exploring new possibilities for the 'Isosceles Jane' universe.

“There are other ideas in the works,” Magal said, “but I’ll leave that for another… vertical and horizontal day on the geometric earth plane! This has been such a fun journey, and we have received serendipitous support throughout. I am very excited to continue following the path of where all of this leads.”

For CMII, the project is a living example of what happens when classroom learning meets entrepreneurial drive. For the students, it is proof that their skills can shape stories, worlds and even triangles that inspire and teach the next generation.