WHY NOT US?
Studio Mahō x Times Square, AnimeNYC 2021
“Studio Mahō exists to create a diverse manga and animation brand that focuses on relatable characters, diversity, and unique storytelling while incorporating various mythology from cultures across the globe with our own twist. It is our goal to tell stories unlike any the world has ever seen while challenging ourselves to incorporate traditional Japanese elements within our projects for the sake of authenticity. We have high standards and even higher expectations for the projects and the brand that we have built, and we pray that it is shown through the content we create.”
-Writer and Creator, Patrick Thomas Jr.
FOUNDERS
Patrick Thomas Jr.
Patrick Thomas Jr. is a writer/entrepreneur with a professional background in mental health and degrees in Psychology and Social Work. His love for writing developed over the years through the time he spent collecting data and performing research for community revitalization projects, crafting speeches for oratorical competitions, and developing fantasy stories in his spare time. As a Licensed Social Worker, Patrick understands the importance of representation and is fully aware of the lack thereof in the media. His ultimate goal is to create an umbrella of fiction that showcases a diverse cast of characters in roles typically not seen for people of color in fictional mediums along with his business partner and artist, Ayinde Hall.
Ayinde Hall
Ayinde Hall is a writer, artist, animator, entrepreneur, and soon-to-be fashion designer creating fantasy/sci-fi stories that feature diverse casts of characters and grandiose worlds with many of the stories taking place in a shared universe akin to Marvel Comics or DC. Since coming up with the first iteration of his manga universe back in 2013, Ayinde has slowly been developing the lore, characters, and interconnecting storylines that make up his universe all while pursuing an education at Southwestern University (where he graduated in 2019 with a BFA in Digital Art and Animation), teaching tennis to children and young teens, designing a fashion brand based on the clothing his characters wear, and starting a comic alongside his creative partner Patrick Thomas Jr.