In this episode of Outline, we're joined by author, illustrator, and film producer Marya Zarif, who's known for her animated works that highlight Syrian narratives. The conversation delves into her background, motivations for creating the award-winning Syrian animated series and films Dounia and "Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo," and the emotional impact these works have on audiences. Zarif shares insights on her creative process, the significance of portraying Syrian culture, and the challenges faced as an Arab – and particularly Syrian – creator. The episode also touches on the broader issues of Syrian visibility in media and the responsibility of storytelling in fostering empathy and understanding.

This podcast series features a process-focused conversation that looks at a guest's individual projects rather than their full bodies of work. It sketches the journey of the project: the spark of curiosity that led to its birth, the process of implementing the idea, the obstacles that emerged throughout the implementation, and the aftermath of the project, including new questions and new ideas. The name “Outline” stems from the idea of creating a retroactive project outline which is part of a broader emphasis on the process of curiosity, creativity and critical thinking from a nuts and bolts perspective. The series is not discipline-specific: we host artists, academics, fashion designers, writers, filmmakers, among other professionals in their fields.