View source for Samantha Youssef

{{Short description|Canadian animator}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{BLP sources|date=April 2010}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Samantha Youssef
| image       =
| alt         =
| birth_date  = <!-- {{birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| birth_place =[[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], Canada
| death_date  = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth) -->
| death_place =
| nationality=
| other_names =
| occupation  = [[Entrepreneur|Founder]] & [[Artistic Director]] of Studio Technique
| known_for   = [[Animated character|Character]] [[Animator]]<br/>[[Animation Director]]
}}
'''Samantha Youssef''' is a Canadian [[Animated character|character]] [[animator]], and [[animation director]]. She has worked in both [[feature films]] and [[video game]]s for [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney Animation]],<ref name="Profile">{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2864148/|title=Samantha Youssef|website=IMDb}}</ref> [[Filmax]], and [[Ubisoft]].

== Early life ==
Samantha Youssef was born in [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]]. Both of her parents are [[surgeon]]s. She attended ballet classes at the [[Royal Academy of Dance]] and [[Canada's National Ballet School]].<ref name="Chatelaine Magazine" />

== Career ==
After submitting her portfolio to [[Sheridan College]], Youssef got accepted and was one of four women in her college course. Samantha Youssef graduated from Sheridan College where she majored in [[Animation]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Samantha Youssef |url=https://www.sheridancollege.ca/alumni/profiles/samantha-youssef.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818125652/https://www.sheridancollege.ca/alumni/profiles/samantha-youssef.aspx |archive-date=2016-08-18 |website=Sheridan College |department=Alumni Profiles}}</ref>

Samantha Youssef was a [[Character animation|character animator]] for [[The Walt Disney Company]],<ref name="Profile" /> and has also worked for Ubisoft, Filmax Animation, and [[Yowza! Animation]].  She is also responsible for the artistic training of many Montreal video game studios, such as [[BioWare]], [[Electronic Arts]], [[Visceral Games]], and [[Ubisoft Montreal]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.studio-technique.com/about |website=Studio Technique}}</ref>

She is the [[Artistic Director]] and founder of Studio Technique,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Studio Technique |url=https://www.studio-technique.com/ |website=Studio Technique |access-date=April 25, 2022 |archive-date=April 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425010042/https://www.studio-technique.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> an artistic production and training studio in [[Montreal]] focused on [[feature film]] and video game animation. In 2011, the studio received a $10,000 grant from the [[Pepsi Refresh Project]].<ref name="Chatelaine Magazine" /><ref>{{Citation |last=StudioTechnique |title=Studio Technique Pepsi Refresh Commercial with Samantha Youssef |date=2011-09-15 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Up6w6vIPB8 |access-date=2019-05-02}}{{deadlink|date=September 2023}}</ref>

On March 7, 2015, Youssef launched a successful [[Kickstarter]] campaign for her first figure drawing book "The Youssef Drawing Syllabus{{Snd}} Movement & Form."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-04-04 |title=Movement & Form with Samantha Youssef |url=http://www.cgsociety.org/index.php/CGSFeatures/CGSFeatureSpecial/samantha_youssef |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404223804/http://www.cgsociety.org/index.php/CGSFeatures/CGSFeatureSpecial/samantha_youssef |archive-date=April 4, 2015 |access-date=2019-05-02 |website=CGSociety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Youssef Drawing Syllabus{{Snd}} Movement & Form |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samanthasketches/the-youssef-drawing-syllabus-movement-and-form |access-date=2019-05-02 |website=Kickstarter |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Youssef |first=Samantha |title=Movement & form |date=2015 |publisher=Studio Technique Artistic Training Incorporated |isbn=9780994836106 |language=English |oclc=915263926}}</ref>

== Recognition ==

Youssef was one of ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired Magazine]]'''s Sexiest Geeks of 2009 and 2010.<ref name="WiredMagazine">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2011/01/sexy-geeks-2010/|title=Vote for Your Favorite Sexy Geeks of 2010|first=WIRED|last=Staff|magazine=Wired|via=www.wired.com|access-date=April 25, 2022|archive-date=October 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001101018/https://www.wired.com/2011/01/sexy-geeks-2010/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Wired">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2009/12/sexy-geeks-2009/|title=Vote for 2009's Sexiest Geeks|first=Lewis|last=Wallace|magazine=Wired|via=www.wired.com|access-date=April 25, 2022|archive-date=September 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927015103/https://www.wired.com/2009/12/sexy-geeks-2009/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwiredvision.jp%2Fblog%2Ffromwiredblogs%2F201001%2F20100108090618.html "Sexy Nerd Contest" - Wired Blogs]</ref> She was also one of [[MSN]] techno's top sexiest geeks.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://techno.ca.msn.com/galeriedephotos.aspx?cp-documentid=23539620&page=14 |title="Sexy Geeks" - MSN |access-date=April 6, 2010 |archive-date=March 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302203454/http://techno.ca.msn.com/galeriedephotos.aspx?cp-documentid=23539620&page=14 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://techno.ca.msn.com/galeriedephotos.aspx?cp-documentid=23539620&page=14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302203454/http://techno.ca.msn.com/galeriedephotos.aspx?cp-documentid=23539620&page=14|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 2, 2010|title=Samantha Youssef{{Snd}} Sexy geeks|date=2010-03-02|access-date=2019-05-02}}</ref> According to her Wired geek nomination, she is a fan of [[Star Wars]].<ref name="Wired" /> Her reaction to the nomination was mixed, stating "It's flattering, in a way, but it's also a concern when you work in a male-dominated field. When you're a petite girl, people don't always take you seriously."<ref name="Chatelaine Magazine" />

She was also featured in [[Chatelaine (magazine)]] as Miss Chatelaine in 2011.<ref name="Chatelaine Magazine">{{Cite web|url=https://www.chatelaine.com/living/samantha-youssef-on-becoming-an-animator-and-founder-of-art-school-studio-technique/|title=Samantha Youssef on becoming an animator and founder of art school, Studio Technique|first1=Joanne|last1=Latimer|first2=Alanna Glassman|last2=Updated|date=September 23, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chatelaine.com/living/samantha-youssef-on-becoming-an-animator-and-founder-of-art-school-studio-technique/|title=Samantha Youssef on becoming an animator and founder of art school, Studio Technique{{Snd}} Chatelaine|website=www.chatelaine.com|access-date=2019-05-02|archive-date=May 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502211545/https://www.chatelaine.com/living/samantha-youssef-on-becoming-an-animator-and-founder-of-art-school-studio-technique/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Youssef was selected as an animation jury member in the Canadian Interactive Academy<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://talentawards.ca/site/en/canadian-interactive-academy |title="Canadian Interactive Academy" - Canadian Game Development Talent Awards |access-date=December 14, 2011 |archive-date=September 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907140907/http://www.talentawards.ca/site/en/canadian-interactive-academy |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://talentawards.ca/site/en/canadian-interactive-academy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326004613/http://talentawards.ca/site/en/canadian-interactive-academy|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 26, 2012|title=Canadian Game development Talent awards{{Snd}} CANADIAN INTERACTIVE ACADEMY|date=2012-03-26|access-date=2019-05-02}}</ref> for the Canadian Game Development Talent Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.talentawards.ca/site/en/about-us |title="Canadian Game Development Talent Awards" |access-date=December 14, 2011 |archive-date=September 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907093821/http://www.talentawards.ca/site/en/about-us |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://talentawards.ca/site/en/about-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114235916/http://talentawards.ca/site/en/about-us|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 14, 2012|title=Canadian Game development Talent awards{{Snd}} ABOUT US|date=2012-11-14|access-date=2019-05-02}}</ref>

Youssef was a jury member for Viewster's Global Film Festival, the Viewster Online Film Fest #VOFF5: Animated Worlds.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.animationinsider.com/2015/03/viewster-launches-largest-online-animation-festival |title="Viewster Launches Largest Online Animation Festival" - Animation Insider |access-date=August 28, 2022 |archive-date=August 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828145749/http://www.animationinsider.com/2015/03/viewster-launches-largest-online-animation-festival/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/warm-snow-wins-voff-animation-prize/5086035.article |title="'Warm Snow' wins VOFF animation prize" - Screen Daily |access-date=August 28, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001100935/https://www.screendaily.com/news/warm-snow-wins-voff-animation-prize/5086035.article |url-status=live }}</ref>

Youssef's animated [[short film]] ''La Fuga Grande'' (''The Great Escape'') was an award winner at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]],<ref>[http://www.tiffg.ca/studentfilmshowcase/2007/Films/TheGreatEscape "The Great Escape" - Toronto International Film Festival]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://collection.tiff.net/mwebcgi/mweb?request=record;id=283184;type=102|title=FRL-85124|website=collection.tiff.net|access-date=2019-05-02}}</ref> and has been showcased at other film festivals in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tremblantfilmfestival.org/2007/English/ListShorts.html|title="The Great Escape" - Tremblant Film Festival|access-date=April 6, 2010|archive-date=July 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728125246/http://www.tremblantfilmfestival.org/2007/English/ListShorts.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tremblantfilmfestival.org/2007/English/ListShorts.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728125246/http://www.tremblantfilmfestival.org/2007/English/ListShorts.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 28, 2011|title=TREMBLANT Film Festival 2007|date=2011-07-28|access-date=2019-05-02}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
*''[[Till Eulenspiegel]]'' (2003)
*''[[El Cid: La leyenda]]'' (2003)
*''[[Tarzan II]]'' (2005) (V)
*''[[Lilo & Stitch 2]]'' (2005) (V)
*''[[Kronk's New Groove]]'' (2005)
*''[[Bambi II]]'' (2006)
*''[[Curious George]]'' (2006)
*''The Girl Who Hated Books'' (2006)
*''[[Brother Bear 2]]'' (2006)
*''La Fuga Grande'' (2007)
*''[[Enchanted (film)]]'' (2007)
*''Nocturna'' (2007)
*''[[The Princess and the Frog]]'' (2009)
*''Le jour des corneilles'' (2011)
*''The Day of the Crows'' (2012)
*''Steamboat Willie Redux'' (2013)
*[[Rogue One|''Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'']] (2016)
*''Hullabaloo'' (2023)
*[[Dolittle (film)|''Dolittle'']] (2020)
*[[He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2021 TV series)|''He-Man and the Masters of the Universe'']] (2021)
*[[Twilight of the Gods (TV series)|''Twilight of the Gods'']] (2024)
*''The Badalisc'' (TBA)

== Bibliography ==
* The Youssef Drawing Syllabus{{Snd}} Movement & Form ({{ISBN|0994836104}})

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPppidPkU6A "Live Stream with Samantha Youssef - CG Con White Conference" - CG Con]
*[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYOzH15ON7vyWFRWW9m3JtQ Studio Technique Youtube Channel]
*[https://vimeo.com/174196966 Interview with Samantha Youssef (Artistic Director)]
*[http://www.toontalkspodcast.com/?p=300 Samantha Youssef - Toon Talks Podcast Episode 13]
*[https://agora.community/content/a-conversation-with-samantha-youssef A Conversation With Samantha Youssef]
*[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26027520-movement-form?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=XSnMysF3gT&rank=1 Movement & Form The Youssef Drawing Syllabus Volume 1]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Youssef, Samantha}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Canadian animated film directors]]
[[Category:Women animated film directors]]
[[Category:Walt Disney Animation Studios people]]
[[Category:Canadian animation studios]]
[[Category:Video game developers]]
[[Category:Artists from Montreal]]
[[Category:Film directors from Montreal]]
[[Category:Sheridan College alumni]]
[[Category:Canadian women animators]]
[[Category:Women video game developers]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]