Henry Melki

Dr. Henry Melki is a Lecturer in Animation and VFX at the Belfast School of Art, Ulster University, where he co-directs the undergraduate animation course. He holds a PhD in Design (2019) focusing on enhancing creative processes for believable 3D characters in film and VFX, and is a member of the Society for Animation Studies and the Ulster University Researcher Development Centre.

Research Interests: Henry’s work centers on design theory, character believability, 3D modeling, and virtual production. He explores photorealism, perception theory, and empathy in character design, with applications in theater, heritage engagement, and ecotourism. His projects often bridge digital and physical environments using real-time rendering and motion capture.

Recent Research Outputs: His recent work includes a 2025 web publication on green digital transition for sustainable tourism, two 2024 performances of 'Aurora: A Modern Myth', and a 2024 conference abstract on virtual production pipelines for theater. He also contributed a 2021 chapter on character design theory and published a 2020 journal article comparing Gothic architecture to VFX workflows.

Scientific Awards:

• Best Poster Prize in Design (2018).

Collaborations and Grants: Henry leads the EPSRC-funded project on VP pipelines for theater (2023-2024) and collaborates on AHRC projects including Future Island-Island (2023-2025) and IAA - Re-encountering Heritage (2023-2025). He organizes Virtual Production Training Workshops and contributes to Saudi Film Festival events.

Community and Education: Henry founded 3D Dojo, a community animation course, and co-founded Toody Threedy, a local animation group. He delivers workshops on 3D sculpting, photogrammetry, and real-time rendering, and advocates for inclusive teaching methods in animation curricula.