CASSIANO PRADO

Live Action & Animation Director

Hi, I’m Cassiano Prado, a Brazilian-British live-action and animation director based in Berlin. I divide my time between directing commercials and drama. My latest fiction project is the supernatural thriller INVISIBLE CITY for Netflix.

Here’s a teaser —

In the world of advertising, I’ve shot over 40 commercials over the years—plenty across Europe and the UK, a good few in South America, and even some in Asia and the Middle East. Most were produced through Stink Films International and O2 Films. They often star sports celebrities.

Some films are more narrative than others.

Some have more post-production than others.

My Background

Over 20 years ago, I began my career in motion design and postproduction, starting as a Flame artist in the early 2000s before transitioning into motion graphics at Lobo Animation in Brazil. Later, I moved to the UK and began freelancing as a motion designer in London, collaborating with some of the industry’s top animation studios, including Passion Pictures, Nexus, Intro-UK, Moving Brands, United Visual Artists, and MTV UK, to name a few.

Somewhere along the way, I wrote, directed, and animated my first (and only) animated short—the retro-sci-fi KANANANA.

Back then, my work wasn’t just tied to animation—it was deeply connected to Broadcast and Music.

Broadcast — Growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s—and working for MTV — of course I had a passion for designing TV idents and title sequences. While living in London, I created bumpers for numerous MTV shows, both internationally and the UK, as well as opening titles and idents for several broadcasters, including Channel 4, Five, the BBC, and Magic FM.

Music — In the past I directed music videos for Canadian DJ TIGA, Electrelane, The Emperor Machine, and White Belt Yellow Tag. I also designed stage visuals for artists like Elton John (with Kate Dawkins, Intro-UK), Jay-Z (with UVA), No Doubt, Sade, and the Foo Fighters (the last three in collaboration with legendary Music Video director Sophie Müller).

Having come full circle—from directing to writing, from exploring the boundless possibilities of animation to the equally boundless nuances of working with great actors—I’ve realised that, above all, I love telling stories.

Shooting commercials still excites me, but without the same anxiety. Having navigated every stage of the process—from concept to execution—I’ve reached a point where balancing commercials between fiction projects has become my professional sweet spot. And let’s be honest: after crafting a 12-episode story arc for a TV series, directing a commercial feels like a refreshing stroll in the park.

Biography —

My name is Cassiano Prado and I’m a screenwriter and director for animation, film and television. My most notable projects include the supernatural thriller Invisible City (Season 2) for Netflix and the suspense anthology series Tales of Edgar, inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe and produced by O2 Filmes (City of God) for Fox.

My screenwriting journey began at the prestigious National Film and Television School in London, and I later became an alumnus of Serial Eyes, Europe’s leading postgraduate writing program for television at the Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin.

For over a decade, I directed commercials at Stink Films, one of the world’s most awarded production companies, working across the UK, Europe, the USA, Latin America, and China. My commercial work has been recognized at major festivals, including Cannes, D&AD, and the London International Awards.

I also co-wrote and co-directed COMA, an original web series for Getty Images, which earned multiple accolades, including a D&AD Yellow Pencil for Entertainment Writing, a Wood Pencil for Creative Use of Writing, a Silver Lion at Cannes for Direction, a Bronze Pencil at The One Show, and a Silver Clio Award for Copywriting.

My suspense short film IDA was an official selection at several international genre festivals, including the Atlanta Horror Film Festival (2019), Screamfest Horror Film Festival L.A. (2019), and Abertoir Horror Film Festival (2018).