Hani D. El-Masri

Recipient of the first "Best Illustration for Children's Book" National Award in Egypt (1979), presented by Mrs. Jehane Sadat, First Lady of Egypt. Came to the United States in 1987 and freelanced until being hired by Walt Disney Imagineering in March of 1990 and moved to California in June 1990. WDI subsequently sponsored permanent residence status. In 1995 was hired as a visual development artist by Dreamworks SKG, Steven Spielberg's studio to work on the animated 'Prince of Egypt', and stayed on for another two animation movies. Freelanced and consulted from 2000 till today. Naturalized in March of 2001. Came back to live and work in Egypt in February of 2005. Was awarded Best Egyptian Illustrator of 2004 by the National Council for Children Books, headed by Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady, in may 2005. IBBY Honor Award, 2006 (International Board on Books for Young People, Basel, Switzerland.) for illustration of 'Behind the Secret Door'.

Name: Hani D. El-Masri

Alternate Name: Hani El-Masri