Yossi Abulafia – an animation director, illustrator, writer, and caricaturist.

Yossi Abulafia is a versatile artist with a wide range of creative talents, including animation directing, illustration, writing, and caricature. He has held the position of the head of the animation unit and a professor in the Department of Screen Arts at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Israel. Yossi has also worked as a scriptwriter and animation director for Israeli television, Canadian television (C.B.C.), the National Film Board of Canada (N.F.B.), and New York, contributing to networks such as HBO and PBS.

In addition to his work in animation, Yossi has published caricatures in newspapers, including a weekly satirical comic strip in the "Maariv" newspaper for approximately three years. He has been involved in unique projects, such as creating 23 segments for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1999 and designing twenty giant monster sculptures for an exhibition in the courtyard of the Israel Museum.

Yossi Abulafia has illustrated approximately 140 children's books in Israel and abroad, with 12 of them also written by him. He has collaborated with well-known and beloved authors, including Meir Shalev, Ephraim Sidon, Yehuda Atlas, Nira Harel, Jack Perlovsky, Barbara Ann Porte, Elza He-Manarik, and others. These collaborations have produced remarkable works that have become valuable assets in the realm of children's literature both in Israel and worldwide.

Yossi Abulafia regards the illustrations in children's books as a cinematic experience. The illustrations serve as a storyboard, drawing from his extensive background in animation and cinema. This approach adds a cinematic dimension to the storytelling and enriches the reading experience. The illustrated characters interact like actors, engaging the reader in a narrative that unfolds like a film.

Yossi conducts workshops and meetings with students from schools, universities, and adults alike. His creations continue to enchant and inspire both children and adults.

Among his numerous accolades and awards are the Hans Christian Andersen Award (twice), the Ben-Zvi Award from the Israel Museum (twice), the Nahum Gutman Prize, and several international awards.