Expert Team
UBGURUKUL is proud to collaborate with leading voices in the worlds of cinematic storytelling, interactive media, and anime culture. These experts bring academic depth, creative insight, and a passion for iconic narratives to every piece of content we curate.
Dr. Amelia Kuroda – Game Narrative Theorist & Cultural Critic
Ph.D. in Interactive Media & Game Design, MIT
A pioneer in ludonarrative studies, Dr. Amelia Kuroda is internationally recognized for her work on how games extend cinematic universes. Her acclaimed book “Scripts in Motion: Storytelling in Games Adapted from Film” is used in top game design programs worldwide. Amelia frequently advises AAA studios on narrative design and has spoken at GDC, SXSW, and BAFTA panels.
Prof. Liam DeWitt – Historian of Epic Fantasy and Screenwriting
M.F.A. in Screenwriting, University of Southern California
An expert on high fantasy in modern media, Prof. Liam DeWitt teaches narrative history through television at NYU. His comparative analyses of franchises like The Witcher, Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones have been published in Variety, ScreenCraft, and The Atlantic. He consults on script development for streaming platforms and leads seminars on mythic worldbuilding.
Naoko Sakamoto – Senior Animation Analyst & Industry Commentator
B.A. in Animation Studies, Tokyo University of the Arts
Naoko Sakamoto is a trusted voice in the global anime and animation industry. Formerly an editor at Anime! Anime!, she now serves as a cultural bridge between Japanese studios and Western audiences. She specializes in analyzing narrative patterns in anime films and shows, especially those adapted into games, such as Demon Slayer and Persona.
Dr. Ethan Malik – Interactive Cinema Researcher & Game Adaptation Specialist
Ph.D. in Media Studies, University of Toronto
Dr. Malik’s research focuses on how cinematic storytelling evolves through interactive formats. His recent study, “From Frame to Controller: The Rise of Cinematic Gaming”, explores the narrative parallels between film franchises and their game adaptations. A frequent contributor to Polygon and IGN Features, Ethan merges scholarly insight with accessible commentary.
Editor Team
Isabel Chen – Visual Culture Curator & Transmedia Strategist
M.A. in Comparative Media, Stanford University
With a background in both film criticism and gaming journalism, Isabel specializes in transmedia storytelling across anime, live-action, and digital games. Her curatorial work with the Smithsonian’s Futures of Storytelling exhibition helped define how cultural icons transcend media formats. Isabel is also a co-host of the podcast “Story Mode: Games x Cinema”.
Anjali Sharma – Senior Editor, Film & Television Culture
M.A. in Cinema Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Anjali Sharma has been with UBGURUKUL since its founding in 2018, bringing over a decade of expertise in South Asian and global cinematic traditions. With a Master’s in Cinema Studies from JNU, she specializes in the cultural and socio-political context of legacy film productions. Her editorial voice brings depth to retrospectives, especially in examining the lasting impact of film classics such as Lagaan, Pather Panchali, and The Godfather.
Anjali’s work is grounded in academic rigor and fueled by a deep appreciation for the artistry of cinema. Her profiles of iconic actors, directors, and storytelling movements blend critical insight with accessible narrative. She regularly curates our longform series on generational influence in cinema, and leads our editorial standards on cultural representation and archival accuracy.
Whether deconstructing the gender politics of 1990s Bollywood or tracing cinematic parallels between The Crown and historical epics, Anjali’s pieces consistently resonate with readers who view entertainment as more than escapism—it’s heritage.
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Grace Campbell – Senior Editor, Western Screen & Streaming Culture
B.A. in Media Studies, University of Edinburgh | M.A. in Television Production, Goldsmiths, University of London
Grace Campbell joined UBGURUKUL at its inception in 2018 and has since become a core voice in our coverage of Western film and streaming culture. With degrees from two of the UK’s leading media institutions, she brings a sharp editorial eye to content spanning from golden-era television to today’s prestige streaming.
Her expertise lies in narrative structure, character development, and the cultural impact of shows like Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, and Succession. Grace also writes in-depth features on behind-the-scenes production techniques and the evolution of female representation in screen media.
Known for her clarity and analytical depth, Grace’s pieces bridge the gap between academic television theory and mainstream appreciation. She is passionate about helping readers understand not only what makes a show iconic—but why. At UBGURUKUL, she leads the team’s streaming review editorial and oversees our “TV That Changed Us” retrospective series.
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Sophia Doris – Editor, Anime & Narrative-Driven Games
B.A. in Comparative Literature, University of California, Berkeley | Graduate Certificate in Game Narrative Design, NYU Game Center
Sophia Doris has been an editor at UBGURUKUL since 2018, specializing in the intersection of anime storytelling and cinematic-inspired video games. With a background in comparative literature and formal training in game narrative design, she brings a unique lens to character arcs, visual symbolism, and narrative mechanics across mediums.
Sophia is particularly passionate about how anime aesthetics and story structures influence modern RPGs and action-adventure games. Her work frequently explores the crossover between anime epics like Neon Genesis Evangelion and titles like Final Fantasy, Persona, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Known for her ability to connect emotional themes with gameplay storytelling, Sophia curates UBGURUKUL’s “Narrative Spotlight” column and contributes to our reviews of narrative-rich indie games. She is also a regular guest speaker at digital storytelling symposiums, bringing academic rigor and fan passion to every editorial project.
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Sunil Gupta – Lead Editor, Legacy Franchises & Adaptation Studies
Ph.D. in Media and Cultural Studies, University of Delhi
Sunil Gupta joined UBGURUKUL in 2018 and quickly established himself as the authority on legacy film franchises and the challenges of adaptation across mediums. With a Ph.D. in Media and Cultural Studies, his work dissects how beloved stories like Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars evolve through novels, films, games, and fandom.
Sunil’s writing is praised for its scholarly tone blended with engaging readability. His series “Adaptation Breakdown” is one of the most read on UBGURUKUL, offering deep dives into what makes or breaks a film-to-game translation or vice versa.
In addition to his editorial duties, Sunil mentors junior writers and leads our research-driven special issues. Whether he’s charting the mythological threads in The Witcher or analyzing the fan reception of Dune, his work exemplifies the editorial standards UBGURUKUL stands for: timeless, analytical, and deeply respectful of storycraft.
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Vijay Reddy – Editor-at-Large, Game Cinematics & Story Engineering
M.S. in Interactive Media, Carnegie Mellon University | B.Tech in Computer Science, IIT Madras
Vijay Reddy has been part of UBGURUKUL’s core editorial team since 2018, where he merges his background in technology and media to explore the convergence of film and interactive storytelling. A graduate of CMU’s prestigious Entertainment Technology Center, Vijay is an expert in the narrative frameworks that underpin AAA games and cinematic game design.
His coverage includes cinematic techniques in games like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, God of War, and The Last of Us. He writes with technical fluency and emotional intelligence, translating complex design choices into readable features that resonate with both gamers and film lovers.
Vijay also leads our interviews with game developers and animation directors, offering rare insights into storytelling pipelines. He plays a key role in UBGURUKUL’s strategy to spotlight how digital interactivity shapes the future of cinematic legacy.