Tori Tombi began in 2024 as a research project supported by Arts Council Malta. Its aim was to gather and study Maltese folktales and then reimagine their characters and creatures through contemporary illustration and character design.
“The seeds of Tori Tombi were sown long before it officially began,” explains Matt. “As a child, I was captivated by tales of giants, dragons, and heroes said to roam the very island I called home. That early fascination eventually grew into the project I am sharing at this year’s Malta Book Festival.”
For those unfamiliar with his work, Matt is a local illustrator and animator, and for the past decade he has been creating visuals for Maltese picture books and other projects aimed at young audiences. Titles such as Il-Ħanut tal-Ħelu li mar Dawra, Tal-Forn, Jekk Taqbad id-Dawl, and animations like Emme are among the projects he has illustrated or animated over the years.
“Storytelling through pictures has always been my passion, especially when the stories are Maltese,” he continues. “Today this passion comes with a sense of urgency. Oral storytelling, once a vital part of Maltese culture, has largely faded. Many folktales might have disappeared altogether if not for the efforts of scholars who recorded them. Unfortunately, few sources of those stories are available to read today. Unlike the fairytales of other countries that boast multiple adaptations, such as The Brothers Grimm stories, Maltese folktales have received little attention or updates. This gap is exactly what inspired Tori Tombi.”
“My first step was understanding what folktales really are. Stories are created and passed on over thousands of years. Many countries have the same stories with small differences. Some societies keep certain stories and discard others. The ones that are kept are changed and adapted in order to relate and better appeal to the lives of those people. This unintentional curation can tell a lot about a people and how they change throughout history. “
“Researching Maltese folktales proved challenging. Many publications are long out of print, and a large number of stories have never been accessible to the general public to begin with. To my surprise, I uncovered more than twice the amount of material I initially expected. This wealth of stories, characters, creatures, and artifacts became the foundation of my project. From thousands of sketches and experiments, I developed around two dozen illustrations, designed to spark curiosity and reintroduce these stories to new audiences.”
With the research stage complete, Tori Tombi is now moving into its next chapter, and Matt is sharing these stories with the public on Saturday November 8, when he will be giving a talk on Maltese folktales and his research. Titled Maltese Folktales: From Stories to Character Designs, the talk will explore what these tales are, who recorded them, their recurring themes, and the results of his project. “A kind of “Maltese folklore 101” condensed into 40 minutes,” he smiles.
“Through Tori Tombi, my hope is to spark fresh curiosity in Malta’s oldest stories, and to ensure that the giants, dragons, and heroes of our folklore are not forgotten.”
Immediately following the talk, Matt will be leading a workshop focused on character design, during which he’ll share the process and the techniques he used to reimagine local folk characters and creatures. This session will be of particular interest to art students, concept artists, and illustrators.
Maltese Folktales: From Story to Character Design (Ages 16+): Talk and workshop by Matt Stroud is free of charge, though registration is required for the workshop on a first-come, first-served basis. Further details can be found on the National Book Council’s website and social media channels.