Animated Connections Conference: Bridging Education and Industry

Wednesday 13 Nov 2024 - 13:00
HOME - Event Space
Runtime: 330 mins (approx.)

A dedicated day of discussion that blends industry practice with academic excellence to explore and enhance the prospects for educating in the animated artform.

The conference will demolish the barriers between education, training and industry to bring together key figures from the sector for lively chat and constructive conversations, highlighting good practice from industry and exploring all educational avenues that will build a better animation ecosystem for all.

At Animated Connections Conference the conversation between academia and industry is refreshed and anyone with an interest in training or education in animation is welcome to join us for a packed day of practical events, panels and keynote speakers.

The Keynote speaker for 2024 is the fantastic Ed Hooks!

Hooks began utilising his acting talents to train animators in the late 1990’s, working at DreamWorks/PDI on Antz, starring Woody Allen, and he has developing it ever since. In addition to his book, Acting for Animators, currently available in a revised 5th edition from Routledge in London, Ed Hooks has presented his Acting for Animators Masterclass at most major animation studios, video game companies and leading Universities. He has taught in 35+ countries to 200,000+ artists.

There will also be panels covering SOCIETY and TECHNOLOGY.

We are what we create and we create what we are, with this in mind our SOCIETY panel will explore how both academic and industrial training is handling accessibility and cross examine ways in which barriers and bottlenecks can be smashed in order to welcome a new generation of voices.

With TECHNOLOGY our panel will explore the triumphs and the challenges that rapid changes to technology impose upon existing animation education frameworks and how challenges such as environmental concerns may be overcome.

13:00 - 13:10: Welcome

13:10 - 14:10: Opening Keynote: Ed Hooks

14:10 - 14:30: Break and Networking

14:30 - 15:30: TECHNOLOGY Panel

15:30 - 15:45: Break and Networking

15:45 - 16:45: SOCIETY Panel

16:45 - 17:00: Break and Networking

17:00 - 17:30: Present Findings

17:30 - 18:00: Closing Thanks + Networking Drinks Reception

This event will run from 13:00 to 18:00, ending with a drinks reception. The full schedule will be revealed soon.

Tickets for the Animated Connections Conference are £40. If you have an ANF+Festival Pass you can also book tickets to this as part of your pass.

This event is sponsored by:

Guests

Ed Hooks

Ed Hooks is the author of Acting for Animators, 5th edition (Routledge) and has presented his Acting for Animators Masterclass for most major animation studios and game companies internationally, including Disney, DreamWorks, Valve, Epic, CD Projekt RED, Sony and Ubisoft. Ed was a professional actor for 30 years, trained in New York, and with many credits in all media. Ed was the first person to design an acting training program specifically for animators instead of stage or movie actors.

Robert Bradbrook

Robert Bradbrook is the head of animation at the National Film and Television School and an award-winning independent filmmaker.
His film "Home Road Movies," which tells the true story of his father and their family car, was nominated for a BAFTA. He also collaborates with many other filmmakers, offering narrative support and animation. This has included Yousaf Ali Khan on his BAFTA-nominated live-action short "Talking with Angels" and Jonathan Hodgson’s BAFTA-winning animation "Roughhouse."

Annabeth Robinson

Annabeth Robinson is a Creative Technologist and Filmmaker based in the North, predominantly using immersive technologies, screen based virtual worlds and game platforms since 2005, to explore multi-user interactive artworks and education experiences.

Pete Woodbridge

Pete Woodbridge is a Creative Technologist working on new possibilities for the future of content across Realtime and AI. Director of DreamLab at Mediacity and R&D Innovation Lead at the Mediacity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub, where he is involved in over 30 innovation projects that are building the future of media. Formerly he has worked across a number of studios (TMRW Foundation, Draw and Code, Pathway, Crucial FX, and Universities, on innovation projects crossing games and interactive, to film and animation. Find out more on his site: https://www.curiousmagic.co.uk/

Charles Humphreys

Charles Humphreys is a working-class animator, actor and writer who explores character & form through his D.I.Y. artwork processes. As part of the indie collective, Idle Work Factory - Charles places Northern narratives at the forefront of his work for a fresh take on traditional animation.
Charles is the Events Co-Ordinator at The Unit, Bradford - A free open-access space backed by Channel 4 and Bradford Council supported by Screen Yorkshire.

Sherelle Fairweather

Sherelle has worked within the equalities and social change space across local government and the community sector for over 10 years. Now, as Digital Strategy Lead at Manchester City Council, Sherelle is responsible for the implementation of the city's five-year strategy.