The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has announced that SCAD AnimationFest will return to Atlanta, Georgia this September 28-30. The three-day festival will be the first held at SCAD’s new state-of-the-art, 700-seat theater SCADshow.
SCADFILM’s signature festival for digital media will feature sessions with top executives and creatives from Netflix, Gearbox, Cartoon Network Studios, FOX, Viva Kids, Animal Repair Shop, Crafty Apes, Artie and FuseFX, as well as SCAD faculty and alumni at the forefront animation, motion media design and visual effects. This year, SCAD AnimationFest programming has expanded to include gaming and virtual production, industries that continue to intertwine and create a new transmedia world of entertainment.
“As the nation’s biggest and best festival celebrating student animators and industry trends, SCAD AnimationFest shines in three-dimensional wonder — especially true this year, as SCAD unveils our state-of-the-art, 700-seat theater in the heart of Midtown,” said SCAD President & Founder Paula Wallace. “This screen is as colossal as SCAD’s student talent. It’s the perfect stage for the world premiere of The Last Dungeon, the latest triumph from SCAD Animation Studios and a collaborative marvel from more than 40 SCAD Bees. Truly a masterpiece in motion!”
SCADFILM will recognize Adam Muto as the 2023 Spotlight Award recipient, for his innovative contributions to the animation and entertainment industries. Muto will be presented with his award on Friday during a special screening event of his new Max series Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, followed by a Q&A to share insights about his incredible journey in animation.
SCAD will also honor keynote speaker Theodore “Ted” Ty for Outstanding Achievement in Animation at this year’s festival. Ty, the global head of character animation at DNEG Animation, will present a behind-the-scenes look at the popular Netflix movie Nimona, based on the popular 2015 graphic novel by ND Stevenson.
On Saturday night, FOX Entertainment is hosting an exclusive preview screening of Krapopolis, the all-new animated comedy from Emmy Award winner, creator and executive producer Dan Harmon. Members of the production team will give attendees a behind-the-scenes look at the series.
Several highly anticipated sessions at SCAD AnimationFest feature work from students and faculty, including a preview of the new animated film Inspector Sun and the Curse of the Black Widow, followed by a Q&A with producer and SCAD film professor Jason Kaminsky and screenwriter Rocco Pucillo.
An attendee favorite, this year’s Saturday Morning Cartoons session will feature Vooks Storytime animated stories and Tab Time episodes.
SCAD Animation Studios, the world’s only animation studio at a university, will host the premiere screening of The Last Dungeon. This project from SCAD Animation Studios is the first student animated film to be created using Unreal Engine and is a true SCAD collaboration. Students from many different degree programs worked together on this production, including animation, visual effects, acting and sound design, to build a cohesive, harmonious score and riveting soundtrack to pull it all together.
“This year SCAD AnimationFest explores how technology is evolving beyond traditional definitions of animation to develop new and innovative transmedia storytelling,” said Leigh Seaman, Senior Executive Director of SCADFILM. “As a top-ranked program in animation, interactive design and game development, visual effects, motion media, illustration and more, SCAD is uniquely qualified to host the best in the industry as presenters and mentors.”
Conversations, presentations and panels at SCAD AnimationFest include:
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Keynote by Aaron Deerfield, lead cinematics animator at Gearbox: Constructing a Career in Transmedia
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Panel Discussion: Transforming the Peach State with FuseFX
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Industry Insights: Georgia’s Digital Boom
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Innovating Game Night with Infinite Rabbit Holes
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Panel Discussion: Embrace the Rush: The Power of Emerging Tech
SCAD student, faculty and alumni presentations include:
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SCAD Alumni Voices
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SCAD Animation Studios presents: The Making of The Last Dungeon
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SCAD Student Film Spotlight: The Making of Vainglorious
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Find Yourself On the Green: An Immersive Public Art Space with SCADpro
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SCAD Student Animation Showcase
SCAD AnimationFest passes will be available for sale starting Thursday, August 31. For passes, full schedule and more information, visit scad.edu/animationfest.
