Manimation, Manchester’s unmissable annual gathering for the U.K. animation community, gathers key industry players together to offer creative and business opportunities, information and inspiration for the U.K. animation sector, in a one day event on Monday, November 11, packed with one-to-one meetings, keynotes and conference panels.
Now in its seventh year, Manimation will take place at Social 7 in MediaCityUK and will bring together production companies, producers, animators, writers and creative service providers with potential buyers from broadcasters, advertisers, creative agencies, corporate and distribution in a friendly and open market setting. The event will also take place the day before the Manchester Animation Festival (MAF), which runs November 12-14.
Manimation delegates will once again have the opportunity to pre-book meetings with experts using Meeting Mojo, a unique advance booking system which gives conference goers the chance to profile themselves and their company in advance of the day, putting them in touch with clients in advance to schedule meetings.
Experts available for one-to-one meetings will be:
- Jo Allen, Producer, Acquisitions and Independent Animation, BBC Children’s
- Lori Camm, Senior Producer, CBeebies (0-6 years) Independent productions
- Mario DuBois, Executive Producer, Independent Productions, Interactive, Children’s 6 – 16, BBC Children’s
- Dominic Gardiner, CEO, Jetpack Distribution
- Josie Grierson, Director of Creative Affairs, Family & Brands, eOne
- Nick Hall, Senior Programme Executive, CBeebies Animation & Acquisitions
- Bruce Jones, Partner, Intellectual Property, Kuit Steinart Levy LLP
- Richard Kinning, Creative Director, Northern Europe, Turner
- Louise Maloney, Programme and Acquisitions Manager, Milkshake! Channel 5
- Elliott Palmer, Animation Production and Development Manager, Nickelodeon International
- Alex Thornton, Commercial Creative Manager, Turner
- The Young Audiences Content Fund Team
Along with the one-to-one meetings, a program of business-focused conference sessions will aim to develop skills and provide new intelligence on potential clients and what they will be looking for in the future.
On the agenda will be ‘The Shock of the New’ – exploring innovation in the animation market; the ‘Animation Skills Council and ScreenSkills Forum’ will seek out delegates’ views on training priorities, ‘Global Opps – Case studies in successful international financing’, ‘Ads and Animators’ – exploring relationships between animation and creative agencies, and ‘Diversity – Good for Business’ – examining what‘s ahead for inclusion after the recent UK Screen Alliance report on diversity and access to work in animation.
There will also be keynote speeches from Peter Lord, Co-founder and Creative Director of Aardman Animations, and Sarah Muller, Head of BBC Children’s Acquisitions and Independent Animation.
“Manimation is an invaluable day of conference content that focuses on the business of animation and developing business opportunities and skills,” said Greg Childs, Editorial Director, The Children’s Media Conference. “When you add to that the fantastic one-to-one meetings available so those skills can be put to good use with potential clients and partners, it’s a really vital day!”The Children’s Media Conference website, priced at £80 + VAT.
