"Our Ocean" Wins Best Animated Film at NIFF

Best Animation at the Nawada International Film Festival

Congratulations to the makers of "Our Ocean", which has won an award for Best Animation at the Nawada International Film Festival.  

Our Ocean was created by our fourth year animation and vfx students, studying the Art of Computer Animation and VFX.  

Written and Directed by Priya Shah, and produced by Ethen Dent, Our Ocean was a collaboration with the charity "Ocean Generation".  This is the latest of many festival awards.

Liminal Wins Best Horror Film at Art Film Awards

"Best Horror Film" at the Art Film Awards

Many congratulations to the makers of "Liminal", which has won "Best Horror Film" at the Art Film Awards.

"Liminal" tells the story of a young girl in a hospital ward who is beset by demons of the imagination.  It was written and directed by Zoe Walker, and produced by Alex Sellen.  

This is the fourth festival award. for Liminal.

"The Crash" Wins Best VFX at Athens Fest

"Best VFX" (Hon Mention) in Athens

Many congratulations to the makers of "The Crash", the short VFX film created by students at Escape Studios, which has won an Honourable Mention in the category of "Best VFX" at the Athens International Film Festival.

"The Crash" is a sci-fi VFX short written and directed by Lewys Rhodes, and produced by Daniel Rowe.  Cinematography was by Benjamin Stevuliak.  The Crash has won many festival awards. 

Rola Hafez Animator at Mighty Studios

Rola Hafez

Many congratulations to Escapee Rola Hafez who has started work as an animator at Mighty Studios. 

Rola took our MA in 3D Animation at Escape Studios, and directed the short animated sci-fi film "Alma" which has won multiple festival awards. She also worked on the award-winning short "Mafia Mix-Up".

We congratulate Rola on her first job in the animation industry. 

"Stellar Rescue" Wins "Best Production" at HEI Fest

The Stellar Rescue Best Production at the HEI Festival

Congratulations to the makers of "The Stellar Rescue", which has won an award for Best Production at the HEI Festival.

"The Stellar Rescue" was written and directed by Anthony Sarmiento, and produced by Wiktoria Swierk.  It was created as part of a group project by second-year animation students, working together as a team. 

The Stellar Rescue tells the story of a young boy who must rescue a fallen baby star and return it to its parents.

VFX Veteran Sagar Rathod Joins Escape Studios

Sagar Rathod

A warm welcome to our newest VFX tutor Sagar Rathod who joins us at Escape Studios tomorrow.  Sagar is the latest addition to the VFX team at Escape Studios; he is a veteran 3D digital artist with almost 20 years' experience in the visual effects industry.

Sagar's many film credits include Fantastic Beasts, Kingsman, Alien: Covenant, and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Sagar will be teaching the 3rd year VFX and animation students as they join forces on the VFX Project, which runs from September 2022 until the end of December.

"Explosive Love" Wins Honourable Mention in Tokyo

Congratulations to the makers of "Explosive Love", which has won an Honourable Mention in the category of Best Production Design at the Tokyo International Film Festival.

"Explosive Love" was directed by Alba Rodriguez and produced by Rohnak Sharma.  

"Explosive Love" tells the story of a lonely puffer fish looking for love - in an unlikely place. 

"Giles & Rupert" Wins Best Trailer at Onyko Awards

Giles and Rupert Best Trailer at the Onyko Film Awards

Congratulations to the makers of Giles and Rupert's Prehistoric Predicament, which has won its fourth festival award - Best Trailer at the Onyko Film Awards.

Giles and Rupert's Prehistoric Predicament is a teaser/trailer for an original animated TV series created at Escape Studios by director Toby Haslam and producers Samia Chowdhury and Georgia Baird.  Giles and Rupert are Victorian inventors whose time machine invention goes horribly wrong - creating a world of Jurassic trouble. 

"Freefall" Hon Mention for "Best Super Short Film"

Best Super Short Film at the Art Film Awards

Congratulations to the makers of "Freefall", which has won an Honourable Mention in the category of "Best Super Short Film" at the Art Film Awards.

"Freefall" was written and directed by Jessa Timog-Santiago, co-directed by Rohnak Sharma, and produced by Sebastian Petre.  Alex Maynard was Lead Animator and CG Supervisor.  

Freefall was created as part of a group project by second-year animation students, working together as a team.  This is its second festival award. 

Gun Flare and Smoke in After Effects Tutorial

Veteran animator and VFX tutor Marc Stevenson has recorded a new animation tutorial - "How to Animate Gun Flare and Smoke in After Effects". The tutorial explains how to use Adobe After Effects (part of the Adobe Suite, and available to all our students in our classrooms at Escape Studios) to create gun flare and smoke.  So, if you're animating a character Maya firing a gun - you might want to add the FX work in After Effects, rather than try to run a simulation in Maya. The video tutorial is aimed at beginners and runs for 20 minutes.  You can see more of Marc's excellent animation tutorials at his YouTube Channel. 

Animation Recruiters with Kevin Richards

Kevin Richards took our short course in 3D animation at Escape Studios and is now working as a Lead Animator at the new Aardman Animation TV Series "Pop Paper City". 

As a production lead, Kevin reviews animation reels and makes hiring decisions on new talent.

In the guest blog below, Kevin explains the role of recruiters in the animation industry, and how our graduates can get the best out of them. 

"Post-Mortem" Wins "Best VFX" at FOF Awards

"Best VFX" at the Future of Film Awards festival

Congratulations to the makers of  the VFX short "Post Mortem" which has won "Best VFX" at the Future of Film Awards.

Post Mortem was directed by Toby Haslam and Ridma Suriyagoda, and produced by Aidan Callaghan, who was also the 3D Lead.  Scott Middleton was the 2D Lead. 

Post Mortem takes place in a futuristic secure facility, where a surgeon performs an autopsy on a mysterious patient.  This is Post Mortem's seventh festival award.

"Threaded Together" Best Animation at FOF Awards

Best Animation at the Future of Film Awards

Congratulations to the makers of "Threaded Together", which has won an award for Best Animation at the Future of Film Awards. 

Threaded Together was directed by Shauna Ludgate and produced by Manos Zervoudakis. The original score was composed by Maria Cortes-Monroy.

Threaded Together tells the story of a needle who longs to be reunited with his friends.  

This is the third festival award for Threaded Together. 

"Wanderer" Wins "Best Creative" at Halicarnassus

"The Wanderer" wins Best Creative at Halicarnassus

Congratulations to the makers of  "The Wanderer", which has won an award for "Best Creative" at the Halicarnassus Film Festival. 

"The Wanderer" tells the story of a traveller who encounters a mysterious spirit that guards an ancient temple.  

The Wanderer was directed by Chiyoko Coyte and produced by Wiktoria Swierk.  

This is the film's fifth festival award. 

Should Graduates Accept a Job as a Runner?

Running - is it just about making coffee?

Should animation, games and VFX graduates work as runners? Working as a runner is a standard entry-level position in our industry, but is it really necessary?  And should our students and graduates do it - or perhaps hold out for a more creative entry-level role?

Here at Escape Studios we support our students who take running positions.  Running isn't glamorous, but it can - and often does - lead to better things.  Hang in there, put up with a bit of drudgery, and it can pay big dividends. 

"Liminal" Wins "Best Micro Short" at Vesuvius Fest

"Best Micro Short" at the Vesuvius Film Festival

Many congratulations to the makers of "Liminal", which has won "Best Micro Short" at the Vesuvius Film Festival.

"Liminal" tells the story of a young girl in a hospital ward who is beset by demons of the imagination.  It was written and directed by Zoe Walker, and produced by Alex Sellen.  

This is the third festival award. for Liminal.

"Giles & Rupert" Wins Best Trailer at Art Film Awards

Best Trailer at the Art Film Awards

Congratulations to the makers of Giles and Rupert's Prehistoric Predicament, which has won its third festival award - Best Trailer at the Art Film Awards.

Giles and Rupert's Prehistoric Predicament is a teaser/trailer for an original animated TV series created at Escape Studios by director Toby Haslam and producers Samia Chowdhury and Georgia Baird.  Giles and Rupert are Victorian inventors whose time machine invention goes horribly wrong - creating a world of Jurassic trouble. 

Escapee Karla Tarazon Runner at HireWorks Post

Karla Tarazon

Congratulations to Escapee Karla Tarazon who is currently working as a runner at HireWorks Post. 

Karla took our BA in 3D Animation at Escape Studios, and contributed her skills as an animator to many of our short animated films, including Nefertiti, Hat Shop, Animal Lover, Little Gestures, Death From Above and Alma, all of which have won multiple festival awards.

Working as a runner in the industry is a recognised first step into animation, vfx and games, and often leads to a more permanent position. Congratulations to Karla for taking the first steps in her animation career.

Last Call for Character Design 10 October 2022

character design by Escapee Leroy Dias

Last call for our online Character Design Evening Class - which returns to Escape Studios on 10th October 2022.

  
Character Design is an eight week evening class taught by industry veteran and Escape Studios' Head of Character Design Steve Sole.

Steve will guide students through the principles of character design, building up to an industry brief.

There is also an eight week period of aftercare at the end of the course, where students are encouraged to continue working on their portfolios, polishing their work to industry standards. 

"The Crash" Wins Best "60-Second" at Fortean Festival

Best 60-Second Challenge at the Fortean Film Festival

Many congratulations to the makers of "The Crash", a short VFX film created by students at Escape Studios, which has won "Best 60-Second Short" at the Fortean Film Festival.

"The Crash" is a sci-fi VFX short written and directed by Lewys Rhodes, and produced by Daniel Rowe.  Cinematography was by Benjamin Stevuliak.  The Crash has won many festival awards.