Festivus Interview with Alex Williams

Festivus has released a podcast interview with Alex Williams, Dean of Animation & VFX at Escape Studios, recorded at the end of last year. Julian Scott from Film London did the interview, which you can listen to above. The interview is part of a series in which Festivus explores the careers of people working in the animation industry, and how they forged their own unique career path in an industry in which careers can be very non-linear. 

Mechamorphosis Wins Best Animation in Milan

"Mechamorphosis" wins "Best Animation" in Milan. 

Congratulations to the makers of "Mechamorphosis", which has won "Best Animation" in Milan. 

Mechamorphosis was written and produced by Alberto Scotti and directed by Ilaria Colavito.   

Animation was completed by Steven Lall.  Hélios Lyons did the sound design and composed the original music.  This is the latest of many awards for Mechamorphosis. 

Efthymios Bairaktaris Pipeline TD at One Of Us

Many congratulations to Escapee Efthymios Bairaktaris who has joined the VFX Studio One of Us as a Senior Pipeline Technical Director 

Since graduating from The Art of VFX in 2022, Efthymios has worked on major projects, including the Oscar and Golden Globe nominated film Bugonia. 

While at Escape Studios, Efthymios Bairaktaris worked as 3D Lead on the VFX short film Ambush which has won many festival awards. 

Ambush was completed as part of the VFX Project, the final film-making module in the third year of studies at Escape Studios, in which students work together to create a short film. 

Box Lift Animation by Annabella Espiritu

Here is some great 3D animation in Maya by Escape Studios' animation student Annabella Espiritu.  Animating weight is an especially challenging task for junior animators; unlike stop-motion animation, our character rigs have no intrinsic weight, so the weight must be simulated.  To see more great work created by our students, check out our Animation & VFX YouTube Channel. 

Escape Studios' European Tour

Escape Studios is "escaping to Europe" on a new European recruitment tour.

We'll be appearing at a number of undergraduate and postgraduate events across Poland, Portugal and Spain. 

Places can be booked at this link https://bit.ly/3LGTjni. 

In September 2024 Escape studios welcomed our first new international students since Brexit. 

Escape Studios now has a UKVI Licence, meaning that we are now able to sponsor international students to study with us on student visas.

EscapeVerse Live 2026 Lineup & Schedule 24-26 Feb

The Lineup and Schedule for Escapeverse Live, the in-person and online event hosted by Escape Studios, celebrating VFX, animation, games and tech art, is now available. 

Escapeverse Live  runs from 24th - 26th February 2026, and we'll be sharing behind-the-scenes insights from the best of the screen industries. 

To find out more, and get your free tickets, follow this link: https://lnkd.in/eSp9D26C. Scroll down to see this year's Escapeverse Live lineup and schedule. 

How to Train Your Dragon with Framestore 11 Feb

Escape Studios is delighted to invite all our students to a screening of How to Train Your Dragon followed by a Q&A with our industry partners Framestore. 

On Wednesday 11th of February at 5pm, we are joined by Framestore to present a screening of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ followed by a behind the scenes talk by Lead Animator Chris Mcgaw. 

Tickets are just £2.50 and the screening takes place at the Cineworld inside the O2.

Alex Budulan FX Artist at Wild Child Animation

Alex Budulan

Many congratulations to Escapee Alex Budulan who has joined Wild Child Animation as a Senior FX Artist. 

Alex Budulan studied the Art of Visual Effects at Escape Studios.  During his studies at Escape Studios, Alex contributed to a number of successful animated films, including the short film "Reece" and the short animated teaser "Street Ratz", which won multiple festival awards.

Wild Child Animation is an Award-winning 2D and CG animation studio based in Stirling, Scotland.

Evening Course in Mastering Manga and Storytelling

Evening Course in Mastering Manga and storytelling

Escape Studios is launching a new Evening Course in Mastering Manga and storytelling. 

It is an eight week course, running two evenings a week taught by award winning Manga Artist and Storyteller Elena Vitagliano.

The Evening Course in Mastering Manga and storytelling starts on 24 March 2026 and runs for 8 weeks. 

"Keep Cooking" Wins "Best Animation" at Art Awards

Congratulations to the makers of "Keep Cooking", which has won "Best Animation" at the Art Film Awards.   Keep Cooking was created by our third year graduating class of 2D Animation students at Escape Studios.  

Keep Cooking was written and directed by Nathan Blackman and produced by Mai Lu.  Chieri Kagata was the Lead Animator, and Gustav Chin was the Art Director.  This is the latest of many festival awards. 

Congratulations to Our 48 Escapees at The Oscars

48 Escapees worked on Oscar-nominated films

The 2026 Oscars have announced their nominations, and we couldn't be prouder of the 48 Escapees worked on Oscar-nominated films, including all four films film nominated for Best Visual Effects. 

Nominated for Best Visual Effects are Avatar: Fire and Ash, Jurassic World Rebirth, The Lost Bus, F1 and Sinners.  No less than 48 Escapees worked on these five VFX films. 

We would also like to congratulate our industry partners Industrial Light & Magic, Cinesite, DNEG, RISE FX, The Third Floor, Outpost VFX, One of Us and Framestore on their amazing work. 

In addition, Six Escapees worked on the films nominated for Best Picture and one Escapee worked on K Pop Demon Hunters, nominated for Best Animated Film.  

Maya Taster at Escape Studios on 29 Jan 2026

Maya Taster at Escape Studios on 29th January 2026

We're hosting a new Maya Animation Taster at Escape Studios on Thursday 29th January 2026, taught by short course and Master's Degree animation tutor Lee Caller.

Taster Events are a great chance to learn about our courses, and find out what working in the creative industries is all about.

Animal & Creature Animation Showreel 2026

Congratulations to our all our talented students on the new 2026 Animals and Creatures Demo Reel from Escape Studios. The video above is a compilation of the best work done by students studying on our short courses, evening classes, and postgraduate classes.  Many thanks to Escape Studios' videographer Ahmed Aden for cutting the reel. 

Houdini Taster Evening Tonight 27 January 2026

We're hosting a Houdini Taster at Escape Studios today Tuesday 27th January at 5.30pm. 

There's still time to sign up and find out more about one of the fastest-growing areas of software expertise in the world of VFX.

SideFX Houdini is a digital tool that allows users to create FX work such as smoke, fire and water.  Come along tonight at 5.30pm to find out more.

"Shapla" Wins "Best Animation" at the EEFF

"Shapla" wins "Best Animation" at the EEFF

Many congratulations to the makers of "Shapla", which has won "Best Animation" at the Eastern European Film Awards. 

"Shapla" was created by our graduating class of animation students. "Shapla" was directed by Ruksar Rowza Aziz and produced by Charlie Seeviour.  Erica Sanches was the art director and Tom Price composed the original score.  

This is the latest of many festival awards. 

"Sköll Aurora" Wins "Best Short Film" in Paris

Sköll Aurora wins Best Super Short Film in Paris

Congratulations to the makers of Sköll Aurora, the animated short film created by our third year graduating class of 2D animation students at Escape Studios, which has won "Best Super Short Film" at the Paris Film Awards. 

Sköll Aurora tells the story of light re-entering a dark and desolate world; it was written and directed by Mahamat Souleymane and produced by Amos Mathias.  This is its fourth festival award. 

Motion Graphics Taster Monday 26 Jan 2026

Motion Graphics Taster on Saturday 20th July

Join us on Monday 26 Jan 2026 at 5.30pm for a free taster session in Adobe Illustrator, one of the key pieces of software used on our Motion Graphics MA and Short Course. 

This taster session takes place online and offers prospective students a chance to meet our tutors, try out our software and find out what it's like to study with us.   This Adobe Illustrator Taster is taught by Escape Studios Motion Graphics Tutor Daniel Amor. 

"The VFX Life" With Brooke McGowan 3 Feb 2026

Join us on Tuesday 3 February at 6pm for our next VFX Event, "The VFX Life Blueprint" with vfx compositor (and Escapee) Brooke McGowan.  

Brooke McGowan is a VFX artist and professional life coach whose goal is to "empower the VFX, Film & TV Industry to learn the skills they need to build multiple streams of income".   To sign up for this free event, follow this link. 

Houdini Evening Class Returns 21 April 2026

Houdini Evening Class Starts 21 April 2026

Our next Evening Class in SideFX Houdini starts again on 21 April 2026. 

SideFX Houdini is the leading software for the creation of digital FX, such as smoke, fire, water and - in Houdini 20 - clouds and feathers.  

Escape Studios is a Houdini Certified School.   This evening class is taught by Houdini expert and industry veteran Mark Spevick. 

Producing VFX Evening Class Returns 24 March 2026

Producing for VFX returns on 24 March 2026

Our Evening Class in Producing for VFX is back, starting on 24 March 2026.  Producing for VFX is an eight week evening class, taught two nights a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-10pm). 

Producing for VFX is designed to give students a thorough understanding of how the VFX production pipeline works, and how to apply it in practice.  VFX Producers and Line Producers remain a critical skills gap in industry.