Escape Studios 2022 2D Animation Reel

We're proud to present our very first 2D Animation Reel. Here at Escape Studios we've been expanding our 2D animation capacity for some years, starting with our evening classes in Toonboom Harmony, and now offering our undergraduate animation students a new 2D Animation Pathway, focusing on digital tools such as Toonboom Harmony, Adobe Animate and Blender.  The 2D Animation industry is going through a renaissance, and we're proud to offer our students a chance to be a part of it.  The reel was cut by Escapee Miguel Teixeira. 

2D Animation Revival

Birds by Lilian Fu

In recent years 2D animation has experienced a significant revival, both in the UK and overseas, as Studios such as Blue Zoo, Aardman Animation, and Brown Bag Films adopt new software such as ToonBoom Harmony.

2D Animation at Escape Studios
Here at Escape Studios we've been expanding our 2D animation capacity for some years, starting with our evening classes in Toonboom Harmony, and now offering our undergraduate animation students a new 2D Animation Pathway, focusing on 2D animation techniques taught with digital software such as Toonboom Harmony, Adobe Animate and Blender. 

Iliana Franklin

Iliana Franklin teaching at Escape Studios

Iliana Franklin is our Head of Story and 2D Animation at Escape Studios. Iliana is a storyboard artist and an animator who has worked in the animation industry for over 30 years. Iliana's feature credits include The Tale of Desperaux, A Monkey’s Tale (1999) and The Princess and the Pea (2002).  Iliana has also worked on TV series such as Mecky and friends (1994), Hungarian Folk Tales (1992-1996), Spirou (1993–1995), and Carland Cross (1996).  

Iliana also runs her own production company Mediaframe, a UK based creative consultancy, specializing in content development and production for illustrative, interactive and screen based media.

Toonboom Harmony at Escape Studios

Birds Connect Our World by Lilian Fu

As well as learning Toonboom Harmony at undergraduate level, students at Escape Studios can try our 10 week evening class (one evening a week), or sign up a 12 week course.  

Toonboom Harmony Resources at Escape Studios

• Getting started with Toonboom Harmony with Plamen Ananiev

Free Toonboom Harmony License and Online resources
In the meantime, check out some of the online Harmony resources available here.  Toonboom have also released a free home version of their software for student use which lasts for 30 days.

Birds Connect Our World
To see what kind of animation can be done in Harmony, watch the short film "Birds Connect Our World" created by Escapee Lilian Fu, who took our evening class in Harmony. 

Birds Connect Our World recently won an award for Best Environmental Film at the Golden Nugget Film Awards. 




2D Animation Revival

Bear animation by Alex Fox

It's a great time to be studying 2D animation. For the first time since the late 1990s the 2D animation industry is expanding, with growing opportunities - for those with the right skills. 

The Escape Studios Animation Blog offers a personal view on the art of animation and visual effects. To find out more about our BA/MArt, now recruiting for September 2022, follow this link.   To apply, visit the official page here.