"Leaching" Wins Best Trailer at HEI Awards

"The Leaching" wins Best Trailer at HEI Awards

Congratulations to Escape Studios' tutor Lee Caller whose short teaser/trailer "The Leaching" has won an award for "Best Trailer" at the Heart of Europe Film Festival.

  

"The Leaching" is a teaser/trailer for an animated horror film, currently in development. 

Lee teaches our Short Course, Advanced Animation, and Animation Masters students.  This is the second festival award for The Leaching.

Post-Mortem Wins Best VFX at Onyko Film Fest

Post Mortem Best VFX at the Onyko Film Festival

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

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 fifth festival award.

Animation Demo Reel Tips From Kevin Richards

Kevin Richards Teaching at Escape Studios

Escapee Kevin Richards, who took our short course in 3D animation at Escape Studios, is currently working as a Lead Animator at the new Aardman Animation TV Series "Pop Paper City".  As a production lead, Kevin spends a good deal of time reviewing animation reels and making hiring decisions on new talent.  

In this guest blog below, Kevin offers his tips on how to put together a great demo reel that will ensure you land that crucial first job in the animation industry.

"Ambush" Wins Best VFX at Tokyo Fest

Congratulations to the makers of "Ambush", which has won an award for "Best VFX" at the Tokyo Film Fest.

Ambush was directed by Thomas Grantley and produced by Viktor Fiuk. The 3D Lead was Efthymios Bairaktaris and the 2D Lead was Andrea Tomas.  

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, mirroring as closely as possible the workings of a studio environment. This is Ambush's third festival award.

Escape Studios 20th Birthday Party 8 Sept 2022

Come and party on Thursday 8 September

Calling all our Escapees and industry friends! This year marks an important milestone for Escape Studios - 2022 marks the 20th anniversary of the creation of our school. 

Back in 2002 we first began teaching students the skills needed to break into the fast-growing VFX industry.  And on Thursday 8 September we're hosting a party to celebrate. 

"Jerich0" Wins Best Score at Hollywood Gold Awards

Jerich0, wins Best Original Score in Hollywood

Many congratulations to the makers of Jerich0, which has won an award for "Best Original Score" at the Hollywood Gold Awards.

Jerich0 is a short VFX film about a lonely robot who builds a friend.  This is the latest of many awards for the BAFTA-shortlisted Jerich0; directed by Sarah Andrews, and produced by Matt Wight.  Sound Design was by Aaron Hopwood and the original score was composed by Alexandra Harwood.

 

"Stellar Rescue" Wins Best Director at Halicarnassus

Stellar Rescue Best Director at Halicarnassus Festival.

Congratulations to the makers of "The Stellar Rescue", which has won Best Director at the Halicarnassus Film 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 must return it to its parents in the sky.

"A Long Way Home" wins Best Trailer at Golden Eagle

A Long Way Home Best Trailer at Golden Eagle Fest

Congratulations to the makers of A Long Way Home, which has won an award for at the Best Trailer at Golden Eagle Film Festival.

A Long Way Home is a teaser/trailer directed by Harrison Bell and produced by Josiah Martin-Lofters, about an orphan girl searching for her biological mother.  The film was edited by Cameron Haley, the CG Supervisor was Nicole Widmer.  A Long Way Home has won many festival awards. 

Post-Mortem Wins Best VFX at EEFF

Post Mortem "Best VFX" at the EEFF

Congratulations to the makers of  the VFX short "Post Mortem" which has won "Best VFX" at the Eastern European Film Festival (EEFF).

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 fourth festival award.

"Pet Shop" Wins "Best Trailer" at RFA

Pet Shop wins Best Trailer at the Robinson Film Awards

Congratulations to the makers of "Pet Shop", which has won an award for "Best Trailer" at the Robinson Film Awards.

Directed by Shauna Ludgate and Produced by Emmanouil "Manos" Zervoudakis,  "Pet Shop" is a story about animals in a pet shop who long to find a home; it has won many festival awards. 

Louis Chevis Animator at Pop Paper City

Louis Chevis

Many congratulations to Escapee Louis Chevis who has recently joined Aardman Animation's "Pop Paper City" as an animator.

"Pop Paper City" is a new animated TV series being distributed by Aardman Animations and produced by Lovelove films.

Louis studied the Art of Computer Animation.  While at Escape Studios, Louis contributed to many award-winning projects, including "Picture Us", "Threaded Together", "Burger Royale", "Russell", "Solitude" and "The Beauty of Nature".

"Sweet Heart" Wins Best VFX at Future of Film Fest

"Sweet Heart" Best VFX at the Future of Film Awards.

Congratulations to the makers of "Sweet Heart", which has won Best VFX at the Future of Film Awards. 

Sweet Heart is a short VFX film created by students at Escape Studios; it was directed by Liam Mann, co-directed by Shenaaz Suliman, and produced by Emmanouil "Manos" Zervoudakis.  

"Sweet Heart" tells the story of two cake figurines who fall in love.  It has won many festival awards.

Cinematography and Lighting with Clem Gharini

Cinematography and Lighting starts again on September 19th; one of a number of mini-modules taken by all our first year students.  Taught by our in-house Director of Photography Clement Gharini, Cinematography and Lighting module introduces students to the art of moving cameras and green screen photography.  Cinematography is one of the core skills that all our students must master; to find out more, watch the video above, and read Clem's post below.

"Liminal" Wins Golden Eagle Award

Many congratulations to the makers of "Liminal", which has won "Best Micro Short" at the Golden Eagle 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 second festival award. for Liminal.

Stellar Rescue "Best Micro Short" at Vesuvius Fest

The Stellar Rescue Best Micro Short at Vesuvius

Congratulations to the makers of "The Stellar Rescue", which has won Best Micro Short at the Vesuvius Film Festival.

"The Stellar Rescue" was written and directed by Anthony Sarmiento, and produced by Wiktoria Swierk.  Art direction was by Chiyoko Coyte. 

The Stellar Rescue is about a young boy who rescues a fallen baby star, and must return it to its parents in the sky.

"Is it Good?" By Lee Caller

"Is it good?" from Lee Caller on Vimeo.

Above is a fine acting shot animated by Escape Studios tutor Lee Caller, one of a number of pieces of animation that Lee has started as a student demo, but - as he puts it - "rarely gets to finish".  In this case, the purpose of the demo was to show students that great animation it not always all about over-the-top super-exaggeration, but more about subtle facial expressions and believable acting choices. The acting reference was taken from the TV series Killing Eve - you can see the original shot here: youtu.be/HDdhotN0Dnw?t=223

Photography & Composition with Michael Hunter

Student artwork

One of the first mini-modules our students will tackle in their first year at Escape Studios is "Photography and Composition", taught by Escape Studios' tutor and professional photographer Michael Hunter. 

 

In this mini-module, starting on 19 September 2022, students learn the fundamental principles of Photography and Composition that can be applied to all areas of animation, games and visual effects.

These fundamental skills will be applied throughout our students' years of study at Escape Studios, whatever their chosen field of specialism.

"Giles & Rupert" Wins Best Animated Film in Milan

Best Animated Film at the Milan Gold Awards

Congratulations to the makers of Giles and Rupert's Prehistoric Predicament, which has won its first festival award - Best Animated Film - at the Milan Gold 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. 

"Ambush" Wins Best Animated Film in London Fest

Ambush wins Best Animation at London Movie Awards

Congratulations to the makers of "Ambush", which has won an award for "Best Animated Film" at the London Movie Awards.  

Ambush was directed by Thomas Grantley and produced by Viktor Fiuk. The 3D Lead was Efthymios Bairaktaris and the 2D Lead was Andrea Tomas.  

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, mirroring as closely as possible the workings of a studio environment.  This is Ambush's second festival award.

Escapee Titi-Marian Giusca Animator at Blue Zoo

Titi-Marion Giusca

Many congratulations to Escapee Titi-Marian Giusca who has started work as an animator at Blue Zoo, one of the UK's leading animation houses.

Titi-Marian Giusca studied the Art of Computer Animation at Escape Studios.

While at Escape Studios, Titi-Marian contributed to a number of award-winning projects, including March of the Potguins, Over Under, and The Golden Acorn, all of which have enjoyed considerable festival success.

Post-Mortem Wins Best VFX at Art Film Fest

Congratulations to the makers of  the VFX short "Post Mortem" which has won "Best VFX" at the Art 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 third festival award.

Giorgos Konstaninou Wins "Rookie of the Year"

Giorgos Konstaninou wins "Rookie of the Year"

Many congratulations to Escapee Giorgos Konstaninou who has won "Rookie of the Year" in the category of 3D Animation at the 2022 Rookies.

Giorgos is in his second year of studies at Escape Studios, studying for his BA in the Art of Computer Animation. 

Giorgos won the award for his animation demo reel, which he has been working on over the course of the past year.

Free 2D Animation Taster 9 August 2022 at 5pm

We're hosting a free 2D Animation Taster at Escape Studios on Tuesday 9 August at 5pm. The taster is taught by veteran animator and storyboard artist Iliana Franklin, and will offer students a chance to explore 2D animation using industry-leading software Toonboom Harmony. 

2D Animation is currently experiencing a big revival, both globally and here in the UK, as Studios such as Blue Zoo, Aardman Animation, and Brown Bag Films adopt new software.

This free 2D Animation Taster takes place on Tuesday 9 August at 5pm. To sign up, follow this link.

Meet Your 3D VFX Tutors - Dan Shutt

Dan Shutt

Dan Shutt is one of our most experienced VFX tutors, with over 23 years’ experience in a wide variety of 3D fields, from feature film effects and games graphics, to TV commercials and architectural rendering.  Dan has been with Escape Studios since 2009.

Dan teaches our short course and MA in 3D VFX, and is also an expert in Houdini, the leading software for physics-based FX work such as water, fire and smoke. 

To meet Dan and find out more about him, you can listen to Dan's VFX Podcast here.

"A Long Way Home" Wins "Best Animated Trailer"

A Long Way Home - Best Animated Trailer 

Congratulations to the makers of A Long Way Home, which has won an award for Best Animated Trailer at the Dreamachine International Film Festival.

A Long Way Home is a teaser/trailer directed by Harrison Bell and produced by Josiah Martin-Lofters, about an orphan girl searching for her biological mother.  The film was edited by Cameron Haley, the CG Supervisor was Nicole Widmer.

A Long Way Home has won many festival awards. 

Story & Previs Taster on 8 August at 5pm

Join us on Monday 8th August at 5pm at Escape Studios for a free taster in Storyboarding and Previsualisation.  Come and see what it is like learning the art and craft of visual storytelling at Escape Studios.

This free online taster offers a hands-on introduction to professional storyboarding techniques, techniques which are currently in demand as the animation industry continues to expand.

In this online taster, taught by Escape Studios' tutor Iliana Franklin, you will learn to create a simple storyboard, and edit the images into a digital animatic with music and sound design.

"Ambush" Wins "Hon Mention" Best Sci Fi at AFA

Congratulations to the makers of "Ambush", which has won an Honourable Mention in the category of "Best Sci-Fi" at the Art Film Awards. 

Ambush was directed by Thomas Grantley and produced by Viktor Fiuk. The 3D Lead was Efthymios Bairaktaris and the 2D Lead was Andrea Tomas.  

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, mirroring as closely as possible the workings of a studio environment.  This is Ambush's first festival award.

Quarantine Chorus Best Covid Film at Roshani Fest

Quarantine Chorus Best Covid-19 Film at Roshani Fest

Many congratulations to the makers of "Quarantine Chorus", which has won "Best Covid Film" at the Roshani International Film Festival.

This is the latest of many festival awards for Quarantine Chorus, a short story about life under Lockdown in a small town in Italy.  

The film was directed by Edoardo Sartori, produced by Nickoel Izharudin and edited by Paloma Zhu; it was based on an original idea by Tequila Mason.