Jake Hines Compositor at Flawless AI

Jake Hines

Many congratulations to Escapee Jake Hines who has started as a compositor at Flawless AI. creators of AI-powered tools for the creative industries.  

Jake Hines  joins Escape Studios' tutor Allar Kaasik  who left us in 2021 to become Visual Effects Supervisor at Flawless AI.

Jake Hines studied the Art of Visual Effects at Escape Studios. While at Escape Studios, Jake contributed to many short films, including the award-winning films Sea of Madness and D.A.N.S. 

Michael Hunter Returns for Photography Sept 2024

Michael Hunter teaches Photography and Composition

We're delighted to welcome back photographer and tutor Michael Hunter to teach the "Photography and Composition" mini-module to our first year students at Escape Studios.

One of the first subjects our students will tackle in their first year at Escape Studios, "Photography and Composition ", introduces students to the art and craft of photography, and the compositional skills that underpin the medium. 

Shane Woodson to Teach 2D Animation at Escape

Shane Woodson

We're extending a warm welcome to animator Shane Woodson who will soon join Escape Studios to teach our second year animation students the art of 2D character and creature animation. 

Shane Woodson is an experienced 2D animator whose credits include Mog's Christmas and Peter and the Wolf. 

Shane also has extensive experience with Toonboom Harmony, one of the leading software packages for delivering 2d animation. 

Learn After Effects in One Hour with Adam Bennett

Learn After Effects in One Hour with Adam Bennett.  Above is a new free tutorial in Motion Graphics from our Motion Graphics tutor Adam Bennett.  Adam's latest tutorial is an introduction to the basics of After Effects, aimed at complete beginners.  And don't forget Adam's large and growing playlist of free Motion Graphics tutorials, hosted at YouTube, to help students get started and to support their classroom learning.  Our new MA in Motion Graphics is now recruiting for February 2025.

"Sea of Madness" Wins "Best VFX" Award at FoFA

Congratulations to the makers of Sea Of Madness, which has won "Best VFX" at the Future of Film Awards.

Sea Of Madness was directed by Maria Freitas  and produced by Ivy Wang.  A gold-seeking pirate stumbles across a treasure chest on a deserted beach -  guarding a hideous secret.

Jake Hines was the editor and 2D Lead, and Sebastian McKernan was the 3D Lead.  Ian Chavez Zarate stars as The Pirate.   This is the film's sixth festival award.

Beyond The Glass - Disney Animation Florida

Directed by Dane T. and recently uploaded to YouTube, Beyond The Glass: The WDW Animation Building is a new feature length documentary on the Orlando branch of the Walt Disney Animation Studios (known as Walt Disney Feature Animation at the time).  For me personally it's a trip down memory lane, as I started my animation career at Disney MGM Studios on "RollerCoaster Rabbit" back in the lat 1980s.  

3D VFX Short Course & MA Returns 23 Sept 2024

Escape Studios VFX work

Our Short Course and Masters' Degree in 3D VFX is back - returning to Escape Studios on 23 September 2024.  Taught by VFX veteran Dan Shutt,  the Short Course in 3D VFX teaches the art and craft of 3D visual effects. 

VFX sits at the heart of Escape Studios, it's what we started doing over 20 years ago when we first began to train talent for the growing visual effects industry.  VFX remains our core mission, with thousands of 3D VFX Escapees joining VFX houses in the UK and around the globe.

Kevin Richards To Teach Movement & Narrative

Kevin Richards - lead animator on Pop Paper City

We're delighted to welcome back veteran animator and storyboard artist Kevin Richards to teach Movement & Narrative to our first year undergraduate students at Escape Studios in September 2024.

Movement & Narrative is a mini-module, part of CR4002 Creative Foundations, in which students develop their skills in creativity, design, storyboarding and visual narrative; teaching starts in September 2024.  M&N forms part of the First Year of Undergraduate Study at Escape Studios. 

Clara Cornish Teaches Storyboards 8 Oct 2024

Our evening class in

Clara Cornish

Storyboarding returns on 8 October 2024.  This evening class in storyboarding is an online class, taught from 7-10pm, and runs for ten weeks.

Storyboarding is a growing area of the animation industry; one which has recorded significant skills shortages in recent years.

Our storyboard students have gone on to successful careers at studios such as Walt Disney, Brown Bag Films and Blue Zoo Animation.

Concept Art is Back on 9 October 2024

Student artwork: Pictish Village

Concept Art is coming back to Escape Studios. Our next online evening class in Concept Art returns on 9 October 2024. 

 
Concept Art is a part-time evening class, taught one night a week, running for ten weeks. Concept Art runs for 10 weeks, from 7 until 10pm.  Classes take place one night per week.

Concept Art introduces students to the techniques and skills that go up to make a well-rounded concept artist, including 3D & 2D software and - of course - the growing power of AI.

Jamie Bennett Wins "Most Valuable" Award

Congratulations to Escapee Jamie Bennett who won the "Most Valuable" Award among the graduating class of MArt students at this year's Escape Studios Graduation Showcase.

Jamie Bennett studied the Art of Visual Effects at Escape Studios, and contributed to a number of award-winning films, including Same Day Delivery (2024), Tech Troubles (2023) and Lux Mediae Noctis (2023).

Countdown Wins Hon Mention at Milan Gold Awards

"Countdown" wins Hon. Mention at Milan Gold Awards

Congratulations to the makers of "Countdown", which has won an Honourable Mention at the Milan Gold Awards for "Best Animated Short".

"Countdown" was completed as part of Studio Module PR5001, a collaborative module in which second-year animation students work together on short film projects. "Countdown" was written and directed by Leon Lau and produced by Xhoana Tola.  This its second festival award. 

"Reconnected" Wins Hon Mention in Makizhmithran

Congratulations to the makers of "Reconnected", which has won an Honourable Mention in the category of "Best Animation" at the Makizhmithran Film Festival Awards.

"Reconnected" was completed as part of Studio Module PR5001, a studio module in which second-year animation students work together on short film projects. "Reconnected" was written and directed by Stephanie Quelal Castaneda  and produced by Erik Bocskor.  This is its second festival award.

Animator Rebecca Perrone Joins Escape Studios

Rebecca Perrone

We're extending a warm welcome to Rebecca Perrone, an experienced 2D animator who will be teaching our "Level Six" 2D animation students in their third and final year of undergraduate studies at Escape Studios.

Rebecca Perrone is an accomplished animation artist whose screen credits include Mog's Christmas and the acclaimed TV Series Love Death and Robots - on which Rebecca was a lead animator.  2D animation is a large and growing part of the animation pipeline at Escape Studios.

"Kueh" Wins Special Award at Eastern Europe Fest

"Kueh" wins Special Animation Award at EEFF 

Congratulations to the makers of "Kueh", the short 2D animated film from Escape Studios, which has won "Best Animation" at the Eastern Europe Film Festival.  

"Kueh" was completed as part of Studio Module PR5001, a collaborative module in which second-year animation students work together on short film projects.  "Kueh" was written and directed by Gustav Chin and produced by Mai Lu.  This is its first festival award. 

Escape Studios 2024 Motion Graphics Reel

We're proud to release our 2024 Motion Graphics Demo Reel, showcasing the best work done by our motion graphics students at Escape Studios over the past year.  Motion Graphics is a key part of the animation industry, an expanding area of jobs, creativity and new business.  Our new Master's Degree in Motion Graphics teaches the art of motion graphics as well as the underlying theory and structure.

Breakdown Wins Best Super Short at IGA

 "Breakdown" wins Best Super Short at the Int'l Gold Awards

Congratulations to the makers of the short animated film "Breakdown", which has won best Super Short at the International Gold Awards.  

Breakdown was made by our second year animation students, working together as a team to replicate as closely as possible the workings of a commercial animation studio.  Breakdown was directed by Anna Pinart and produced by Caroline Geddis.  The editor was Belle Leuschke and the art director was Daniel Joseph.  This is its first festival award. 

Which Country Has the Most Animation Studios?

UK Animation is thriving

Which Country has the most animation studios? At number 1 of course, is the USA, with over 6,000 animation studios, of which around 1,100 have employees (ie not just a sole freelancer working alone).  

But which country is number 2? You might be surprised however, to learn that the number two spot is taken - not by India, Japan or China - but by...

A Moment in Time at the BFI Sun 22 Sept 2024

A Moment in Time at the BFI Sunday 22 September 2024

Richard Williams' unfinished masterpiece The Thief and the Cobbler - A Moment in Time - will be screened at the BFI on Sunday 22 September 2024, with a Q&A with producer Imogen Sutton.

To buy tickets to see this rarely-screened (only the 3rd UK screening ever) unfinished film, follow the link to the BFI website here.

"Countdown" Wins Best Animated Short in London

"Countdown" - Best Animated Short at London Movie Awards

Congratulations to the makers of "Countdown", which has won Best Animated Short at the London Movie Awards.

"Countdown" was completed as part of Studio Module PR5001, a collaborative module in which second-year animation students work together on short film projects.  "Countdown" was written and directed by Leo Lau and produced by Xhoana Tola.  This its first festival award. 

Sebastian Petre Wins "Most Improved Player" Award

Sebastian Petre wins "Most Improved Player" Award

Congratulations to Escapee Sebastian Petre who has won the "Most Improved Player" Award at the Escape Studios Graduation Showcase, among the graduating MArt class of students.

Sebastian Petre is an animator and rigging artist who studied the Art of Computer Animation at Escape Studios. 

Sebastian has also won over two dozen festival awards for the many award-winning films he worked on. 

"Fairy Tree" Wins Best Super Short in Florence

"The Fairy Tree" wins Best Super Short in Florence 

Congratulations to the makers of "The Fairy Tree", which has won Best Super Short Film at the Florence Film Awards.

"The Fairy Tree" was completed as part of Studio Module PR5001 by second-year animation students working together on a short film.  "The Fairy Tree" was written and directed by Maisy Rogers and produced by Tsz Yau “Moses” Ho.  This is its fourth festival award. 

Compositing Evening Class Returns 24 Sept 2024

Compositing Evening Class returns on 24 September 2024

Our Compositing Evening Class returns on 24 September 2024.  Taught by our industry experts, this course teaches the art and craft of 2D VFX compositing for the visual effects industry. 

Compositing is the art of combining different images to create a single cohesive image.  Compositors are always in demand in the VFX industry, with high levels of employment among our Escapees.

Emmanuel Rahman "Most Valuable Player" Award

Emmanuel Rahman wins "Most Valuable Player" Award

Congratulations to Escapee Emmanuel Rahman who has won the "Most Valuable Player" Award at the Escape Studios Graduate Showcase, among the Visual Effects class of 2024.

Emmanuel Rahman studied the Art of Visual Effects at Escape Studios, specialising in 2D Digital Compositing. 

While at Escape Studios, Emmanuel contributed to a number of award-winning films, including X-Terminate, In Depth, and Outpatient. 

"Same Day Delivery" Wins "Best Super Short" in NYC

"Same Day Delivery" wins "Best Super Short" in NYC

Congratulations to the makers of "Same Day Delivery", the animated short film completed by our fourth year MArt students at Escape Studios, which has won "Best Super Short" at The New York Movie Awards. 

"Same Day Delivery" was a collaboration between animation, games and VFX students.  It was directed by Rohnak Sharma and produced by Jamie Bennett. This is its fourth festival award. 

Escapee Federico Bonato Compositor at Framestore

Federico Bonato VFX Compositor at Framestore   

Congratulations to Escapee Federico Bonato who has started work as a VFX Compositor at Framestore in Australia.   

Federico completed his master's degree in 2D VFX at Escape Studios, and has gone on to enjoy a successful career in industry, working on many hit films including Avatar, Aquaman and The Flash. 

While at Escape Studios,  Federico worked as a compositor on the award-winning short film "Alma". 

2nd Yr Undergraduate VFX

VFX shots by our 2nd Yr Students

Escape Studios presents more excellent work created by our talented students.

This group project was created by our second-year VFX students at Escape Studios, completed as part of Studio Module PR5001. 

Module PR5001 is a collaborative module in which second-year VFX students work together on short film projects, simulating as closely as possible the environment and pipeline of a real animation studio.

Sea of Madness Wins Best VFX at Art Film Awards

Congratulations to the makers of Sea Of Madness, which has won "Best VFX" at the Art Film Awards.

Sea Of Madness was directed by Maria Freitas  and produced by Ivy Wang.  

Jake Hines was the editor and 2D Lead, and Sebastian McKernan was the 3D Lead.  Ian Chavez Zarate stars as The Pirate.  

This is the film's fourth festival award.

Short Course & PG Open Day at Escape 21 Aug 2024

VFX post-graduate student work

Join us on Wednesday 21st August 2024 for our next Short Course and Post-Graduate Open Day at Escape Studios, hosted both online and at our North Greenwich Campus, right next to The O2. 

The Short Course and Post-Graduate Open Day event takes place on Wednesday 21st August 2024 at 6pm and offers prospective students a chance to visit our studios and find out what it's like to study with us.  

Kevin Richards To Teach "Movement & Narrative"

Kevin Richards teaching at Escape Studios

We're delighted to welcome veteran animator and storyboard artist Kevin Richards  to teach Movement & Narrative to our first year undergraduate students at Escape Studios in September 2024.

Movement & Narrative is a mini-module in which students develop their skills in storytelling, creativity, design, storyboarding and visual narrative.

Movement & Narrative starts on Monday 23rd Sept 2024. You can see 2024-25 Term Dates here.