Careers Webinar with Blue Zoo ILM & Jellyfish

Last week on 5 August we hosted a free online Animation Careers Evening with animation industry leaders ILM, Blue Zoo and Jellyfish Pictures.  Blue Zoo recruiter Lauren Barnes, and animators Jamie Floodgate, Jack Bond and Joel Airebamen discussed the latest career opportunities in the expanding animation industry, offering their insights into how to get hired into the current animation boom. Who is hiring, and for what skills? What kind of demo reel do you need to get hired? How has Brexit affected the jobs environment? Watch this video to find out. 

Aardman Armature Kit for Stop Motion

For all our students who would like to try their hands at stop-motion animation: armature specialist Animation Toolkit has partnered with Aardman Animation to design and create a bespoke armature kit to help stop motion animators with the puppet making process.

Animators can now easily and affordably create their own animation puppets.

The Crash Wins Hon Mention at The Rookies

"The Crash" wins Honourable Mention at The Rookies

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

"The Crash" is a short science fiction story combining live action and VFX; it was written and directed by Lewys Rhodes, and produced by Daniel Rowe, who earlier this year produced the multi-award-winning short film "Kiwi's Dream".   

Escapee Alex Jemeljanov Animator at Ringtail

Alex Jemeljanov

Congratulations to Escapee Alex Jemeljanov who has just started a new position as Junior 3d Animator at Ringtail Studios. 

Ringtail Studios is an EU-based studio specialising in 3D content production and co-development services in games and interactive entertainment.

Alex took our Master's Degree in 3D Animation, working on his demo reel, and eventually breaking into the rapidly expanding animation industry. 

Death From Above Best Trailer at Art Awards

"Death From Above" wins Best Trailer at Art Film Awards

Many congratulations to the makers of "Death From Above", which has won "Best Trailer" at the Art Film Awards.  

This is the latest festival award for "Death From Above", a teaser/trailer for an action adventure web series. 

The short was directed by Jordan Coles, and produced by Callum Wylie.  Cinematography was by Daniel Brand-Sinyinza.

Last Call for Animation Careers Evening Tonight

Animation Careers Event Tonight

Last call to join us tonight at 4.30pm for our free online Animation Careers Evening with animation industry leaders Blue Zoo and Jellyfish Pictures.  

Blue Zoo recruiter Lauren Barnes, and animators Jamie Floodgate and Joel Airebamen will discuss the latest career opportunities in the expanding animation industry.  You can sign up here at the official site.

Little Gestures Hon Mention at The Rookies

Little Gestures Wins Hon Mention at The Rookies

Many congratulations to the makers of "Little Gestures", which has won an Honourable Mention at The Rookies in the category of VFX. 

"Little Gestures" is a short story about an artist's maquette which comes to life. 

The film was directed by Richard O'Hanlon and Daniel Brand-Sinyinza, and produced by Nickoel Izharudin and Dominic Strachan. 

"Malloe" Honourable Mention at The Rookies

"Malloe" Hon Mention for 3D Animation at The Rookies

Congratulations to the makers of "Malloe", which has received an "Honourable Mention" at The Rookies in the category of Best 3D Animated Short Film. 

"Malloe" was directed by Eilin Berrio Pena, edited by Ross Green, and produced by Nickoel Izharudin.  

Art Direction was by Paloma Zhu. 

The Crash Wins Best Super Short at UK Fest

The Crash wins "Best Super Short" at UKMFF

Many congratulations to the makers of "The Crash", a short film created by VFX students at Escape Studios, which has won its first festival award: Best Super Short at the UK Film Festival.  

"The Crash" is a short science fiction story combining live action and VFX; it was written and directed by Lewys Rhodes, and produced by Daniel Rowe, who earlier this year produced the multi-award-winning short film "Kiwi's Dream".   

Candle Wick Wins Best Micro Short at Vesuvius

Candle Wick Wins "Best Micro Short" at Vesuvius Fest

Many congratulations to the makers of "Candle Wick", a short animated film created by our second-year animation students at Escape Studios, which has won its first festival award: "Best Micro Short" at the Vesuvius Film Festival.

"Candle Wick" was directed by Oliver Gallagher, co-directed by Shauna Ludgate, and produced by Emmanouil "Manos" Zervoudakis.  Art direction was by Tsvetelina Kumanova.

"BoxBots" Honourable Mention at The Rookies

BoxBots awarded Hon Mention at the Rookies for VFX

Many congratulations to the makers of "BoxBots", which has won an Honourable Mention at the Rookie Awards in the category of Best Visual Effects. 

Directed by Jordan Coles and Ross Green, and produced by Priya Shah, "BoxBots" is about a contest between two toys who compete for the "World Plasticweight Championship".

Amarok Wins Best Trailer at Halicarnassus Fest

Amarok "Best Trailer" at Halicarnassus Fest

Congratulations to the makers of "Amarok", which has won "Best Trailer" at the Halicarnassus Film Festival. 

Amarok was written and directed by Shenaaz Suliman, co-written by Simone Fraser, produced by Josiah Martin-Lofters, and edited by Cameron Haley.  

Amarok is a trailer for a web series about a First Nations police detective in a remote town in Northern Canada; it has won multiple festival awards. 

Konrad Peczkowicz MoCap Artist at ILM

Konrad Peczkowicz

Congratulations to Escapee Konrad Peczkowicz who has recently started a new position as a Junior Facial Capture Artist at Industrial Light and Magic.  Motion Capture is a growing part of the animation industry, increasingly embedded into our animation course at Escape Studios. 

At Escape Studios, Konrad Peczkowicz was the lead animator on the award-winning short film "Slushy", and also contributed to other award-winning film projects. 

ILM is one of the world's leading animation and VFX houses, pioneers in VFX and also software development.  Konrad will be using ILM's own proprietary software for facial capture animation.  

Kiwi's Dream: People's Choice at The Rookies

Kiwi's Dream wins "People's Choice Award" at The Rookies

Congratulations to the makers of "Kiwi's Dream", which has won a "People's Choice Award" at The Rookies, in the category of Best Visual Effects.

Directed by Paloma Zhu and produced by Daniel Rowe, "Kiwi's Dream" is a short story about an origami kiwi who dreams of flight.  

"Summer of Unreal" Training Begins

Our free four-week course in Unreal Engine began yesterday,  offering training in Unreal Engine for industry professionals.  The Summer of Unreal is a free, four-week boot camp created in collaboration with Epic Games, teaching artists practical real-time skills in Unreal Engine.  The event is designed and hosted by Escape Studios, the UK’s first and only Unreal Authorised Training Center. 

Home Sweet Home Wins Best VFX at LIMFF

Many congratulations to the makers of "Home Sweet Home", which has won "Best VFX" at the London International Film Festival (LIMFF).

  

Home Sweet Home is about a gang of discarded sweets trying to get home.  It was directed by Maria Robertson, co-directed by Harry Pearson and produced by Maddison Gould.  

Home Sweet Home has won multiple festival awards, including Best Animation at the Basilicata International Film Festival in Potenza, Italy and Best Student Animation at the 2019 British Animation Film Festival

Animation Careers Evening on 5 August 4.30pm

Animation Careers Event August 5th

Join us at Escape Studios on Thursday 5th August at 4:30pm for a free online Animation Careers Evening with animation industry leaders Blue Zoo and Jellyfish Pictures.  

Blue Zoo recruiter Lauren Barnes, and animators Jamie Floodgate and Joel Airebamen will discuss the latest animation career opportunities. Sign up here at the official site.

Callum Wylie Animation Intern at Blue Zoo

Callum Wylie

Many congratulations to Escapee Callum Wylie who has begun an internship with London-based animation studio Blue Zoo, responsible for animated hits such as the BAFTA and Emmy-award winning "Paddington" series. 

While at Escape Studios, Callum contributed to a number of short films.  In 2019 Callum produced the adventure-horror trailer "Death from Above", which has won multiple festival awards. 

Callum also contributed to three other films at Escape Studios: Street Ratz, Quarantine Chorus and Slushy, all of which have won festival awards.

Planet Mars Wins Best Cinematography

Planet Mars wins Best Cinematography at Halicarnassus

Congratulations to the creators of the animated short mockumentary  "Planet Mars", which has won another festival award - Best Cinematography at the Halicarnassus Film Festival.  

Directed by Escapee Sebastian Kuder, and produced by Katerina Zacharakis, Planet Mars was a Studio Project completed by second year animation students at Escape Studios.

Jordan Coles Junior Rigger at MPC

Jordan Coles

Congratulations to Escapee Jordan Coles who has just started a new role as Junior Rigger at MPC in London. 

MPC is one of the UK's leading animation and VFX houses, responsible for hits such as the 2019 remake of The Lion King and The Jungle Book.

While at Escape Studios, Jordan directed the award-winning short films "Death From Above" and "BoxBots". Jordan also contributed custom rigs to the award-winning short film "Hat Shop".