Introducing "Shapla"

Introducing "Shapla", the latest 2D animated film 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. 

Why Movie Posters Need Taglines

Short films need posters (also known as "One Sheets"), and posters need taglines. A great tagline encapsulates what the film is about, and makes the viewer want to see more.  

A great tag line (like the one for Ghostbusters on the left) is witty, short, and punchy, and makes the audience feel a sense of anticipation about the film.  

Stuck for a great tagline for your movie poster? Ask ChatGPT. Type in what your story is about, ask for ten taglines; then pick the one you like most. You don't need tell anyone you asked a bot (and I promise I won't tell either). 

Meet "Sköll Aurora"

Introducing Sköll Aurora, the latest short film created by our third year graduating class of 2D animation students at Escape Studios. Sköll Aurora is a story about light re-entering a dark and desolate world; it was written and directed by Mahamat Souleymane and produced by Amos Mathias.

"Crab Companion" Wins "Best Animation" in Milan

"Crab Companion" wins "Best Animation" in Milan 

Congratulations to the makers of the animated short film "Crab Companion", which has won "Best Animation" at the Milan Gold Awards. 

"Crab Companion" was completed as part of Studio Module PR5001, a collaborative module in which second-year animation students work together on short film projects.  

"Crab Companion" was written and directed by Sam Blackburn, edited by Aya Najib and produced by John Adarlo.  This is its third festival award. 

"Am I Dreaming?" By Jake Lee

Introducing "Am I Dreaming?" directed by Jake Lee, and produced by Escapee Emmanouil "Manos" Zervoudakis.  "Am I Dreaming?" is an animated musical featuring an original song written and composed by Lilianne Coeverden and performed by Kiersten Nielson.  Am I Dreaming? is currently being entered into film festivals; to see more, watch the trailer above.

"Mini Mail" Wins "Best 1st Time Director" Award

Congratulations to the makers of the VFX Short film Mini Mail, which has won "Best First Time Director" at the International Gold Awards.

Mini Mail was created by our third year graduating class of VFX students at Escape Studios; it was written and directed by Thomas Greensmith  and produced by Nilufer Refet.  

Asia Gayle  was the 3D VFX lead, and Daniel Beeching was the 2D VFX Lead.  John Oakes-Pearson stars as the delivery guy.  Industry feedback was generously provided by Industrial Light & Magic.  This is its second festival award. 

Introducing "Keep Cooking"

Introducing "Keep Cooking", the latest animated short film 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. 

"Life's Gifts" Wins "Best Animation" at Kodaikanal

"Life's Gifts" wins "Best Animated Film" at Kodaikanal Fest  

Congratulations to the makers of short animated film "Life's Gifts", which has won "Best Animated Film" at the Kodaikanal film festival.  

"Life's Gifts" was completed as part of Studio Module PR5001, a collaborative module in which second-year animation students work together on short film projects.  

"Life's Gifts" was written and directed by Jason Cole and produced by Vanessa Marques-Navaratnasingam.  This is the latest of many festival awards. 

Time to Enter The Rookies - Deadline 20 June 2025

The 2025 Rookies is now open

Our animation, games and vfx students are now entering their projects in The Rookies Awards 2025, the international competition for young creatives.  The Rookies annual competition opened in April and the final deadline is 20th June 2025.

Escape Studios' tutors cannot enter student projects in The Rookies - our students must do this themselves. 

Your checklist includes screen credits (don't forget Special Thanks), a One Sheet poster, stylish pre-production and development art - all these things should be submitted. And remember - only students can enter. Escape Studios' tutors and staff cannot do this for you. 

Introducing "Night Terrors"

Meet "Night Terrors", the latest VFX short film from Escape Studios.  Directed by Erminas Surgautas and produced by Xhoana Tola, "Night Terrors" was a collaboration between undergraduate animation students and VFX students at Escape Studios, working together to create an original story.  The Art Director was Ruby Ebbs, Yusuf Saddique was the 2D VFX Lead, and Samuel Greer was the 3D VFX Lead. 

"Mob Boss Barkino" Wins "Best Animation" Award

"Mob Boss Barkino" wins Best Animation in Hollywood

Congratulations to the makers of "Mob Boss Barkino", which has won Best Animation at the Hollywood Gold Awards. 

Mob Boss Barkino was written and directed by Leon Lau, and produced by Angharad Mathias.  The lead animator was Maisy Rogers, and the Editor was Tobi Ajibola.  Industry feedback was generously provided by Charlie Tetlow and Felipe De Lanteuil from Industrial Light & Magic.  This its second festival award. 

Introducing "Socks To Be You"

Meet "Socks To Be You", the latest VFX short film from Escape Studios.  Directed by Josh Popusoi , and produced by Erik Bocsor,  "Socks To Be You" was a collaboration between undergraduate animation students and VFX students at Escape Studios, working together to create an original story.  Studio projects such as this one form part of The Escape Method; bringing together students with multiple talents to work in teams, responding to industry feedback - in this case from Industrial Light & Magic.

"Hubris" Wins "Best Student Film" at Short Stop Fest

"Hubris" wins "Best Student Film" at Short Stop Fest 

Congratulations to the makers of "Hubris" which has won "Best Student Film" at the Short Stop International Film Festival.  

"Hubris" was completed as part of Studio Module PR5001, a collaborative module in which second-year animation students work together on short film projects.  "Hubris" was written and directed by Sohaib Mehar and produced by Secander Sadat.  The editor was Gleb Migas, and the art director was Leona Lu.  This is its first festival award. 

Introducing "AFK"

Meet "AFK" ("Away From Keyboard"), the latest VFX short film from Escape Studios.  Directed by “Moses” Tsz Yau Ho, and produced by Emily Newton, AFK tells the story of two video games characters who escape from the screen and do battle in the human world.  "AFK" was a collaboration between undergraduate animation students and VFX students at Escape Studios, working together to create an original story.  Studio projects such as this one form part of The Escape Method; bringing together students with multiple talents to work in teams, responding to industry feedback - in this case from Industrial Light & Magic.

Character Animation by Cara Masters

Above is an excellent piece of character animation by Escape Studios' animation student Cara Masters. Cara Masters has been studying the Art of Computer Animation, and will graduate this summer. While at Escape Studios, Cara contributed to a number of award-winning projects, including Checkmate, which she directed, and Ongo, on which she was the lead animator.  Congratulations to Cara on her excellent work. 

"Crab Companion" Wins "Best Animation" at EEFF

"Crab Companion" wins "Best Animation" at the EEFF

Congratulations to the makers of the animated short film "Crab Companion", which has won "Best Animation" at the Eastern Europe Film Festival. 

"Crab Companion" was completed as part of Studio Module PR5001, a collaborative module in which second-year animation students work together on short film projects.  

"Crab Companion" was written and directed by Sam Blackburn, edited by Aya Najib and produced by John Adarlo.  This is its second festival award. 

Introducing "Hubris"

Introducing "Hubris", the latest short animated film from Escape Studios.  "Hubris" was completed as part of Studio Module PR5001, a collaborative module in which second-year animation students work together on short film projects.  "Hubris" was written and directed by Sohaib Mehar and produced by Secander Sadat. The editor was Gleb Migas, and the art director was Leona Lu. 

Free "Gamebridge" is Back on 28 June 2025

Gamebridge 2025 is free on 28 June 

Calling all games students at Escape Studios - "Gamebridge" is back, and it's completely free! On Saturday 28th June 2025 the annual Gamebridge Student Games Festival will be held at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge,. This free event is aimed at further (17yrs+) and higher education students / graduates looking for a career in the games industry. If you're studying games at Escape Studios - that includes you. 

VFX Work at Escape Studios

One of the best things about teaching at Escape Studios is seeing the stunning animation and vfx work created by our talented students. The VFX shot above was created by compositors Edie Queen-Jones, Rupin Odedra, Sufyan Samar and Renee Allen. 3D VFX work was completed by Mark Youssef Moussa and Mukund Nandakumar. Congratulations to them all on an excellent job. 

Live Action Reference and The Road to El Dorado

The Road To El Dorado was a Dreamworks picture that I worked on back in the late 1990s.  I was assigned to Tulio, one of the two lead characters, voiced by Kevin Kline and supervised by lead animator James Baxter, who I had worked with a decade earlier on Who Framed Roger Rabbit in London.  It was a great experience, and I learned a lot, especially about the use of live action reference to create believable animation.