Escapeverse Online Returns 24-27 Feb 2025

Save the Date! EscapeVerse Live (formerly the VFX Festival) is back - returning on 24-27 February 2025.  

The 2025 EscapeVerse Live Festival will be held live online.  

To book your tickets either in-person or online, follow this link.  

"Theseus" Wins "Best VFX" at Makizhmithran Fest

Theseus and The Minotaur: "Best VFX" in Makizhmithran

Congratulations to the makers of Theseus and The Minotaur which has won "Best VFX" at the Makizhmithran Film Festival.

Theseus and The Minotaur tells the story of the Greek hero's entry into the Labyrinth, and was directed by Mitchell Wright and produced by Ayesha-Ria Jina. The 3D lead was Xavier Barker, and the 2D Lead was Ethan Mainwaring-Taylor.  Industry feedback was provided by Industrial Light & Magic.  

This its fourth festival award. 

Escapee Belle Leuschke Joins Time Based Arts

Escapee Belle Leuschke joins Time Based Arts 

Many congratulations to Escapee Belle Leuschke who has joined the VFX house Time Based Arts in Shoreditch, London.

Belle Leuschke studied the Art of Computer Animation at Escape Studios, winning many awards for her work on a number of short films, including "When Life Gives You Lemons", Breakdown", and "The Descent". 

Where Are The UK Animation Studios?

Animation UK's Studio Directory

There are around 2,500 animation studios in the UK, of which a little under 500 have employees - making them worth targeting for an entry-level job.  But how to find them?  

One great resource is Animation UK's Studios Directory, which you can find here.  Click on the link and you can start making lists of UK Animation Studios - and then start applying. 

"Ursula" Thumbnail Sketches by Ruben Aquino

With animation, you get nothing for free.  Animators have to fill this blank space with creative, entertaining animation.  

The secret of success is to plan your animation - start with sketches and scribbles ("thumbnail sketches") which create a road map of where you want to go. 

The video below shows how the master Disney animator Ruben Aquino planned out a dialogue shot with Ursula the Sea Witch in The Little Mermaid.  

"And now look at me...Wasted away to practically nothing!"

What's The Point of Entering The Rookies?

What is the point of entering The Rookies? 

Why enter The Rookies?  The Rookies is an international competition for young creatives; part contest and part showcase for rising talent. 

For our students and Escapees, showcasing your work in a competitive, professional environment is a crucial step toward launching a successful career.  It helps you to build confidence in your work, and also serves as an online portfolio.  

Producing For VFX is Back on 5 March 2025

Producing for VFX returns 5 March 2025

Our Evening Class in Producing for VFX is back, starting on 5 March 2025.  Producing for VFX is an eight week evening class, taught two nights a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-10pm). 

Producing for VFX is designed to give students a thorough understanding of how the VFX production pipeline works, and how to apply it in practice.  

Escapee Alex Maynard Animator at DNEG

Alex Maynard joins Jellyfish Pictures

Many congratulations to Escapee Alex Maynard who has joined DNEG as an animator.  

Alex Maynard studied the Art of Computer Animation at Escape Studios.  Alex also contributed to a number of award-winning short films, including Hannibelle, which he directed, "Freefall", "Our Ocean" and "Game Knight". 

 DNEG (formerly Double Negative) is one of the UK's longest-established VFX and animation houses; responsible for multiple blockbuster hits.

Escapee Tendai Mande Sweatbox Lead at DNEG

Many congratulations to Escapee Tendai Mande, who has recently started a new position as a Sweatbox Lead at DNEG.

While at Escape Studios, Tendai studied the Art of VFX, and contributed to the short animated film "Street Ratz", which has won multiple festival awards.  Tendai worked Street Ratz as Editor, Second Director, and Lead Pipeline Supervisor. 

DNEG (formerly Double Negative) is one of the UK's longest-established VFX and animation houses; responsible for multiple blockbuster hits.

"Order Up" Wins "Best Super Short" in London

"Order Up" wins "Best Super Short" at London Movie Awards  

Congratulations to the makers of "Order Up" which has won "Best Super Short" at the London Movie Awards.  

Order Up was completed as part of Studio Module PR5001, a collaborative module in which second-year animation students work together on short film projects.  Order Up was directed by Shavaz Uzice, edited by Tobi Ajibola, and produced by “Moses” Tsz Yau Ho. The art director was Holly Ackroyd.  This is its second festival award.

Stanislavski's 7 Questions For Actors (and Animators)

Konstantin Stanislavski

The Russian actor and theatre director Konstantin Stanislavski said that an actor should ask seven questions to understand the nature of their character. 

Animators are actors - but with a pencil or a mouse. To make our work believable, we need to ask these same questions, so that our work has authenticity.  Just like actors, we need to get into the heads of our characters, and understand them. 

Today is Graduation Day at Escape Studios

Today is Graduation Day at Escape Studios. This year's Graduation Ceremony takes place today, Monday 11th November 2024 at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster at 4pm.  

On Graduation Day we welcome all our graduating students for the graduation ceremony and for the reception afterwards. 

The Escape Studios Graduation Ceremony is a formal occasion for our Escapees to receive their degrees from Escape Studios - and to celebrate their achievements after many years of hard work. 

Our Escapees have produced over 100 short films and won over 500 hundred festival awards. 

UK VFX Tax Credit Uplift Start on Jan 1st 2025

UK VFX tax credit uplift starts on Jan 1st 2025

One piece of good news in the recent UK Budget was the UK VFX tax credit uplift, which will start on Jan 1st 2025.

On 30 October 2024 the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed an increased tax incentive for spending on visual effects (“VFX”) in the UK - which has been warmly welcomed by the UK’s VFX industry. 

From Jan 1st 2025, VFX spending in the UK will attract a net rebate of 29.25% and would be exempt from the overall 80% cap on spending eligible for film and TV tax relief. 

Counselling Services at Escape Studios

Counselling from Spectrum Life

How do students at Escape Studios get help and support when they need it?

Escape Studios has a student assistance programme, Spectrum Life, which offers counselling and support to students who need it. Spectrum Life is available to our students 24/7 online, over the phone, or through social media. 

Spectrum Life provide access to talking therapies, counselling, and therapy sessions designed to help students articulate their difficulties and identify ways in which they can overcome them.  

Details on how to access Spectrum Life are available via eVision at the Escape Studios Student Portal. 

What's The Point of Winning Festival Awards?

Here at Escape Studios our student film-makers have won hundreds of festival awards - more than 500 over the past decade.  But what's the point of it all?  Do awards make a difference? 

At Escape Studios we train Studio-Ready Talent, teaching artists to work in teams and produce professional-quality work, simulating as closely as possible the realities of a studio environment. 

Festival awards are a recognition that the work produced by our students is of professional quality.  Awards also help to burnish our students' IMDB profiles - an important first step in winning recognition in our industry. 

"Meet The Masters" With Daniel Amor 28 Nov at 6pm

"Meet The Masters" With Daniel Amor takes place on Thursday 28 November 2024. from 6-7pm.

Daniel Amor joins Escape Studios to teach our new Short Course and MA in Motion Graphics.

Daniel Amor is an experienced Motion Graphics Artist who has also worked extensively in the VFX industry. 

Daniel took our 12 week animation course at Escape Studios and has worked on many animation and VFX hits, including Hunger Games, Black Panther and The Marvels.

"Game Heist" Wins Best Animation in Milan

"Game Heist" wins "Best Animation" in Milan

Congratulations to the makers of "Game Heist", the VFX short film from Escape Studios, which has won "Best Animation" at the Milan Gold Awards.  

Directed by Mitchell Wright and produced by Ayesha-Ria Jina, "Game Heist", tells the story of a group of misfit toys trying to steal a video game.

This is its first festival award. 

Why Animators Should Cut on Movement

One of the key principles of cinematography is to cut on movement. What does that mean? It means that if you start an action in one shot, carry it over into the second.  

Let's say you are cutting from a wide shot to a close up, you start the motion in the wide shot, then carry it over to the next shot. This makes the cut feel less abrupt.

"Outpatient" Wins "Best VFX" at the EE Film Fest

"Outpatient" Wins "Best VFX" at the EEFF

Congratulations to the makers of the VFX short film "Outpatient", which has won "Best VFX" at the Eastern Europe Film Festival.

"Outpatient" was directed by Charlie Wilson, co-directed by Idris Driver, produced by Harry Symonds, and co-produced by Emmanuel Rahman. "Outpatient" tells the story of a hospital patient on the edge of survival.  

This is the film's fourth festival award. 

Acting For Animators w Joe Dieffenbacher 11 Dec 2024

Acting for Animators: Joe Dieffenbacher

On 11th December 2024 Escape Studios welcomes actor, clown and improv artist Joe Dieffenbacher to teach a masterclass in "Acting for Animators" with our Second Year 2D Animation Students.

Acting For Animators will take place at Husky Studios (near Elephant & Castle), Studio 2, from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Joe Dieffenbacher will lead the workshop.

Joe Dieffenbacher's class is a practical, physical workshop in acting skills, aimed at helping animators to create more believable, authentic (and funny) acting choices in their work.

Animators are actors - with a pencil or a mouse - and we need to learn how to make a strong acting performance and then turn that into animation.