Animex AVFX schedule
Animex AVFX is a two day programme of talks from world class animation and VFX studios, packed with expert insight into the year's major releases and the lowdown on the projects that are grabbing the headlines.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - Lucasfilm/ILM..©2016 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
22 May 2017
09:50
Welcome
Professor Paul Croney, Vice Chancellor of Teesside University Gabrielle Kent, Animex Festival Director Chris Wyatt, Animex AVFX
OL1 Europa Building, Teesside University
Chris WyattAnimex AVFX
Teesside University
10:00
The FX of Lego Batman
In this presentation Matt Estela will talk about The Lego Batman Movie, sharing some of the tricks he and the team at Animal Logic learned along the way. There'll be focus on the FX techniques used in the film, both brick based and more traditional FX, and some bonus material from his latest VR Lego Batman project which will be released shortly before Animex begins.
OL1 Europa Building, Teesside University
Matt EstelaVfx Lead in Residence
UTS Animal Logic Academy
11:00
Animating Ethel and Ernest
British feature film Ethel and Ernest, broadcast at Christmas and currently in competition in international festivals, was a long format revival for the UK animation industry. There were many challenges to realising something not attempted for many years: a hand-drawn film not specifically marketed at children. How to remain faithful to the book, to past Raymond Briggs adaptations, yet keep it relevant to modern day cinema and embrace new technology. Animation director Peter Dodd talks about marrying the traditional and the modern to bring the acclaimed book to life.
OL1 Europa Building, Teesside University
Peter DoddAnimation director
Lupus Films
13:30
Creating the Characters of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Reuniting the studio with David Yates, Framestore had an integral part to play in the overall creative process of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, from pre-production onwards. Rigging TD William will talk through the work all Framestore's key Beasts, showing behind-the-scenes development work from the teams and how they created the characters from the concept to the final result.
OL1 Europa Building, Teesside University
William GabrieleRigging TD
Framestore
15:00
The animation of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Animation supervisor Colin McEvoy at Double Negative Visual Effects presents the creative and technical challenges behind Double Negative’s animation work on the BAFTA nominated Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them.
OL1 Europa Building, Teesside University
Colin McEvoyAnimation supervisor
Double Negative
16:00
The VFX of Rogue one: a Star Wars Story
In the presentation John Seru and Brad Floyd will explain how the Artists at ILM London Helped Gareth Edwards create a beautifully realised location full of life, colour, history and the intricate details of an occupied city... then blew it all up!
OL1 Europa Building, Teesside University
Bradley Floyd2D sequence supervisor
Industrial Light & Magic
Generalist lead
Industrial Light & Magic
23 May 2017
09:00
10:00
Heathrow Airport: Coming Home for Christmas
Working with Havas London & Outsider, The Mill created two 100% CG teddy bears for Heathrow’s 75th anniversary add campaign. In this talk David Hempstead will reveal some of the methodologies and techniques The Mill used to achieve this level of realism seen in these characters, to make one of the most endearing Christmas adverts of last year.
OL1 Europa Building, Teesside University
David Hempstead3D artist
The Mill
11:00
How making mistakes is the best way to succeed
You may often hear from outside of the creative industry that creating cartoons is a cake walk, free and as easy as pushing a button. It is in fact, hard work, tiring days, taxing discussions with your team and the willingness to let go. Domareen Fox and Patrick Brennecke give an insight into the working minds at Studio Soi and tell you why making a lot of mistakes and taking time to rethink can pave the road to success.
OL1 Europa Building, Teesside University
Domareen FoxArt director
Studio Soi
Production manager
Studio Soi
13:30
Animating The Jungle Book
MPC animation supervisor Peta Bayley, presents a behind the scenes look at the Oscar-winning animation of Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book. Peta will share how MPC’s animators brought the many inhabitants of Mowgli's jungle world to life, and navigated the creative and technical challenges they encountered along the way.
OL1 Europa Building, Teesside University
Peta BayleyAnimation Supervisor
MPC
15:00
The anatomy and diversity of Zootropolis
Stuart Sumida joins us to discuss the underlying anatomy of the characters in Disney's Oscar-winning animated feature Zootropolis and how animal characters and human postures were melded to generate the incredible diversity of characters in the film.
OL1 Europa Building, Teesside University
Dr Stuart SumidaAnatomy consultant and professor of biology
California State University, San Bernardino
16:00
Water and coconuts: the complexities of layout on Moana
In this session Rob Dressel, director of cinematography at Walt Disney Animation Studios, explores the challenges of shooting a movie that takes place mostly on the ocean and the complex world around it.
OL1 Europa Building, Teesside University
Rob DresselDirector of cinematography and layout
Walt Disney Animation Studios