AVFX Day 1 - Monday
17 November 25
DLB 0.01 Main Hall | TS1 3BB
9:00AM
Welcome - AVFX days opening
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
We open Animex with a warm welcome from the organisers, a quick overview of what you can expect from the week's festival and a few words from our sponsors.
9:30AM
AVFX Talk 1 - Making of Zootropolis 2
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Renato Dos Anjos | Walt Disney Animation Studios
In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootropolis 2, rookie cops Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) find themselves on the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile who arrives in Zootropolis and turns the animal metropolis upside down. To crack the case, Judy and Nick must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before.
Zootropolis 2 releases in UK cinemas 28th Nov 2025.
***Strictly no photography or filming during this talk***
***No streaming available***
10:30AM
Short break
10:45AM
AVFX Talk 2 - Dragons, Animation and How To Train Your Dragon!
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Kayn Garcia | Framestore
Kayn's passion lies in the intricate intersection of art and science that defines VFX and animation, where each film presents unique creative and technical challenges. How to Train Your Dragon proved to be a remarkable canvas for Kayn, who played a pivotal role in reimagining the dragons, with a particular focus on driving the development of Toothless.
Kayn was deeply involved in every stage of the production, from the initial conceptualisation of character arcs and story development to the practical challenges of on-set execution. He spearheaded the creation of innovative tools to seamlessly integrate digital dragons with live-action, coordinating with puppeteers, motion-controlled robotics, and stunt teams to ensure the interaction between dragon and rider was as believable as it was thrilling!
11:45AM
Lunch break
1:00PM
AVFX Talk 3 - Love, Death & Giant Demon Babies — The Art of Seamless CG in Stylised 2D Worlds
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Idris Honnor | Passion Pictures Animation
Darlene Buttner | Passion Pictures
Explaining the CG workflow we used in Love, Death and Robots - 400 Boys.
As a team of 2/3 the CG department was very stripped back. Our role was to support and enhance the 2D with some 3D camera moves, 3D FX destruction and some key props tracked and rendered in 3D/CG.
We will explain in detail our workflow and the mindset we needed to be in to maintain and enhance Rob Valley's iconic style with CG.
2:00PM
AVFX Talk 4 - ANDOR: Visualisation of the TIE Avenger
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Jen Kitching | The Third Floor
This talk will showcase highlights of The Third Floor’s visualisation work for Andor season 2, with a particular focus on the sequence where Cassian Andor steals the TIE Avenger prototype in episode 1.
Visualisation Supervisor, Jen Kitching, will take the audience behind the scenes of this complex sequence, exploring how the team approached the key stages of visualisation - previs, techvis and postvis – to assist in the planning stages of the production. She will outline the techniques and workflows used throughout the process and how the visualisation work supported VFX in the development of this action-packed sequence.
The presentation will conclude with a Q&A session.
***Strictly no photography or filming during this talk***
***No streaming available***
3:00PM
30 mins break
3:30PM
Special screening of short film "Eiru" by Cartoon Saloon
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Come and watch an exclusive showcase of "Éiru" by Cartoon Saloon
You can then enjoy the behind the scene Talk 11 by Áine Mc Guinness on Tuesday from 16h45 until 17h45 to finish AVFX Days with a bang!
4:00PM
Short break
4:15PM
AVFX Talk 5 - The process and experience of producing K-Pop Demon Hunters
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Jacky Priddle | Sony Pictures Imageworks
Go Behind the Scenes of a Global Phenomenon: KPop Demon Hunters.
Join Sony Pictures Imageworks Co-Producer Jacky Priddle for an exclusive behind-the-scenes presentation on K-Pop Demon Hunters — the breakout hit from Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix . Discover how this electrifying project blends authentic Korean culture, bonafide k-pop tunes, and a bold unique visual style, all woven into an unforgettable story that's captivated audiences around the world.
Don’t miss this insider look at the making of a modern animated sensation!
***Strictly NO filming during this talk***
5:15PM
Short break
5:30PM
Recruitment talk - Don't stop believing!
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Jonny Adamson | DNEG
An introduction to DNEG Animation; the Company and the People and how to get into the industry.
We will talk you through what it's like to work at DNEG Animation, our company structure and culture. We will then share our insights on what makes a good application and the best way to go about getting into the industry with portfolio tips and networking insights!
***Strictly NO filming during this talk***
8:00PM
AVFX Lounge
DLB 0.23 Ground floor space
The event will start in the DLB Ground floor at 8.00pm until 10.00pm, from where we will take a short walk to the Southfield next door for a chat and a drink.
10:00PM
AVFX Lounge - Chat and drink (reasonably!)
Southfield
AVFX Day 2 - Tuesday
18 November 25
DLB 0.01 Main Hall | TS1 3BB
9:30AM
AVFX Talk 6 - Virtual Production behind House of the Dragon’s “Battle at Rook’s Rest”
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Andrew Jamison | PIXOMONDO
Go behind the scenes of one of House of the Dragon’s most complex sequences - the epic Battle at Rook’s Rest.
In this session, Andrew Jamison, UK Operations Manager at PXO Clara, will reveal how visualisation and virtual production techniques brought dragons, fire, and chaos to life on screen.
***Strictly no photography or filming during this talk***
***No streaming available***
10:30AM
Short break
10:45AM
AVFX Talk 7 - Indie Directors and Animators Panel
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Lesley-anne Rose | Teesside University
Katherine O'Connor | Teesside University
Ellie Land | Independent
Virpi Kettu | Kettu Studios
Join our special guest panel of award-winning animated film directors for a discussion of their experiences, challenges and successes within their industry. This panel session will give aspiring indie film-makers working in all forms of animation, 2D, 3D and stop -motion an opportunity to ask questions and gain invaluable insights!
11:45AM
Lunch break
1:00PM
AVFX Talk 8 - Setting up Your Shot for Success: From Reference Ideas into Believable Animation
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Vanessa Alessi | DNEG Animation
Got an exciting new animation idea but not sure where to begin? Join Vanessa Alessi, Senior Animator at DNEG Animation, as she lays the foundation for effective shot building - covering how to plan your shot and use reference footage to bring your ideas to life.
Vanessa will share practical workflow approaches to enhance your process, along with key insights into acting for reference and performance planning. The talk also explores where to look for those authentic, unexpected “acting gems” that make a performance shine.
2:00PM
AVFX Talk 9 - Character or Caricature? Depicting Human Diversity in Animated Character Design
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Elizabeth Rega | Anatomy in Animation Consultant
Dr Elizabeth Rega's work on Disney animated features, including Mulan, Pocahantas, John Henry, Emperor's New Groove and Strange World, informs an approach to what is traditionally yet incorrectly termed "race".
Past history of problematic depictions in the industry and a range of personal projects will be used to illustrate the effectiveness of an anatomical approach grounded in an understanding of skull shape and features in this fascinating talk.
3:00PM
Short break
3:30PM
AVFX Talk 10 - Shelley's Eye Candy show + "Cardboard"
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Shelley Page | Locksmith Animation
Shelley sits on many international festival and graduation juries every year and, in the course of these events, she collects her personal favourites into a series of special screenings, known as 'The Eye Candy Show'. This personal selection represents some of the brightest young talents emerging on the international animation scene as well as award-winning work from renowned independent studios and directors around the world.
Shelley's selection is constantly evolving as she discovers wonderful new films during the year's festivals and other events.
She will be delivering the eye candy show and showing the new short film from locksmith "Cardboard"
***Strictly no photography or filming during this talk***
***No streaming available***
4:30PM
Short break
4:45PM
AVFX Talk 11 - Art Directing Éiru
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Áine Mc Guinness | Cartoon Saloon
Join Áine for a talk on Cartoon Saloon's beautiful film Éiru and hear how they connected to Éiru’s story in order to align with the director, Giovanna Ferrari.
The talk will discuss the story themes and how they are represented visually, in particular the Goddess Brigid and Irish folklore. They will talk about the pipeline of the film, and the different departments involved, and focus primarily on describing the design process, art direction, backgrounds and colour as well as their collaboration with the director and the other artists on the team.
Áine will talk about the different challenges they overcame, what they have learned from the experience and the luxury of being able to make a short film and the positive aspects of working in this format.
Concept Art Day - Wednesday
19 November 25
9:30AM
CA Talk 1 - Entering the Art Industry Panel
Grace Ruyin | Myth Studio
Mandy Mackenzie Ng | Petite Giant Studio / Freelancer
Robert Faux | Picnic Studio
This panel discussion aims to demystify the crucial first steps of launching a career in the competitive animation and VFX industries.
Bringing together three professionals with diverse backgrounds in concept art, 2D art, and animation, this talk will provide a practical and honest look at what it takes to land your first role.
10:30AM
Short break
10:45AM
CA Talk 2 - Becoming a Concept Artist after University
Anton Juntunen | Freelance
Nicholas Patrick Kelana | Brainbug Design
In this talk, Nicholas and Anton will dive into their first steps within the industry - sharing their personal experiences of moving from graduates to professional artists.
They’ll explore the challenges presented when working on different types of projects and the changes in working style you might encounter between studio types.
Nicholas Patrick and Anton Juntunen are concept artists working in the video game field. As a concept artist in Brainbug, an outsource concept art studio, Patrick works with a small team of concept artists offering design solutions for various clients, their work for each embodying a different visual style.
Anton is currently working at Rebellion, one of Europe’s biggest independent multimedia studios involved in development and publishing. He designs various video game assets including characters, weapons and environments for current game developments.
Both graduated from Teesside University in 2021.
11:45AM
Lunch break
1:00PM
CA Talk 3 - Controlling your Values
Dennis van Kessel | Atomhawk Design
In "Controlling your values" we’ll look at understanding the way light interacts with the environment to help us create believable depth and atmosphere in our art. We’ll go through a simple, reliable method for establishing an accurate base value structure for any piece, one that makes your depth feel believable and your compositions read clearly.
Controlling your values is really about understanding what causes different values in the real world, then bending and using that knowledge to fit the mood or story you want to tell.
2:00PM
CA Talk 4 - Ideas to Thumbnails - How to Craft a Character
Dave Paget | That's No Moon
This talk will delve into the early character design process through a live demo of the thumbnailing stages.
We'll break down the steps involved in creating a successful character design and then dive into a live demo to create a new character using random prompts from the audience.
This interactive session will explore how spontaneous ideas can evolve into strong visual storytelling.
3:00PM
Break
3:00PM
Concept Art Portfolio reviews
Come along and get the chance to have your portfolio reviewed by industry!
3:30PM
4:30PM
Interpreting the brief!
Phoebe Francis - Aylward | Double Eleven
Concept art is a visual language, a part of the game pipeline which provides problem solving in a way that aligns with and translates the team's vision! In this workshop we will explore how to fully interpret a brief. We will look at asking smarter questions and how to pick apart art direction and feedback to find the core of your concept art’s goal. Technical art skills are the foundation to being a concept artist; but learning how to think, adapt and align with your team is what will help you survive and thrive in an already competitive industry!
Pro-Workshops - Wednesday
19 November 25
DLB | TS1 3BB
10:00AM
Pro-Workshop 5: Nuke: Best Practices & Cutting-Edge Features
DLB 3.18
Jessie Burgess | FOUNDRY
We'll kick off with essential Node Graph Best Practices.
You’ll get crucial tips for creating clean, optimized, and blazingly fast scripts.
Then, we’ll dive into Live Groups, showcasing how to build efficient, collaborative template-driven workflows. Learn how to create a template and easily push changes across multiple shots, saving you crucial time on large projects.
Finally, we’ll check out the future of compositing with CopyCat and Machine Learning. See practical examples of using this machine learning tool to dramatically speed up complex compositing tasks.
Leave with the practical knowledge to boost your efficiency and deliver higher-quality work.
Book your place here!!
10:00AM
Pro-Workshop 6: Facial Anatomy in Humans and Animals
A3.07 Athena Building
Elizabeth Rega | Anatomy in Animation Consultant
Muscles of mastication (chewing) and facial expression will be reviewed across a range of vertebrates in a 30 min presentation.
Students will thereafter use clay to model muscles on skulls of humans and various animals.
Book your place here!!
1:00PM
Pro-Workshop 3: *Area* of Effect - cRPG Masterclass
DLB 1.22 Games Lab
Oliver Walker | OMG (Oliver Makes Games) / MetStudios
This master class sets you as the main character in the role of Area Design for cRPG's.
We will open with a lecture on the craft of Area Design and why it matters. You'll have chance to break down branching narrative and story in a live game with sticky notes and audience participation.
You'll break into teams of 3 to see if you've got what it takes to design a region with pen and paper design skills based on this design flow. Then you'll come together to present your maps within the class followed by a grilling from OWW (Oliver William Walker.)
We will then finish with a Q&A.
Book your place here!!
1:00PM
**CANCELLED** Pro-Workshops 4: Profiling your Game with Unreal Insights
DLB 1.23 Games Lab
Rodrigo Roldan-Romero | Tanglewood Games
**CANCELLED** Due to unforeseen circumstances we will be unable to offer this workshop.
If you already booked a ticket SCEDT-Events will email you with a discount code to book (free) on the "*Area* of Effect - cRPG Masterclass" by Oliver Walker. If you would prefer a refund please reply/contact SCEDT-Event.We apologies for the short notice and any inconvenience.
Unreal Insights is a powerful profiling tool that helps developers uncover performance issues and better understand their project's behaviour.
In this workshop, you'll learn how to make the most of Unreal Insights by using trace channels effectively.
We'll begin by breaking down the most commonly used trace channels—what they capture, why they matter, and when you should enable them. Then we'll explore the lesser-known and more specialised channels that can unlock deeper diagnostics for specific systems like animation, memory, networking, and more.
3:30PM
Pro-Workshop 7: Mari: Best Bits & Creative Texturing
DLB 3.18
Jessie Burgess | FOUNDRY
This session kicks off with a "Best Bits Demo", a fast-paced showcase of Mari's most powerful and essential features. You'll see the tools that make Mari the industry standard for creating stunning textures efficiently.
Crucially, we will highlight Mari's vital role in the modern production pipeline and demonstrate how it integrates into various creative workflows. This is particularly relevant for university-level students looking to understand the essential tools required in today's VFX and game industries.
The workshop concludes with an open Q&A, providing a valuable opportunity to engage directly with the instructor on texturing techniques and Mari's comprehensive capabilities. Master the tools you need to create industry-ready textures!
Book your place here!!
4:30PM
Pro-Workshop 1: Interpreting the brief!
DLB 3.19
Phoebe Francis - Aylward | Double Eleven
Concept art is a visual language, a part of the game pipeline which provides problem solving in a way that aligns with and translates the team's vision!
In this workshop we will explore how to fully interpret a brief. We will look at asking smarter questions and how to pick apart art direction and feedback to find the core of your concept art’s goal.
Technical art skills are the foundation to being a concept artist; but learning how to think, adapt and align with your team is what will help you survive and thrive in an already competitive industry!
Book your place here!!
Portfolio reviews
19 November 25
DLB | TS1 3BB
9:30AM
Games Portfolio reviews
DLB
Animex portfolio reviews are one of the most in-demand opportunities at the festival — and for good reason. This is your chance to sit down with seasoned industry veterans who’ve worked on some of the biggest titles in animation, games, and VFX.
Available exclusively to ticket holders on a first-come, first-served basis on the day!
Whether you're just starting out or refining your final showreel, our reviewers will offer tailored feedback, practical advice, and insights that could shape your creative future. It’s not just a review — it’s a chance to make a lasting impression and get your name in front of the people who matter.
No booking required - just turn up early to secure your slot. Rooms used DLB 2.00, DLB 2.19 + Pod, DLB 3.00
1:00PM
AVFX Portfolio reviews
DLB 2.00
Animex portfolio reviews are one of the most in-demand opportunities at the festival — and for good reason. This is your chance to sit down with seasoned industry veterans who’ve worked on some of the biggest titles in animation, games, and VFX.
Available exclusively to ticket holders on a first-come, first-served basis on the day!
Whether you're just starting out or refining your final showreel, our reviewers will offer tailored feedback, practical advice, and insights that could shape your creative future. It’s not just a review — it’s a chance to make a lasting impression and get your name in front of the people who matter.
No booking required - just turn up early to secure your slot. Rooms used DLB 2.00, DLB 2.19 + Pod
3:00PM
Concept Art Portfolio reviews
DLB
Animex portfolio reviews are one of the most in-demand opportunities at the festival — and for good reason. This is your chance to sit down with seasoned industry veterans who’ve worked on some of the biggest titles in animation, games, and VFX.
Available exclusively to ticket holders on a first-come, first-served basis on the day!
Whether you're just starting out or refining your final showreel, our reviewers will offer tailored feedback, practical advice, and insights that could shape your creative future. It’s not just a review — it’s a chance to make a lasting impression and get your name in front of the people who matter.
No booking required - just turn up early to secure your slot. Rooms used DLB 2.19 + Pod
Games Day 1 - Thursday
20 November 25
DLB 0.01 Main Hall | TS1 3BB
9:00AM
Game Days opening and Welcome!
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
9:30AM
Games Talk 1 - Empyreal: An Animation Retrospective
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Luke Robson | Silent Games
Luke will be going over the pipelines for animation creation on their most recent title, Empyreal. This will cover everything from rigging, animating and implementation.
There will be a focus upon the problems encountered and how they navigated through them. He is also looking to tie back the lessons He’s learnt as an Animator and how they apply to other disciplines like Art and Design to make the talk more open to non-animators.
Luke will be showing behind the scenes footage of development and trying to highlight where they succeeded and failed on the project.
10:30AM
Games Talk 2 - Panel: From Teesside to Level Design
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Oliver Walker | OMG (Oliver Makes Games) / MetStudios
Jack Chapman | Auroch Digital
Matty McGrory | Observer Interactive
Matt Houghton | Observer Interactive
Dreaming of building worlds players will never forget? Join Oliver Walker, Jack Chapman, and Matt Houghton as they share their journeys from Teesside University classrooms to shaping levels for some of the industry’s most exciting games.
Hosted by former Teesside lecturer Matty McGrory, this panel is all about turning ambition into reality, discover the challenges, breakthroughs, and creative sparks that transformed their passion into careers.
If you’re ready to design the future of play, this is your moment to be inspired.
11:30AM
Lunch break
1:00PM
Games Talk 3 - Finding Your Path to Technical Art
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Piotr Sidorowicz | Radical Forge
This session explores what technical art is and the diverse specializations within the role.
We’ll take a deep dive into the different pathways you can pursue and how to get started on your journey to becoming a Technical Artist.
Whether you’re transitioning from another discipline or beginning your career in the games industry, this talk will provide guidance on finding your direction.
I’ll also share insights and lessons I’ve learned throughout my career—covering topics such as following your passions, the power of community, balancing artistic creativity with technical problem-solving, and overcoming imposter syndrome as a new graduate.
1:00PM
Free Workshop - Ask me anything* Indie / Alumni Q&A panel
DLB 0.23 Ground floor space
Oliver Walker | OMG (Oliver Makes Games) / MetStudios
Jack Chapman | Auroch Digital
Fiona Beattie | Dink
Matthew Nixon | Dink
Ryan Mountford | Dink
Join an open and interactive session with Teesside University alumni now working in the games industry. Jack Chapman, Oliver Walker, Fiona Beattie, Matthew Nixon, and Ryan Mountford will share insights from their journeys into game art and design, indie development, and studio life.
This is your chance to ask questions, get career advice, and learn what it takes to thrive in the world of games: from concept art to environment design and beyond. They'll be available to answer your questions about progression after university, tips on getting into internships, and how to prepare for your first steps into the games industry.
1:00PM
Free Workshop - How to Network Well: Building Meaningful Connections
DLB 2.23
Maret Ward | Double Eleven
Join Maret Ward for an interactive workshop designed to help you grow your network with purpose and authenticity. Discover practical strategies to make lasting professional connections, communicate with confidence, and turn conversations into opportunities.
Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to expand your professional circle, this session will give you the tools and mindset to build relationships that truly matter.
This Free Workshop will take place in the Digital Life Building room 2.23, places are limited - First come, first served basis
2:00PM
Short break
2:15PM
Games Talk 4 - ROOST - Just make it exist first…
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Jack Chapman | Auroch Digital
Diving into the origins of the ROOST's development, shedding some light on the current state of the project, including the ups and downs, things Jack has learnt as a part-time indie dev, and the many failures and occasional victories over the last 12 months.
3:15PM
Games Talk 5 - The Art of the Party: How to Create Engaging Social Games
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Joanna Haslam | Snap Finger Click
Amanda Harris | Snap Finger Click
Party games look simple, but successfully building a fun and inclusive experience for a group is a unique challenge.
In this talk, Snap Finger Click's Jo (Design Director) and Amanda (Senior 3D Artist) will pull back the curtain on how to create compelling social video games.
Games Day 2 - Friday
21 November 25
DLB 0.01 Main Hall | TS1 3BB
9:30AM
Games Talk 6 - Shaping worlds: Inside the Remedy Environment Art Pipeline
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Miro Vesterinen | Remedy Entertainment
Environment art is the foundation of immersive worldbuilding and every stunning scene begins as a simple shape.
This presentation breaks down the Remedy environment art production pipeline, following the process from initial concept through whitebox, asset creation, world-building, and final polish.
***Strictly No filming during this talk***
10:30AM
Games Talk 7 - The Principles of Game UI/UX: Analysis and Application
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Edd Coates | Game UI Database
Reference material is an indispensable resource for UI designers, serving not only as a source of inspiration but also as a guide to best practices that help us design with our audiences in mind.
However, many designers still struggle to use references effectively, often taking the wrong lessons from them or, worse, comparing themselves unfavourably and feeling like imposters.
Join Edd Coates, creator of the award-winning Game UI Database, as he explores how to analyse and learn from existing reference material by delving into the principles of game UI/UX design, and demonstrates how to apply that analysis to develop our skills and improve our own work.
11:30AM
Lunch break
12:30PM
Games Talk 8 - Practical tips for standing out to recruitment
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Moses Attah | Tanglewood
Jake Simpson | Tanglewood Games
From a programmers perspective we will talk about what stands out to us when we recruit and showing how polish and planning can help with this.
We will show some practical tips around Dos and Don'ts, Optimisation, Technical designs and more from first hand experience working on games from Indie to AAA.
***No streaming available***
1:30PM
Short break
1:45PM
Games Talk 9 - Neurodivergence and Game Development: What To Look Out For
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Adam Clewes-Boyne | BetaJester Ltd
Being neurodivergent brings an number of complications and benefits to game development.
This talk covers a number of key areas to look out for, and the key skills that will help you excel, whether you're neurodivergent or not!
2:45PM
Games Talk 10 - Football and Impressionism, the Art of Rematch
DLB 0.01 Main Hall
Morgane Perrin | Sloclap
Sabrina Tobal | Sloclap
Morgane Perrin, Lead 3D Character Artist and Sabrina Tobal, Art director of Rematch invite you to explore together how they married these two concepts, Football and Impressionism, specifically on their characters.
Their approach to the entire character creation process has been designed, planned, and revised to maximise player customisation and creative freedom.