November marked the return of the most exciting event of the year for Manchester’s animation scene, the UK’s largest festival of its kind; Manchester Animation Festival (MAF). With feature films showing from across the globe, including Japan, Korea, Australia, Mexico, Canada and United States, and winners qualifying for potential Academy Award and BAFTA nominations, it’d be easy to think this is a festival much larger than the Manchester animation scene itself. But filling HOME, the Anthony Burgess Foundation, Bridgewater Hall, and Manchester Central Library, it’s just as much of a celebration of Mancunian and UK talent, as well as drawing international guests from industry to visit, creating a melting pot and catalyst for the future of animation in our city.
On the first day of the festival, I visited a few events for Young Animator of the Year held at the Anthony Burgess Foundation. This included a talk by UK-based stop motion animator Laura Tofarides, and a Paths Into Animation panel discussion with Bluezoo’s Francesca Adams, freelancer Will Anderson, and Manchester’s very own Baz Sells, co-founder of studio One6th. Both these talks touched on key topics for budding young animators, such as how to deal with imposter syndrome, and whether animation as a career is worth pursuing in the age of AI. “Animation is about communicating the human experience” suggested Francesca. “There will always be room for humans.” “If it doesn’t have a soul... why care?” added Will. A reassuring message to say the least!
However, the key theme permeating both talks and the wider festival, was the idea of permission. “Don’t wait for a yes,” advised Baz Sells in discussion with festival director Dr Steve Henderson. “There will always be rejection,” when working in the animation industry. “Just start making things,” and work on growing your creative network. Baz explained he initially found it difficult to break into the industry at first after moving to Manchester around ten years ago. He struggled for a couple of years and it wasn’t until he volunteered at Manchester Animation Festival in 2016 that he started to feel like he was building a community of local creatives. In fact, his first commissioned animation work, Squib for Bradford Literature festival was actually the result of his volunteering at MAF 2016, having been passed the work by MAF festival director, Dr Steve Henderson. Nine years later, Baz is now sat as a panellist advising young animators how to enter the industry, with his new short film Two Black Boys in Paradise winning the British Short Film category at this year’s festival. A full circle moment because he didn’t wait for that “yes!”.
Both Francesca and Will echoed similar sentiments. Will explained his journey took a very similar path. He started making work and just putting it out there, instead of waiting for an opportunity or invitation. He managed to gain some attention on the festival circuit with his short film The Making of Longbird, which gave him some belief and confidence. This led to him applying for funding, making further films and gaining traction. Francesca too, while not on the festival circuit, didn’t wait for an invitation. Now working as storyboard artist at Bluezoo, she advised how she originally landed the role by simply emailing them out of the blue asking for a tour of their studio. To her surprise they emailed back quickly telling her to just pop by, so she ended up jumping on a train from her home over 100 miles away and physically and metaphorically got her foot in the door!
These stories of not waiting for permission, creating your own opportunities and how important it is to build a network and community were the most striking. Many animators in the beginning of their careers can feel it’s hard to get that initial break. Expensive university courses, applying to studios where each job description asks for 2 years in an animation studio previously, or asks for knowledge of an ever-growing list of programs, each with a hefty price tag. In an ever more competitive environment, where arts funding has dwindled consistently since 2010, it can seem like an impossible task to get that creative job, or get your film funded. However, in her talk My Animation Journey, Laura Tofarides explained how her first film was made on her living room floor, with rudimentary equipment. When it comes down to it, it’s the making things and being brave enough to share it that's most important, creating your own space, not waiting for someone to invite you in.
The same advice was shared at all levels of the festival, even in conversation with 5-time Academy Award nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon, winners of this year’s Fellowship Award. Founders Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey and Paul Young alongside festival director Dr Steve Henderson, led us through some of the studios key moments, from starting out around a kitchen table in Kilkenny in 1999 to having to borrow cigarettes at the Academy Awards to engineer a “chance” meeting outside with animation master Miyazaki!
They told of starting their studio in their final year of college, and despite their first feature film The Secret of Kells not starting production until 2005, they began working on the trailer and initial script as early as 1999 without any initial funding. While taking on commercial work to keep the studio afloat, they also worked on the animated short film From Darkness, directed by Nora which they took out to festivals in 2002. It was at Cartoon Movie in Berlin where they met Didier Brunner, a producer of The Triplets of Belleville who agreed to help them produce the movie, and by October 2005 they’d secured funding.
Since then, Cartoon Saloon have created numerous feature films, short films and TV shows and continued to visit festivals all over the world. They’ve visited Manchester Animation Festival multiple times to show new films as well as hold talks, and this year take home the fellowship award for their outstanding contribution to animation. A long way from their initial conception at a kitchen table in 1999.
“Don’t wait for a yes” was very much the lasting message from Manchester Animation Festival for me. All these films, whether they be international feature films, or student shorts started out with an idea that someone was brave enough to bring to fruition, and even braver to share with the world. It's important to note that, while Manchester Animation Festival is one of the biggest dates in the Manchester animation scene’s calendar; there are bi-monthly events such as Motion North and Animates MCR. Motion North brings together the motion design community of the North West at Band on the Wall and Animates MCR hold social events throughout the year for animation enthusiasts or professionals alike. Both continue to provide year-round opportunities for Manchester’s thriving animation scene to grow. Events like Manchester Animation Festival not only inspire budding animators in the city and beyond, but create an opportunity to extend your network and community to other animation lovers and industry leaders whether they be local or from further afield.
