The latest blog posts from Animation World Network. https://www.awn.com/ en-US 15 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 04:27:03 -0800 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 04:31:02 -0800 https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-anifilm-5-may-10-may-2026-liberec-cz Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-anifilm-5-may-10-may-2026-liberec-cz Fri, 19 Dec 2025 4:27:03 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-animafest-zagreb-world-festival-animated-film-8-13-june-2026 Animafest Zagreb 2026 call for entries: Short film deadline 1 Feb, Feature deadline 15 Mar Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-animafest-zagreb-world-festival-animated-film-8-13-june-2026 Thu, 18 Dec 2025 4:19:37 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/re-view-frankenstein-acts-love-and-forgiveness Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s most complete work to date transforms Mary Shelley’s iconic 1818 novel from a cautionary tale of the perils of hubris into a redemptive fable about the ability to forgive. Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/re-view-frankenstein-acts-love-and-forgiveness Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:11:48 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/animationworld/re-view-kpop-demon-hunters-beauty-broken-glass Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans’ hit animated musical about a trio of women battling against a band of demons intent on taking over the world presents big ideas with a deceptively light touch; its gorgeously accessible imagery and brisk toe-tapping pace are as catchy as the lyrics of its songs. Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez https://www.awn.com/animationworld/re-view-kpop-demon-hunters-beauty-broken-glass Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:46:01 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/anima-syros-22-28-september-2025-syros-island-cyclades-greece For its 18th edition, Anima Syros reached for the furthest depths of outer space with a theme of animated cosmos. Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/anima-syros-22-28-september-2025-syros-island-cyclades-greece Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:37:49 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/studio-one How artist-driven AI is rewriting the economics of animation. Kevin Geiger https://www.awn.com/blog/studio-one Mon, 27 Oct 2025 10:47:05 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/frankenstein-cinematographer-dan-laustsen-set-view-2025 It’s less than one week away… the person behind the camera on Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated film joins more than 150 award-winning speakers from the world of animation, VFX, games and AI who will take part in a packed schedule of keynotes, talks, panels, workshops and masterclasses; event runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/frankenstein-cinematographer-dan-laustsen-set-view-2025 Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:32:07 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-cee-animation-workshop-2026-now-open CEE Animation Workshop is a year-long training programme... Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-cee-animation-workshop-2026-now-open Fri, 03 Oct 2025 10:25:07 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/view-2025-reveals-expansive-full-conference-lineup It’s just 2 weeks away… more than 150 award-winning speakers from the world of animation, VFX, games and AI will take part in a packed schedule of keynotes, talks, panels, workshops and masterclasses; event runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/view-2025-reveals-expansive-full-conference-lineup Thu, 02 Oct 2025 9:53:50 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/creators-manifesto The call to arms in the age of AI. Kevin Geiger https://www.awn.com/blog/creators-manifesto Mon, 29 Sep 2025 7:26:22 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/itfs-2026-call-entries-now-open The Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film has begun accepting film submissions - the deadline for the short film competition is November 15, 2025; the deadline for the feature-length film competition is January 15, 2026. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/itfs-2026-call-entries-now-open Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:29:03 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/can-chatgpt-write-animation-scripts-you You’ve probably heard the expression "Good-Fast-Cheap: You can only have two but never all three". Well, I believe you can get all three. Jeffrey Scott https://www.awn.com/blog/can-chatgpt-write-animation-scripts-you Wed, 10 Sep 2025 15:22:19 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/screenwriting-staffing-professional-screenwriters-perspective There’s one script marketplace that consistently delivers on its mission to connect writers with real producers, managers, and employers Jeffrey Scott https://www.awn.com/blog/screenwriting-staffing-professional-screenwriters-perspective Mon, 08 Sep 2025 14:53:57 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/wicked-good-vfx-presentation-set-view-2025 ILM’s 4-time Oscar-nominated production VFX supervisor Pablo Helman and VES Award-winning Framestore animation supervisor Dale Newton will dive deep into the visual effects of Jon M. Chu’s 2-part musical blockbuster that concludes this November; conference runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/wicked-good-vfx-presentation-set-view-2025 Thu, 04 Sep 2025 10:12:20 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-itfs-2026 Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS), one of Europe's leading animation festivals, is now open for submissions for its 2026 edition Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-itfs-2026 Wed, 03 Sep 2025 6:10:58 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/talks-kpop-demon-hunters-f1-and-fantastic-four-set-view-2025 Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, directors of the biggest Netflix film ever, plus VFX supervisors Ryan Tudhope and Daniele Bigi, will present their films in-person at the upcoming conference that runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/talks-kpop-demon-hunters-f1-and-fantastic-four-set-view-2025 Thu, 28 Aug 2025 14:45:21 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/animator-animation-festival-5-13-june-2025-poznan-poland This year, the festival was not quite so overtly political, but it still had an edge to it. Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/animator-animation-festival-5-13-june-2025-poznan-poland Mon, 25 Aug 2025 7:26:00 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/nobodys-buying-so-stop-begging The death of the independent animation deal, and what to do about it. Kevin Geiger https://www.awn.com/blog/nobodys-buying-so-stop-begging Fri, 15 Aug 2025 13:54:37 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/ian-hunter-talk-fantastic-four-first-steps-practical-fx-view-2025 The Oscar-winning VFX supervisor and a team from Pro Machina will discuss their miniature work on the Excelsior retro rocketship; Emmy winner Alex Woo will present his upcoming 3DCG feature, ‘In Your Dreams,’ that hits Netflix November 14; conference runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/ian-hunter-talk-fantastic-four-first-steps-practical-fx-view-2025 Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:02:43 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/core-problem-professional-animation-writer-solves Professional animation writers are the narrative architects of an animated production.  Jeffrey Scott https://www.awn.com/blog/core-problem-professional-animation-writer-solves Mon, 11 Aug 2025 12:41:44 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/annecy-international-animation-festival-8-14-june-2025-annecy-france Annecy is definitely an overload of the senses... Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/annecy-international-animation-festival-8-14-june-2025-annecy-france Sun, 10 Aug 2025 2:32:55 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/pierre-perifel-and-matt-baer-present-bad-guys-2-view-2025 The hilarious new DreamWorks Animation comedy’s director and VFX supervisor will share an in-depth look at the creative process behind the production of their film, now showing in theaters; conference runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/pierre-perifel-and-matt-baer-present-bad-guys-2-view-2025 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 10:30:26 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/hitting-one-home-team The Cleveland Institute of Art’s new Interactive Media Lab has Disney DNA. Kevin Geiger https://www.awn.com/blog/hitting-one-home-team Mon, 04 Aug 2025 15:20:14 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/alessandro-carloni-present-cat-hat-view-2025 The writer/director will share a behind-the-scenes look in-person at Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s upcoming animated feature, which hits theaters next February; conference runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/alessandro-carloni-present-cat-hat-view-2025 Thu, 31 Jul 2025 9:18:33 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/35th-animafest-animation-festival-2-7-june-2025-zagreb-croatia Animafest Zagreb sticks to strong competition programming along with special programs with a nod to the annual theme. Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/35th-animafest-animation-festival-2-7-june-2025-zagreb-croatia Tue, 29 Jul 2025 7:07:26 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/animasyros-2025-september-22-28-2025 ANIMASYROS returns more cosmic than ever, featuring legendary indie animation icon Bill Plympton, international guests from around the globe, nationwide premieres of award-winning films, “Animated Cosmos” as the festival’s main theme, The Great Greek Masters, and a special focus on the vibrant Croatian animation scene! Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/animasyros-2025-september-22-28-2025 Wed, 16 Jul 2025 1:37:08 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-pitching-forum-anibar-festival-july-14-20-2025 This year, our Pitching Competition returns, inviting emerging and seasoned animators from Kosovo and beyond to share their ideas and contribute to the future of animation. Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-pitching-forum-anibar-festival-july-14-20-2025 Tue, 01 Jul 2025 5:53:02 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/overheard-annecy An antidote to the corporate reality distortion fields and humblebrags. Kevin Geiger https://www.awn.com/blog/overheard-annecy Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:44:31 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/dean-deblois-and-christian-m-nz-present-how-train-your-dragon-view-2025 The acclaimed writer/director and VFX supervisor will both be on hand in-person to talk about their work on the hit live-action film, now in theaters, based on DreamWorks’ 2010 animated comedy adventure; conference runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/dean-deblois-and-christian-m-nz-present-how-train-your-dragon-view-2025 Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:14:27 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/arco-night-boots-take-top-awards-annecy-2025 Ugo Bienvenu's 2D feature film and the pinscreen short by Pierre-Luc Granjon are among the 23 winners at the jam packed 49th festival edition that saw a record 18,200 accredited attendees from 118 countries. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/arco-night-boots-take-top-awards-annecy-2025 Sat, 14 Jun 2025 14:50:07 PDT AWN Blogs