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Category: Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity in Animation Headline News

4th Annual AfroAnimation Summit Returns to Burbank

The conference, running April 10-12, promotes diversity and inclusion throughout the entertainment industry, welcoming a coalition of industry speakers, studio execs, students, creatives and young professionals.

mentorship programs Headline News

Dash Studio and Demo Duck Launch 2024 Motion Mentorship Program

By Dan Sarto | Friday, January 26, 2024 at 2:33pm

Applications now being accepted for 6-month, online-only program, starting next month, that will provide tutorage, advice, and connection building for young creatives in the motion design industry who identify with underrepresented communities.  

Love Can Overcome ANIMATIONWorld

‘Aikane’: An Eclectic Love Story Highlighting Cultures Around the World

In the new short from Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, and Daniel Sousa, the team behind the award-winning ‘Kapaemahu,’ an island warrior who descends into a strange underwater world after being wounded in battle falls in love with the shapeshifting octopus that saves his life. 

People Headline News

God’s Gang Ltd. Adds Animation Veteran Bruce Daitch

Ex-DreamWorks COO and CFO joins advisory board of company behind ‘God’s Gang’ animated series, led by former Disney exec Nimrod Avraham May; the group’s multinational team is committed to projects free of AI-generated content.

Education Headline News

Titmouse Foundation Launches ‘Future Art Directors Program’

Created in partnership with Warrior Art Camp, the 20-week online course aims to provide equitable training to animators looking to advance their careers; the application deadline is December 22.  

Global Gender Parity and Inclusion in Animation Headline News

WIA and UNESCO Partner to Support Global Gender Equity in Animation

By Dan Sarto | Friday, November 10, 2023 at 9:03am

At today’s historic signing ceremony and talk in Paris, WIA president Marge Dean noted that as new animation industries are developing around the world, the two organizations can advocate for gender parity and inclusion to be built into the foundation.

Indie Shorts Headline News

ACE Canada’s ‘Ostinato’ to Debut at Spark Animation 2023

The animated short’s creative team, part of the immersive career excel-erator program, along with Netflix and Women in Animation Vancouver, will present their film’s world premiere, including a Q&A and panel, at the festival, which runs November 13 – December 31. 

Diversity in Creative Development ANIMATIONWorld

Ellen Doherty Talks Fred Rogers’ Legacy and the Future of Writers' Neighborhood

22 years after the final episode of ‘Mister Rogers' Neighborhood’ aired, Fred Rogers Productions continues its mission to create quality kid’s content with a slate of award-winning series and its innovative, eight-week program for emerging BIPOC writers that focuses on how to build and sustain a career as a freelance writer in children's media.

Diversity in Creative Development Headline News

2nd CAPE Animation Directors Accelerator Class Announced

Program, which kicked off at Lightbox Expo, includes a month of in-person and virtual sessions; participants are paired with high-level animation industry mentors while developing and honing creative and leadership skills.

Business Headline News

ATF and TTB Launch 1st ‘ATF x TTB Animation Lab & Pitch’

Out of 110+ submissions, nine European and Asian projects have been selected to pitch at the Asia TV Forum & Market; online program runs now through November 3, with ATF Singapore on-site program running December 6-8.

Honoring the VFX Artistry Headline News

1st Annual ‘World VFX Day’ Announced

Celebrating the unsung heroes of film by highlighting the exceptional achievements and contributions of the visual effects community, the new event launches December 8.

Empowering Young Women Headline News

Room to Read Shares ‘She Creates Change’ Trailer for ‘International Day of the Girl’

The global nonprofit’s 6-episode live-action/animated film series promotes gender equality using impactful vignettes to tell stories of young women worldwide while inspiring them to confront inequality and create change. 

career development Headline News

Apply Today: CAPE Animation Directors Accelerator Program

In collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment, the initiative provides next-gen Asian and Pacific Islander animation professionals a chance to hone creative and leadership skills via panels, workshops, masterclasses and mentorships; application deadline is October 6.

TV Animation ANIMATIONWorld

It’s ‘Jessica’s Big Little World’ and We’re All Just Living In It

On the new spin-off of Cartoon Network’s Emmy, GLAAD and NAACP Image Award-nominated ‘Craig of the Creek,’ Craig’s little sister Jessica is always on a quest to get ‘big’ and take on the world, with her friends, even if she does suck her thumb… sometimes; show debuts on CN today, October 2, streaming October 7 on Max.

Promoting a New Generation of Animation Artists Headline News

CTN Launches the Andreas Deja Scholarship

The initiative, honoring the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios animator, supports emerging talent through financial support, mentorship, and networking opportunities; open to non-professional animation students 16 years and up worldwide, the deadline to enter is October 20.

careers in animation Headline News

Podcast EP 223: Senior Art Manager Kaye Vassey on Coming Out Trans in the Gaming Industry

Vassey shares her journeys, including how she crossed the bridge from TV and feature animation to CG gaming and what skill level is needed to be a technical artist; also learn about the short she’s currently producing.   

animated short films Headline News

Exclusive: Trailer Drops for Trans-Positive ‘Pacemaker’ Musical Short

By Dan Sarto | Monday, September 11, 2023 at 12:13pm

Starring 2023 Tony Award winner Alex Newell, the first-ever non-binary actor to win a Tony, multi-Grammy Award winner Philip Lawrence, and executive produced by ‘Nimona’s ND Stevenson, the 3DCG film, about a grandfather’s hopeful acceptance of his trans grandson, begins a week-long Oscar-qualifying run September 15 at the Cinelounge Sunset in Hollywood. 

A Creative Force for Change ANIMATIONWorld

Saraswathi Buyyala Balgam: An ‘Unreal Engine’ Paving the Way for Women Creators

The former Rhythm & Hues and DreamWorks Animation senior exec switched gears and jumped headfirst into animated film and series development, creating her own shows while mentoring and collaborating with Epic Games and ASIFA India to start the Women Creators Program.

On the Road to Ottawa! Headline News

All Eyes on Ottawa - OIAF 2023 Schedule is Live

The 5-day festival and TV animation conference, featuring screenings, exhibits, workshops, and entertainment, is around the corner, running September 20-24.

Diversity in Creative Development Headline News

BWA and The Titmouse Foundation Launch ‘Equity Excelerator’

Committed the studio’s 2025 hiring goal of 200 diverse animation professionals, foundation and Black Women Animate Studios team up to support development program targeting historically underrepresented and diverse talent.

Representation! Headline News

Over 50 Marvel VFX Artists Bid for IATSE Unionization

The brave group have signed authorization cards to help bring the VFX industry towards union representation in the face of shocking firings, long hours, and 7-day weeks.

Together in Solidarity Headline News

In Solidarity: An Open Letter from WIA President Marge Dean

By Dan Sarto | Monday, August 7, 2023 at 12:03pm

Women in Animation’s president announces the ‘Animating Resilience: Surviving and Thriving in an Uncertain Industry’ series to empower and support industry professionals and students during ‘these tough times.’

careers in animation Headline News

The CLU Animation Career Training Program Graduates its Third Class

Alongside celebrating commencement, the growing animation training program for neurodiverse adults announced festival screenings for ‘Willow’s Tale’ and new project slate for its affiliated animation studio Brainstorm Productions.

​Community Outreach Headline News

Foundry Celebrates ‘ACCESS: VFX’ Success and Support

The creative software developer renews commitment to the global mentorship program, having already supported 2,293 mentees contributing to a diverse expanding talent pool across the industry.

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