LIAF presents the 2024 UK Animation Industry Event – 8 panels giving insider access to some of the hottest topics of the year. We’ve gathered together some of the most passionate, honest and insightful experts from a wide range of different areas and backgrounds who are ready to cover all manner of vital topics to give you much food for thought.
Animation doesn’t stand still; and debates and discussions with animators and creative experts are the best way to get in touch with what’s happening. The panels will be chaired by Saint John Walker, Postgraduate Media Programme Leader, University of Hertfordshire and Julian Scott, animation consultant at Film London.
For anyone currently working in the film and animation industry, thinking of working in the industry or just plain curious, these 8 events are indispensable. They are free to everyone and take place live and online on our streaming platform over the 2 days of Saturday November 30 and Sunday December 1.
Talks with the UK Animation Companies conquering the world: Studio AKA
Come and hear about the UK’s best animation companies, what they do and how they consistently create such great work.
Studio AKA, a BAFTA and Emmy-winning London-based animation studio, excels in creating innovative TV series, films, and diverse projects, with a strong focus on meticulous craft and innovative design. Led by a team of visionary artists, their acclaimed works include Lost and Found, Varmints, and Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth. Among their successes, Hey Duggee – a beloved preschool series streamed over half a billion times on BBC iPlayer and with 2.8 billion YouTube views—has won seven BAFTAs and two international Emmys, captivating audiences in over 150 territories. Recent projects include feature documentary sequences, main title design, and ongoing TV and long-form IP development.
Curated and Chaired by Saint John Walker, Postgraduate Media Programme Leader, University of Hertfordshire.
Panellists
Chair: Saint John Walker, Postgraduate Media Programme Leader, University of Hertfordshire
Saint John Walker is the Programme Leader for postgraduate media at the UK’s University of Hertfordshire and a leading VFX educationalist with over 25 years of experience of teaching and training in the games, animation and VFX industries. Most recently Saint was Dean and Director of Industry Engagement at the UK’s Escape Studios and previous to that he designed, initiated and ran the VFX degree course at Norwich University of the Arts for four years. Saint is an active member of Access:VFX. Saint is also the convenor, designer and chair of the popular Industry panels at the London International Animation Festival each year. In 2024 he has chaired and taken part in panel discussions at the View conference in Turin, the Viborg Animation Festival and FMX, Stuttgart.
Philip Hunt, CCO/Partner
Philip Hunt is director and Creative Director of London-based Studio AKA, where he helps participants to define their characters’ attributes, adding biography and depth, to enable strong stories and memorable encounters. As a Director, Philip has created an eclectic range of commercials and animation projects including the multi award-winning short film Ah Pook Is Here – an interpretation of recordings by William Burroughs and Lost and Found, based on Oliver Jeffers award-winning children’s book. Alongside this, he is currently the course reviewer for Animation at the NFTS, serves as a mentor at the London Screen Academy, and is a faculty member of the Pictoplasma Academy in Berlin.
Sue Goffe, CEO
Sue Goffe, Managing Director and Head of Production at Studio AKA , entered the animation industry by chance after art school, with a temporary job as a runner at the studio’s predecessor Pizazz Pictures. She stayed on, learned the business, rising to become a producer, a partner, and then Managing Director, re-launching the company as Studio AKA.
Nikki Kefford
Nikki Kefford is the Senior Producer and Head of commissioned production at Studio AKA. Nikki brings experience from previous roles at Loose Moose Productions Ltd, Wild Brain and Brooke Edwards Animation.
Marcus Armitage
Director Marcus Armitage is celebrated for his unique hand-drawn style, blending expressive motion to craft visually captivating narratives. Notable works include animated sequences in the Sundance -premiered Limbo and the BAFTA-nominated My Dad, a short film exploring inherited racism using oil pastels and newspaper clippings. In addition to his personal projects, Marcus has lent his creative vision to commissioned works for Estee Lauder, Macallan Whiskey, the Emmy-winning Here We Are and a psychedelic sequence for Amazon Books.
Kristian Andrews
Director Kristian Andrews is known for his unconventional narratives and versatile use of diverse mediums, often incorporating observational drawing to convey personal anecdotes, as exemplified in his debut film Rabbit Punch. His keen eye for striking graphic styling is evident in impactful ads for Joules, Fedrigoni, Toyota and the award-winning Johnnie Walker. Additionally his flair for comic timing shines through in his character work on PSA projects like Early Birds, Climate Healers and the Amazing World of Gumball.
LIAF presents the 2024 UK Animation Industry Event – 8 panels giving insider access to some of the hottest topics of the year. We’ve gathered together some of the most passionate, honest and insightful experts from a wide range of different areas and backgrounds who are ready to cover all manner of vital topics to give you much food for thought.
Animation doesn’t stand still; and debates and discussions with animators and creative experts are the best way to get in touch with what’s happening. The panels will be chaired by Saint John Walker, Postgraduate Media Programme Leader, University of Hertfordshire and Julian Scott, animation consultant at Film London.
For anyone currently working in the film and animation industry, thinking of working in the industry or just plain curious, these 8 events are indispensable. They are free to everyone and take place live and online on our streaming platform over the 2 days of Saturday November 30 and Sunday December 1.
Talks with the UK Animation Companies conquering the world: Studio AKA
Come and hear about the UK’s best animation companies, what they do and how they consistently create such great work.
Studio AKA, a BAFTA and Emmy-winning London-based animation studio, excels in creating innovative TV series, films, and diverse projects, with a strong focus on meticulous craft and innovative design. Led by a team of visionary artists, their acclaimed works include Lost and Found, Varmints, and Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth. Among their successes, Hey Duggee – a beloved preschool series streamed over half a billion times on BBC iPlayer and with 2.8 billion YouTube views—has won seven BAFTAs and two international Emmys, captivating audiences in over 150 territories. Recent projects include feature documentary sequences, main title design, and ongoing TV and long-form IP development.
Curated and Chaired by Saint John Walker, Postgraduate Media Programme Leader, University of Hertfordshire.
Panellists
Chair: Saint John Walker, Postgraduate Media Programme Leader, University of Hertfordshire
Saint John Walker is the Programme Leader for postgraduate media at the UK’s University of Hertfordshire and a leading VFX educationalist with over 25 years of experience of teaching and training in the games, animation and VFX industries. Most recently Saint was Dean and Director of Industry Engagement at the UK’s Escape Studios and previous to that he designed, initiated and ran the VFX degree course at Norwich University of the Arts for four years. Saint is an active member of Access:VFX. Saint is also the convenor, designer and chair of the popular Industry panels at the London International Animation Festival each year. In 2024 he has chaired and taken part in panel discussions at the View conference in Turin, the Viborg Animation Festival and FMX, Stuttgart.
Philip Hunt, CCO/Partner
Philip Hunt is director and Creative Director of London-based Studio AKA, where he helps participants to define their characters’ attributes, adding biography and depth, to enable strong stories and memorable encounters. As a Director, Philip has created an eclectic range of commercials and animation projects including the multi award-winning short film Ah Pook Is Here – an interpretation of recordings by William Burroughs and Lost and Found, based on Oliver Jeffers award-winning children’s book. Alongside this, he is currently the course reviewer for Animation at the NFTS, serves as a mentor at the London Screen Academy, and is a faculty member of the Pictoplasma Academy in Berlin.
Sue Goffe, CEO
Sue Goffe, Managing Director and Head of Production at Studio AKA , entered the animation industry by chance after art school, with a temporary job as a runner at the studio’s predecessor Pizazz Pictures. She stayed on, learned the business, rising to become a producer, a partner, and then Managing Director, re-launching the company as Studio AKA.
Nikki Kefford
Nikki Kefford is the Senior Producer and Head of commissioned production at Studio AKA. Nikki brings experience from previous roles at Loose Moose Productions Ltd, Wild Brain and Brooke Edwards Animation.
Marcus Armitage
Director Marcus Armitage is celebrated for his unique hand-drawn style, blending expressive motion to craft visually captivating narratives. Notable works include animated sequences in the Sundance -premiered Limbo and the BAFTA-nominated My Dad, a short film exploring inherited racism using oil pastels and newspaper clippings. In addition to his personal projects, Marcus has lent his creative vision to commissioned works for Estee Lauder, Macallan Whiskey, the Emmy-winning Here We Are and a psychedelic sequence for Amazon Books.
Kristian Andrews
Director Kristian Andrews is known for his unconventional narratives and versatile use of diverse mediums, often incorporating observational drawing to convey personal anecdotes, as exemplified in his debut film Rabbit Punch. His keen eye for striking graphic styling is evident in impactful ads for Joules, Fedrigoni, Toyota and the award-winning Johnnie Walker. Additionally his flair for comic timing shines through in his character work on PSA projects like Early Birds, Climate Healers and the Amazing World of Gumball.