MIDAS and the Children’s Media Conference have released the full line-up for Manimation 2015 — an animation industry conference taking place in Manchester, U.K. on November 19. This year’s programming highlights include looks at the latest in videogame, TV and performance capture animation. The conference coincides with the inaugural Manchester Animation Festival (MAF), which will also host a “Making it in Manchester” session on November 18, free for Manimation Delegates.
Alice Webb, Director of BBC Children’s, will be the keynote speaker at Manimation. Webb will talk about the future of children’s and young people’s programming at the BBC as well as the recently announced on-demand iPlay service for kids and how it may impact animation content providers.
The speaker line-up includes:
- David Brown (Traveller’s Tales) on how two local studios, Studio Liddell and Traveller’s Tales, animated one of the year’s biggest video games: LEGO Jurassic World.
- Jonathan Ashworth (Mighty Giant & Motion North) presenting the ‘Manimation Showreel’ – the very best of Manchester animation and motion design.
- Jane McConnell (Pixelbomb Games) on creating Beyond Flesh and Blood, a PC, VR and Console game set entirely in Manchester, 200 years in the future.
- Belinda Peach (Peachy Media) leading a panel looking at access to skills in the animation industry.
- Giles Ridge (ITV Studios) on the current remake of Thunderbirds and the process of updating one of the most iconic British shows for a modern audience.
- Professor Jackie Marsh (University of Sheffield) presenting up-to-date academic research on the viewing habits of young people.
- Neil Court, Executive Chairman of Canadian company 9 Story Media Group, which recently acquired Brown Bag Films. At last year’s Manimation Brown Bag films announced the opening of a Manchester-based 2D studio.
- David Barton (Cubic Motion) on working with Cloud Imperium Games and 3lateral to create the Admiral Bishop character, played by Gary Oldman, for the PC game Star Citizen: Squadron 42.
- Mole Hill, director of the Clangers, the cult classic recently brought back to UK TV by Manchester animation company Factory.
- Mike Robinson, head of studio at CHF Entertainment, founded on the legacy of Cosgrove Hall which produced such British classics as Danger Mouse, Count Duckula, The Wind in the Willows, and The BFG.
