The Animation Focus

From cel-drawn to AI-enhanced, we talk to the creators behind the finest ‘toons of the past few years in this month’s Animation Focus.

Inspiration

My animation hero

From a French cartoon classic to a symposium of animated shorts, animation experts reveal the work, people and events which first inspired them.

Talent

Animated with feeling: the casual fantasy world of Sulkybunny

Tim Cumming meets a couple for whom magic is an everyday business in their combination of live-action and animated storytelling.

Insight

PES: The Way I See It

The master of stop-motion talks to Jamie Madge about tweaking reality and twisting perception.

Talent

Zips, shrubs and Rok'n'roll

Trunk's Rok Predin has brought the Rolling Stones’ lyrics to life, journeyed through paintings and turned Buckingham Palace into a block party. Selena Schleh meets an animation sensation.

Talent

Pete Candeland on why the skies have it

Whether it's making innovative, Grammy-nominated promos for virtual band Gorillaz or lush films for the BBC Olympics trails and The Beatles: Rock Band game, the Friends Electric director has his head in the clouds.

Inspiration

Vincent Lammers: A few of my favourite things

The Ambassadors Creative Director and Partner talks us through quirky items from around his workspace, including some top-notch 3D prints, a whole heap of crayons and an intricate miniature living room.

Insight

How to... animate the future

Boo Wong, Group Director of Emerging Technology at The Mill, explains how real-time character animation systems like Mill Mascot are revolutionising filmmaking.

The art of the cel

On My Radar: Clement Bolla

Should consumers be wary of animated influencers?

Insight

How to... create empathy through animation

Animation is the format we turn to when telling difficult stories, and it can deliver new levels of human empathy and imagination, argues Kelsey Hodgkin, EVP, Head of Strategy at Deutsch Los Angeles.

Inspiration

On My Radar: Frankie Swan

Picasso Pictures director Frankie Swan would be lost without his laptop, thinks One Punch Man is a knockout show and loves getting lost in The Matrix.

Talent

The agent provocateur of animation

Smashing out animated promos for the likes of Radiohead, Run The Jewels, The Killers and many more, Chris Hopewell's punk rock approach has shaken up the world of stop-motion and given it a Mohican to boot. David Knight meets the Black Dog Films director.

Inspiration

On My Radar: Katie Dymmock

The Coffee & TV colourist on astronomically good films, taking comfort from Martin Creed and the need for more diversification.

Inspiration

On My Radar: Marcello Buselli

One fifth of animation-focussed creative studio Device, which is repped by 1stAveMachine, Marcello Buselli [far left] gets animated about a new synth, a mind-blowing Netflix series and a classic of Japanese anime.

Inspiration

On My Radar: Ewan Jones Morris

The Friends Electric director on mind-boggling motorcycle animations, why everyone should have seen Fantasia and how there are too many good animated shows to name them all...

Craft

On Reflection: Todd & Kylie make merry at The Happiness Factory

From fantasyscapes to flying Chinoiks, the Psyop directing duo look back on their award-winning animated series for Coke.

The Photography & Cinematography Focus

In a cacophonous digital culture that bombards us with a stream of personal image-sharing and branded visuals, it can be hard for photography to stand out. This month, shots pulls focus on the DPs and photographers whose work sets the optic nerves a-tingle and considers the input of non-human image generators.

The Inspiration Focus

What are the cultural artefacts, random objects, rituals and synaptic sparks that generate fresh ideas? We talk to some of ad land’s most innovative thinkers about creative inspiration. What it is, where they find it and do the AI bots have it too...

The YDA 2024 Focus

The rising stars who won Golds in this year’s Young Director Award share with shots the origins and ideas and behind their films, the production highs and lows and what they’re planning next.

The Music and Sound Focus

With sometimes just seconds to tell a story and set tone, the aurals – as well as the visuals – need to be spot on in ads. This month we sound out the musical maestros and foley funsters worth listening out for.

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