The School of Visual Arts (SVA) vibrated with creative energy on April 10, 2026, as it hosted a special screening of the animated feature "GOAT." Held at the SVA Theatre, the event offered students, faculty, and the public a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the craftsmanship required to bring this high-stakes sports animation to life.

A Full Day of Craft and Insight

The day began with an intimate film shoot in the SVA BFA Animation lounge, where Adam Rosette (BFA 2007 Animation) shared his journey as co-director of “GOAT,” a 3D animated feature from Sony Pictures Animation. The film is an original action-comedy set in an all-animal world. The story follows Will, a small goat with big dreams who gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to join the pros and play roarball—a high-intensity, co-ed, full-contact sport dominated by the fastest and fiercest animals in the world. While his new teammates are not thrilled about having a little goat on their roster, Will is determined to revolutionize the sport and prove once and for all that “smalls can ball!”

During the shoot, Rosette shared a reflection on maintaining artistic authenticity: “Keep remembering the spark of inspiration that made you want to become an artist in the first place, and never lose sight of it. We are lucky to make things that people enjoy, but it’s important not to lose the enjoyment for ourselves.” He also shared a behind-the-scenes anecdote about developing Modo’s voice, inspired by his Hungarian roots through his grandfather, and by his own personality when he was younger. While this moment was not captured on film, he later referenced it during the Q&A, noting that he provided the voice for Modo—a green-scaled, fire-breathing Komodo dragon with a punk fashion style—for the film’s trailers.

Screening and Q&A - Voices from the Event

The highlight of the day took place at the SVA Theatre, where students, faculty, and animation enthusiasts filled the venue for a full screening of "GOAT." The audience laughed, cheered, and roared together during standout moments, such as like "Roots Run Deep."Jimmy Calhoun, chair of BFA 3D Animation and Visual Effects, noted, "This was one of the loudest and most energetic audiences I have been a part of in a long, long time. The laughter was contagious, and the emotional connection to the characters was a shared group experience." That energy carried into the Q&A, creating a warm and enthusiastic welcome as Rosette took the stage alongside two student moderators, who both shared their experiences and takeaways:

Jacob Lawrence (BFA 2028 Animation)

“Moderating for the first time was really nerve-racking, but being able to stand next to Adam felt like an honor. Adam is such a sweet and encouraging soul. Ever since I met him at Sony during the SVA in LA program, the opportunity of reconnecting with him felt so surreal. Adam was certainly surprised by the collective fan art showing how much people love Adam’s works. [Being the one in charge of the fanart collection] I’m pleased that he was so joyous and grateful about receiving those gifts.”

Marilyn Mangan (BFA 2026 Animation).

“It was an incredibly exciting and inspiring experience meeting Adam and hearing about his transition from a 2D animator to the co-director of a 3D feature film. It gave me a lot of hope as a soon-to-be graduate. I found that the messages in "GOAT" about working hard and never giving up on your dreams resonated with me a lot, especially during a time when I was wrapping up production on my thesis film. Both Adam's journey and the film served as a great reminder to me that anything is possible if you put in the work to achieve it. “GOAT" and the Q&A with Adam have ultimately left me even more excited to jump into my career and see where it takes me!”

Looking Forward

Adam Rosette shared his takeaway: “Coming back to SVA with a film I directed was honestly pretty surreal. As an alumnus, it meant a lot to share that work with the same community that helped shape me. Being around the students again - seeing their curiosity, passion, and willingness to push themselves - really brought me back to why I fell in love with this craft. It’s rare to be in an environment that feels both so welcoming and creatively electric at the same time, and SVA really has that. I left feeling incredibly grateful and inspired.”

For many students in attendance, the event offered more than a behind-the-scenes look at a feature film. It created a meaningful connection between their own creative ambitions and the professional world they are preparing to enter. As Adam Rosette shared his journey, the message was clear that success in animation is built not only on skill but also on passion, resilience, and a willingness to grow. He also shared a personal and impactful note with the SVA community. Drawing from his own lived experience with disability, he helped lead the collaboration with the first Disability Loop Group, bringing together talented actors to voice the crowd scenes in “GOAT”.

The day concluded with a strong sense of momentum and possibility, reminding everyone in the room that the next generation of storytellers is already on its way.

Another great year of collaboration with the 9th annual Animation First Festival, hosted by L’Alliance New York. The festival offered various opportunities for the School of Visual Arts, BFA 3D Animation and Visual Effects and BFA Animation community to step beyond campus and engage in the growing international world of animation.

Student Short Film Competition Student Jurors

School of Visual Arts (SVA), CalArts, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), and the University of Southern California (USC), were all tasked with selecting the Best French Film. While the participating French student jury from Gobelins, RUBIKA, l'École des Nouvelles Images, and Emile Cohl, evaluated submissions from the American schools. Sana Kakumanu (BFA 2027 3D Animation and Visual Effects) and Nevaeh Williams (BFA 2026 Animation) were part of the student jury from the four participating American schools. Sana shares about her experiences as a juror and selection process: “As student jurors, we reflected on how our individual perspectives shaped our opinions of each film. We each began with our top three, then narrowed it to the most recurring picks until all jurors reached the group’s final three. We chose the film with the most impactful story. My personal favorite film was Coup de cœur: Chère Fin​, created by the students from Gobelins. It was a timeless story of reflection and finding meaning, and was done so beautifully. It was very moving and reminded me why we create art in the first place. Many of the films challenged my expectations of what a student film should look like and reassess traditional narrative structures. Moving forward, I want to create for the sake of creating and not create to be recognized.”

Winners of the ‘Best French Film’ award in the Student Shorts category was Gauze by Noran Fikri Alezabi, Nicholas Arujah, Xinyue Ma, Yulin Yue, Xiaonan Zhou (Gobelins), while the winners for “Best American Film” were Sleep Sweetly by Sage Saccio (BFA 2025 Animation) and Death is a Giant Peanut by Amy Boisvert (CalArts). 

Animation Jam 48-Hour Challenge - BFA Animation Students

The Animation Jam is a unique opportunity for students to meet students from within and beyond the BFA Animation department. Teams from each participating school, Montpellier, BrassArts, Maryland Institute College of Art and SVA, had under 48 hours to create an 18-second collaborative film. Using any animation mixed media techniques they all had to incorporate a still image and audio provided by guest artist Félix Dufour-Laperrière from his film Death Does Not Exist. This year’s SVA has two teams: The Zenith Horizons and the Glorp and Gleepers and they are given an opportunity to present the AniJam in its enterity at the festival’s award ceremony.

Moderating the Making of “The Songbirds’ Secret”

This year, I was invited to moderate Making of The Songbirds’ Secret with set designer Samuel Ribeyron, who shared an in depth look at the behind the scenes process of the feature paper cutout animated film, which involved more than 2,000 puppets and a multiplane camera setup. During his visit to New York, Samuel also spent time at SVA BFA Animation, meeting with several thesis students and learning about their production processes. Students received thoughtful and generous feedback on their work, including BFA Animation senior, Emmanuelle Martinez, who shared her stop motion set and animation tests. The wonderful filmmakers and creative artists we are able to invite are what make our educational experience so unique. Animation is such a collaborative art form, and I am deeply grateful to Animation First for always thinking of our SVA community and sharing their network of professionals with our emerging talent. I look forward to seeing the incredible films they will bring next year.

This year at @annecyfestival , I sat next to @rebeccasugar at the @wia.animation luncheon. It was not the first time we had met, but it was the first time we shared a meal together. I desperately wanted to invite her back to meet our @svanyc students, but I was trying very hard to play it cool. Before I could even find the courage to ask, she turned to me and said, “One of the songs I wrote, called Ice Water, is about my life at SVA as an art student. Can I go back to SVA and share it with everyone?” My brain froze, but my head nodded over and over.

On November 8, 2025. Rebecca returned to SVA with her creative partners Ian Jones-Quartey ( @ianjq ), Chris Burns ( @exit73studios ), and Alex Myung ( @alexmyung ); all @svanycalumni . Their presence was truly magical. Through the making of Ice Water, This is a Love Song and Hill to Die On, they shared thoughtful, honest, and remarkably generous reflections on their creative journeys. The day ended with Rebecca’s intimate and heartfelt performances, which filled the room with emotion and created a moment none of us will ever forget. The space was full of talented friends who came together to celebrate animation, music, art, beauty, truth, and partnership. We were reminded of how powerful and meaningful community can be and how deeply it matters now and for many years to come.

Standing on stage as the host, I had flashbacks of the last five years being the chair of @svabfaanimation with so many challenges, setbacks, and a great deal of personal loss. But the Lonely Magic event is healing and evokes something far stronger. Love rises above every hardship. Love fills the room, lifts the heart, and gives meaning to every bit of work we do together. The cheers, the appreciation, the laughter, and the tears we shared were beyond anything I imagined. They were beautiful because they came from our students, our alumni, our faculty, our staff, and everyone who believes in what we are building collaboratively. #AniFam and beyond is real!

I never chose animation, yet it has become one of the most purposeful parts of my life. It led me to meet extraordinary people whom I now call my people. I hope I am your person, too. ❤️

This summer was packed with exciting experiences that take me around the globe again. Wherever I went, it was filled with festivals and events that celebrate animation in all its forms. These journeys were not only professionally enriching but also deeply personal, highlighting the power of community, cross-cultural exchange, and storytelling that transcends borders.

In June, along with my SVA students and faculty, I attended the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the world’s most prestigious animation gathering. We explored student screenings, recruiter panels, portfolio reviews, and studio mixers with top industry players like Cartoon Network, Lucasfilm, Netflix, Illumination, Titmouse, Paramount, and WIA World Summit. From spontaneous airport chats to portfolio reviews at MIFA and even catching a live performance by Rebecca Sugar (BFA 2009 Animation), the festival offered a rich mix of inspiration and access.

In Taipei, I led a special workshop for emerging filmmakers preparing for their thesis films for the Taiwan Animation and Visual Effects Association. The session covered story development, personal voice, and the role of animation as both craft and expression. Whether students had a clear vision or were still finding their direction, I offered a space to connect, reflect, and move forward. The workshop encouraged participants to explore the deeper meaning of their creative journeys and to tell the stories only they could tell. In addition, I had one-on-one portfolio critiques with the emerging artists from the Taiwan Academia Industry Consortium, a non-profit organization with a mission to bridge the industries and academia in the field of animation, game development, visual design, software content, cross-media collaboration, film, and other new digital technologies. I felt extremely grateful to be given these opportunities with the support from the Fubon Cultural and Educational Foundation to return home and support the animation education and industry with the best of her ability.

2025 marks the 8th year of the Animation First Festival, hosted by L’Alliance New York to showcase French and Francophone animation to U.S. audiences. This festival is especially dear to my heart, not only because it takes place in New York City, but also because of the programmers' thoughtful curation and their commitment to connecting the French and Francophone animation communities with my own SVA and Women in Animation communities. The festival features screenings of feature-length and short films, conversations with creators, VR experiences, sneak peeks of upcoming projects, and a Student Short Film Competition.

Every year, I am invited to moderate one of the filmmaker talks, and I had the honor for this year’s “The Legends of Paris”. Moderating this Q&A was a profound experience, as this animation production resonates deeply with me because it celebrates both history and the history of art. The parallels between the 19th century and today’s world, particularly with the rapid advancement of technology, women’s rights movement, media influence, etc., make this film especially timely. Hearing from director Amélie Harrault, co-writer Céline Ronté, and producers Judith Nora & Priscilla Bertin not only shed light on their creative process but also reinforced the importance of looking to history for insight. Ultimately, storytelling is about the people who bring these narratives to life, ensuring they endure for generations to come.

This year’s student film competition included five films from SVA: BUCKSHOT by Kaye Diaz (BFA Animation, 2024), Inter-Dimensional Girl & The Thing of No Real Cosmic Significance by Cris Mestre (BFA Animation, 2024), The Dream Factory by Jiyoon Oh and Hyojin Shim (BFA 3D Animation and Visual Effects, 2024), Open Mind, Open Heart by Avery Pendleton (BFA 3D Animation and Visual Effects, 2024), and LACRIMOSA by Aaron Sams (BFA Animation, 2024). Other student films represented work from the French schools Rubika, Gobelins, L’École Émile-Cohl, Ecole des Nouvelles Images, as well as the American schools CalArts, SCAD, and USC. Student representatives from each school formed a peer jury to select two top prizes. The French students awarded the prize for the American films, while the American students determined the winner among the French films. The two students representing SVA were Addison Fujimoto (BFA Animation) and Ellie Hui (BFA 3D Animation and Visual Effects).

“It was such an honor to be a student juror for L'Alliance!,” Hui said about her experience. “I had so much respect for the jurors since they were all very passionate about film-making, and we had a lot of back-and-forth when it came to deciding which film should be Grand Prix. It oddly felt like a good brain exercise since we dove into a lot of visual, narrative, and musical analyses to try to come to a consensus. Overall, a very inspiring experience and I got to meet some cool people!” Fujimoto shared similar feelings about the opportunity, “ I had a really excellent time in the jury, and getting to connect with animation students from other schools and view completed thesis films as a current thesis student was a highlight for me. My favorite film of the bunch, unfortunately, wasn't selected for an award, however, I was given the time to plead its case. It unfortunately didn't make it into the final round. Overall it was a very exciting and enjoyable experience.”

On February 8, 2025, SVA’s BFA Animation and BFA 3D Animation and Visual Effects programs will host a screening of films that participated in the Franco-American Student Short Film Competition, along with the premiere of the work from this year’s Animation Jam, at the SVA Theatre. This is the third year Animation First has hosted the Animation Jam, which brings together students from France and America to complete an animation sequence in 48 hours. The student teams created sequences in the animation mediums of their choice while incorporating an image provided by Boris Labbé. SVA had two teams participating and they were led by BFA Animation students, Laila Hollins and Micah Sanders. Hollins shared, “The experience was pretty fun. Going through the entire animation production process with my friends was very enjoyable and it definitely helped me imagine how the 3rd year group film could go.” and “I enjoyed the time spent with my team and meeting the underclassmen. The on-the-spot problem solving and mixed media exploration before our group film officially kicks up was also cool,” said Sanders.

SVA has always enjoyed collaborating with friends and colleagues in France. L’Alliance New York’s Animation First provides a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our relationships with French colleagues and deepen our appreciation of French Animation right here in New York City.  

LightBox Expo has quickly become one of my favorite places to reconnect with friends, meet new faces, and celebrate the incredible creativity of our animation community. This year was especially meaningful because I had the chance to see our SVA community shine through a special night of screening “Animated Visions” showcasing short animated films created by the talented recent alumni of the BFA Animation and BFA 3D Animation and Visual Effects programs at the School of Visual Arts (SVA). The event provided an opportunity for the SVA community to connect with industry professionals.

Notable attendees included: Antonio Canobbio, Ben Kalina, Gabe Lee, and Sung Jin Ahn from Titmouse; Angela Arzumanyan (BFA 2018 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects) from Dreamworks Animation; Cat McDonnell (BFA 2017 Computer Art), Character TD from Walt Disney Animation Studios; Chingtien Chu (MFA 2017 Computer Art), Lighter & CG Artist at Framestore; Deena Beck (BFA 2012 Animation), Storyboard Artist at Disney TVA; Deborah Stoll, Writer; Jena Olson & Lisa Bergeson from WIA (Women in Animation), Karla Chiriboga & Gabriela Chavez (MFA 2015 Computer Art) from Universidad San Francisco de Quito; Mark Osborne, director; Michael Altman (BFA 2014 Computer Art), character TD at Walt Disney Animation Studios; Shauna McGarry, animation writer; and many more. It was wonderful to see such a vibrant mix of alumni, industry professionals, and friends come together to celebrate the incredible work of our graduates.

At the Lightbox Expo, we had two major presence, including the artist table and a SVA-lead panel. The table featured works by alumni Polly Guo (BFA 2012 Animation), Wungavu Tashmon Dimps Jr. (BFA 2022 Animation), and Emily Zullo (BFA 2023 Animation). A selection of zines, stickers, and prints was available for sale, offering a fantastic way to meet fellow artists passionate about animation. Our SVA panel is titled “Epic Fails: Stumbling Towards Growth”. Polly Guo, along with character animator Jakub Bednarz; cinematographer and co-director Yong Duk Jhun (MFA 2000 Computer Art); and current senior BFA Animation student Angelina Retodo, shared their experiences. Moderated by Angelica Vergel, the panel explored how failure can be a valuable tool for professional growth.

For me, LightBox Expo is a beautiful reminder that creativity grows through connection. Some of the most memorable moments happen between panels and portfolio reviews, in spontaneous conversations, shared meals, joyful reunions, and the excitement of introducing one person to another.

Every year, I'm reminded that one of the greatest gifts animation has given me is the opportunity to build friendships and creative communities around the world.

Returning to Annecy with our SVA Animation students, alumni and faculty is always one of the highlights of my year. It's a chance to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new friends, celebrate incredible films and introduce our students to an industry that is as generous as it is inspiring. This year’s festival welcomed 17,400 attendees from 103 countries, I found myself celebrating SVA faculty, staff and alumni made their mark on this major weeklong event with their contributions to official film selections, talent panels, industry-exclusive screenings and networking opportunities. The colleagues that accompanied me included BFA 3D Animation and Visual Effects, represented by chair Jimmy Calhoun (BFA 2003 Animation), and director of operations, Brian Frey; MFA Computer Arts, represented by director of operations Robert Campbell (MFA 2013 Fine Arts), administrative assistant Jack Meisterich and recent alumnus Ash Suh (MFA 2024 Computer Arts); and BFA Animation, represented by director of operations, Angelica Vergel; assistant to the chair, Diego Guanzon (BFA 2015 Animation); as well as faculty members Sachio Cook (BFA 2011 Animation) and Luz Batista (BFA 2014 Animation).

Throughout the week, our community explored screenings, exhibitions and studio presentations, shared conversations with artists from around the world, and cheered on the remarkable achievements of our alumni and friends. Watching our students confidently share their work, ask thoughtful questions and discover new possibilities for their future is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.

Sachio Cook worked as an animator for two animated shorts selected for this year’s festival: Mike Judge's Beavis & Butt-Head: Sleepover and Hulu IDs – Season 2: Exquisite Corpse, from Titmouse, the studio co-founded by Chris Prynoski (BFA 1994 Animation) and Shannon Prynoski (BFA 1994 Film and Video). “The most touching part of the experience was how enthusiastic my SVA colleagues were about watching these projects on the big screen with me,” Cook said. “I came away from this experience feeling incredibly supported and embraced by my SVA and Titmouse community.” Additionally, Prynoski and Titmouse CCO Antonio Canobbio presented Midnight Specials: WTF 2024. This screening features 15 animated gems created by 17 animators who push the boundaries of animation and storytelling, embodying the true theme of “WTF.” Joe Bennett (BFA 2008 Fine Arts), world-premiered his comedy series Common Side Effects, co-created with Steve Hely and produced by Adult Swim. Bennett and Hely were joined by Adult Swim’s president Michael Ouweleen, head of Original Comedy & Adult Animation Suzanna Makkos, and Bandera Entertainment President Dustin Davis for an in-depth conversation and Q&A about this special new series.

WIA (Women in Animation) World Summit, themed “Stronger Together: The Equitable Future of Animation,” sharing her experience with Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss as a showrunner, writer and creator. Medrano discussed technological advancements in the industry and shared her innovative practices and new methods of creating animation within new business models.

Additionally, in my role as one of the jurors for 2024 Pixelatl’s Shortway program, I mentored two filmmakers from Costa Rica to pitch at the La Liga—Iberoamericana Latin American Shorts, Feature Film, and Series Pitch at MIFA. “It’s very inspiring to be able to foster talent from all over the world, beyond SVA, to present and showcase stories inspired by their own cultures,” she said. “Roque Vásquez and Daniela Capo did an amazing job with their pitch, and I truly can’t wait to see their 3D animated short film, Agua Dulce.” 

This year’s trip concluded with visiting Paris after the festival along with Jimmy Calhoun. The goal was to deepen connections with the French animation industry. They visited several schools, including School Brassart - Paris, GOBELINS Paris & Annecy, and Paris College of Art, to discuss potential collaborations and exchange programs for SVA students. We also visited studios such as Mikros Animation and Superprod. Industry professionals shared their honest feedback and insights on how educators can better prepare students for industry readiness.

We are thrilled to return to Annecy each year as it connects SVA to the heart of the animation industry, where everyone gathers to share their passion. Our presence is vital not only for student and educational outreach but also for showcasing the important role SVA plays now and in the future. Experiences like these remind me that education isn't just about learning new skills. It's about discovering new perspectives, building meaningful relationships and finding a place within a creative community.

“We are where animation happens” is a philosophy deeply rooted in my career and for the team I lead. The year of 2023 is no exception because animation has taken me on a world tour in familiar parts and foreign lands where I met the most kind souls who also share the same passion for animation.

Annecy International Animation Film Festival

In June, I traveled to Annecy, France, for the annual Annecy International Animation Film Festival, which this year attracted over 16,000 attendees from 102 countries. My participation included attending master classes, world-premiere and competition screenings, panel discussions and many networking events. With Mexico being the festival’s 2023 country spotlight, a number of the events celebrated Mexican animation.

The week kicked off with the WIA (Women in Animation) World Summit. WIA is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering and advocating for people of underrepresented gender identities in the art, technology, production and business of animation. Its summit theme this year was “Break the Box: Gender and Leadership,” and writer and comics artist Molly Ostertag (BFA 2014 Illustration) participated in the event’s Authentic Storytelling panel. I was also part of an Annecy Mifa Campus panel discussion, “The Art of Finding Your Dream Job: From Student to Professional in the Animation Industry,” for which I was joined by industry pros Stephane Biava, Joan Da Silva and Tran Ma, along with the moderator Stephanie Hayot, of ArtStation/Epic Games.

Anibar International Animation Festival

In July, I was invited to participate in Kosovo’s Anibar International Animation Festival as a juror for the International Short Film and Feature Film competition categories. My fellow jurors included industry pros Claus Toksvig Kjaer, Chris Robinson, Alice Saey and Anastasiya Verlinskaya. I also ran a three-hour master class, “Portfolio and Pitch—Kickstarting You and Your Animation”, about navigating the different stages of an animation career. This event was one of the most life-changing experience because of how tightly knitted the community of jurors and participants was. The festival and program were designed in the most thoughtful way that everyone felt inclusive. Life-time friendships were formed with hearts and smiles.

Anímate 2D23

In September, I was invited to be a part of Anímate 2D23, hosted at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. This three-day festival brought together an international group of animation experts, emerging artists and studios. Speakers and panelists included Tim Dillnutt, Axur Eneas, Tomás Kiyoshi, Lina Porras and Alonso Jose Vega Peña Vizcardo. In addition to leading the master class “Bridging the Gap between Education and the Animation Industry”, I hosted two afternoons of portfolio reviews where she met with local talent and gave them constructive feedback on improving their work and taking the next step in their career.

The trip was possible because a personal invite by Gaby Chavez (MFA 2015 Computer Art), who attended SVA on scholarship before returning to her home country of Ecuador to teach and work in the industry. “I am now a teacher at USFQ, the top university in Ecuador and one of the highest-ranked institutions in South America,” she says. “It has been an honor to share the knowledge I gained during my MFA Computer Art program at SVA and contribute to the animation industry. This event broadens our horizons as educators, helps elevate the industry and inspires students to dream big.”

Returning to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival after two years away was a meaningful moment for both me and our SVA Animation community. Annecy has always been one of my favorite places to reconnect with friends, meet new collaborators and celebrate the incredible creativity of the global animation industry.

Throughout the week, I had the privilege of representing SVA alongside our students, alumni and faculty as we participated in portfolio reviews, screenings, networking events and industry conversations. It was especially rewarding to introduce our students to artists and recruiters, helping them build relationships that often become the start of their professional careers.

The festival also gave us the opportunity to reconnect with industry professionals from studios including Illumination and Myzen Studios, while meeting artists, educators and creators from around the world through events like the Women in Animation World Summit. This year, WIA’s summit theme was “Gender Justice: A Global Call for Inclusion in Animation,” and I was part of a working lunch group that included Kara Oropallo, VP of training, outreach and artistic development at DNEG; Brandy Fisher Blood, head of diversity and inclusion at Walt Disney Animation Studios; Bonnie Lemon, VP of creative production at DisneyTelevision Animation; and Adina Pitt, VP of lead content acquisitions, partnerships and co-prods, the Americas, for WarnerMedia Kids and Family. The group was tasked with the topic of “mentorship vs. sponsorship,” both internally at studios as well as externally with nonprofits. Through meaningful discussion, our group truly believed that gender justice is extremely important and we need to continue to raise awareness and find ways and methods to work with the industry. Collectively, we must create an equal and fair work environment for the emerging talent I care deeply about. I look forward to continuing the partnership with the industry leaders on fostering the new generation of animation talent within as well as outside of SVA.

One of my favorite moments each year is watching our students realize that the animation community is far more connected and welcoming than they imagined. Seeing them share their work, gain confidence and leave with new friendships reminds me why Annecy continues to be such an important part of my work as an educator. I'm grateful to everyone who helped make our return possible, and I look forward to continuing to build bridges between artists, educators and studios in the years to come.

Each year the French Institute of Alliance Française (FIAF) presents educational and cultural events designed for schools in the tri-state area as part of its Young Audience Program, including film screenings, performances and workshops throughout the year that are free for public schools. On October 29, I was invited as a guest speaker and presenter for the animated film. A Cat in Paris (Une vie de chat) by French directors Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagno. It is an Academy-Award nominated adventure film is a unique mix of genres, beautifully hand-drawn caper set in a stylized and vibrant Paris.

This event is particularly special because there are about 400 students from the 2nd through 7th grades, not a typical audience that I usually engage on the daily basis, therefore I was extremely nervous! In the beginning of the screening, I was able to say hello to the entire audience and give them a few things to think about as they watched the film. The energy of the room was beyond imagination! The students screamed when the character jumped from one building to another. They cheered when the villain was trapped in the swamp. They even chanted “Niko! Niko! Niko!” over and over again as if they were literally standing on the street of Paris watching the Niko character rescuing the little girl from the hands of the villain. However the biggest highlight was indeed the full 20-minutes I got to spend with the students for Q&A. There were so many interesting questions about the plots, about the design and many about how they really felt watching the animation.

It’s one of these moments that is a great reminder of I do what I do for a living. It’s about seeing everyone from all ages connecting with the animation. We all take something away from the animation, the story and most importantly we all leave something that is specific to the animation too.

Thank you, FIAF! Thank you, Clementine Guinchat!