COP Task 3 - BAF experience

   For this task we were asked to write a short review of overall experience at BAF or other particular session.

   Bradford Animation Festival is an annual animation festival that takes place in mid November, in National Media Museum in Bradford. Latest edition overlapped with Leeds Film Festival and Thought Bubble – a comic convention, which is also held in the heart of Leeds. Another bitter suprise was unreliable train service between Leeds and Bradford as well as festival schedule being too intense and with some interesting events overlay each other.

    This year the content of the festival was split into two sections - BAF Games talks and presentations shown first, and Animation Festival part next. Animation industry grown so largely during last few years, that is actively taking part in producing games and creating special effects in the movies. Simply, todays 3D animation techniques can be used in game videos or in films. Moreover, the difference between games and animation dissappear as many of its aspects overlap and blend.

    Still, with some of the BAF Game events timetabled between animation ones, which gave a good variety of talks, presentations and events to attend. Just to name few great speakers, that attended 19^th edition of BAF; Mark Shapiro from LAIKA, Will Becher from Aardman Animations, Vanessa Boyce from Double Negative and Valerie Kausen – Chuck Jones' granddaughter. Also, during the festival animated feature films, like ParaNorman or Brave, were shown.

     One of the greatest parts of BAF was the opportunity to listen and talk to those amazing professionals. Mark Shapiros presentation on ParaNorman production pipeline was very interesting. When it comes to stop motion animation, people usually doesn't realise the amount of hard work that goes into making them. Mark Shapiro talked about the production processes, difficulties the team had to overcome, use of 3D printers in making facial expressions for puppets and number of people involved in project. The presentation was followed by screening of ParaNorman in 3D and presentation of puppets.

     Another exceptional talk was given by Vanessa Boyce from Double Negative – a company that specialise in VFX effects for big blockbuster movies. Presentation concentreted mostly on development of visual effects in latest Total Recall and Inception, diffuculties, challenges and tools used in creating process.

Still, even with this great number of incredible speakers, Student Panorama shows were really popular, containing selection of work from students around the globe. Those short animated pieces were created in different techniques and concentreted on variety of subjects, from funny and adorable stories to the more deep ones.

     Valerie Kausen presented some of the greates pieces done by Chuck Jones. Traditionally animated pieces that are 60-70 years old still look great. Also, a selection of Chuck Jones shorts was shown during the event.

      Bradford Animation Festival was packed with interesting content and is definately worth visit and with this year 20^th edition even greater things can be expected. It is festival not only addressed to the young creative animators, but to every person interested in digital media, visual effects and game development.