Description
ANIMATED! Masterclass
A complete, start-to-finish deep dive into animated filmmaking — on one stage.
ANIMATED! is a two-day, single-stage masterclass designed to walk you through the entire animation pipeline — from early story development to final delivery and distribution.
Held May 23–24 at the historic Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, this event blends hands-on craft with real production insight, exploring how animated films are made across independent projects and major studio productions.
No split tracks. No missed talks. If you’re in the theatre, you’re getting the whole journey.
Why Attend?
Seeing the full process end-to-end changes how you approach every part of filmmaking —
from writing and design to animation, revision, and release.
Day 1 — Story, Pre-Production & Production
This is where animated films are truly made — long before a single frame is finalized.
- Story Development — shaping ideas into clear, filmable stories
- Writing — structure, character, pacing, and iteration
- Character Design — designing personalities that read instantly on screen
- Storyboarding, Animatics & Story Reels — visual storytelling, timing, and refinement
- Editing — how story is discovered, tested, and saved in editorial
- Layout & Backgrounds — staging, composition, and world-building
- Animation — performance, acting choices, and bringing drawings to life
You’ll see how these disciplines connect in both independent and studio environments — including what changes when teams are smaller, budgets are tighter, schedules are real, and creative stakes are high.
Day 2 — Production, Post & Distribution
Finishing the film is its own art — and getting it seen is another challenge entirely.
- Animation Demos — deeper dives into process, polish, and performance
- Sound Effects — building believable worlds through sound
- Music — scoring for emotion, tone, and story rhythm
- Post-Production — finishing, approvals, and what “done” really means
- Distribution — theatrical releases, streaming platforms, and modern pathways
Day Two also explores the realities beyond the timeline: financing, scaling teams, and balancing creative goals with production and business constraints.
You’ll learn the key differences between domestic and international production pipelines — how work is structured, handed off, reviewed, and delivered — and how those choices impact quality, cost, and schedule.
Indie & Studio Pipelines — Side by Side.
Learn where processes overlap, where they diverge, and how creative intent survives real-world constraints — from raising money to final delivery and distribution.
Learn from the Best in the Industry
Each day features lectures, demos, and panels led by award-winning experts at the top of their fields, spanning craft, leadership, and the executive side of production.
Confirmed speakers include:
Aaron Blaise • Byron Howard • Don Hahn • John Musker • Ron Clements
With additional major speakers to be announced.
You’ll hear directly from both creatives and executives — and learn how the balance between those roles, when aligned, is where truly great animated films are made.
Why ANIMATED! Is Different
ANIMATED! isn’t a trade show or a typical convention. It’s a focused, high-caliber masterclass built for artists, filmmakers, storytellers, and animation fans who want the real process — not just highlights.
One stage. One pipeline. One shared experience.
