MAKE Animation Thesis Grant 2026 Helps Senior Animation Students Finish Their Films
August 31, 2026
One nice result of the rise of AI in creative production is the quiet backlash against it as directors like Joel Kefali at Good Oil in Sydney make an effort to craft motion as hand-made, low tech, and charming as possible. [Watch]
New at Pictoplasma NYC 2026, a focus session with Kevin Walker, CCO of BUCK, and Derek Gieraltowski & Shandy Tsai of Duolingo explores where character-driven storytelling is headed and how strategies succeed or fail in branding campaigns. [Watch]
The fjords of Norway are certainly spectacular in real life but Amsterdam-based CD/motion designer Kim Taylor gives them a whole new dynamic intensity in this audio/video experiment based on georeferenced map models. [Watch]
In this week’s installment of his weekly series of Stash editorials, Nerdo ECD Claus Cibils examines the need for fairness and clarity in the creative pitching process and how holding the line can help achieve both. [Watch]
The motion team at Nerdo Studio orchestrates a beautiful collision of Italian luxury brands in this electric spot for a collaboration between Turin fragrance maker Xerjoff and legendary automobile marque Lamborghini. [Watch]
CD and co-founder François Côme du Boistesselin leads the Unit Motion Design team in Paris into a grand CG world of high detail and higher drama in this trailer for Amplitude Studios’ strategy game Endless Legend 2. [Watch]
Blinkink stop-motion master Nicos Livesey continues his recent run of hits (see here and here) with this 40-second blast of frenetic fun for the launch of Apple’s newest iteration of the Mac mini thru TBWA\Media Arts Lab. [Watch]
ECDs Colin Trenter and Chris Kelly lead the Oddfellows’ motion team in crafting an anthem video for Figma showcasing how design and code need each other, and challenging the notion that the end of design may be nigh. [Watch]
Following up their recent work for Lenovo laptops, the crew at Culver City CG studio Frame48 pivot to competitive cycling in this anchor film from a new campaign for the venerable Japanese bike component maker Shimano. [Watch]
The design team at Entropico just dropped us the motion reel from the studio’s documentary film produced for Google Cloud and Team USA about the AI used to analyze athlete performance by transforming video footage into data. [Watch]
Discover real-world strategies for gaining recognition for your studio or yourself with insights and pro tips from a panel of top creative insiders laser-focused on what it takes to help you stand out in a crowded creative landscape. [Watch]
Berlin director/producer duo Stanko Stupar and Dunja Krasic (aka Crumb) make their Stash debut with a refreshing CG take on a spec fintech spot starring a tiny plastic surfer riding waves of glittering cash. [Watch]
In this week’s installment of his weekly series of Stash editorials, Nerdo ECD Claus Cibils looks at the true cost of creative pitching in terms of money, time, attention, mental space, well-being, and respect. [Watch]
Brussels director/animator Joost Jansen and his alter ego Dreamcat star in this intimate, multi-layered (and mildly insane) artist portrait from director Daniel Bartels and Düsseldorf studio Make Mami Proud. [Watch]
