The legendary genius behind ‘Dexter’s Lab,’ ‘Samurai Jack’ and “Hotel Transylvania’ to receive the Award of Excellence at the festival, which runs September 26-28; the 3-day event features screenings, panel discussions, and presentations from SCAD Alumni students, alumni and industry creatives.
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) announced the return of SCAD AnimationFest to Atlanta September 26-28, 2024. The highly anticipated three-day festival, held at SCAD’s state-of-the-art SCADshow theater, will honor industry legend Genndy Tartakovsky.
“This year, SCAD AnimationFest proudly honors a titan of animation and a hero to Bees across the world — Cartoon Network and Adult Swim legend Genndy Tartakovsky, the genius behind Hotel Transylvania and Dexter’s Laboratory,” said SCAD president and founder Paula Wallace. “SCAD students grew up on Genndy’s classics, and now, in true SCAD fashion, they’ll experience this 2D icon in 8K reality. And I'll be first in line to see the latest creation from brilliant Bees at SCAD Animation Studios, Chelita — an homage to classic Mexican cinema — the latest animated jewel in SCAD student portfolios ready to launch them into this $260 billion industry. See you at SCADshow... I’ll bring the popcorn!”
SCADFILM’s signature festival for digital media features sessions with top executives and creatives from Adult Swim, Bad Robot, Crafty Apes, DC Studios, DreamWorks Animation, Netflix, and Warner Bros. Animation, as well as showcase SCAD students and alumni whose creative work is at the forefront of animation, motion media design, and visual effects.
The event kicks off Thursday, September 26 with a behind-the-scenes presentation of the upcoming Max Original series from DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation, Creature Commandos. From executive producer and writer James Gunn, Creature Commandos tracks a secret team of incarcerated monsters recruited for missions deemed too dangerous for humans. When all else fails… they’re your last, worst option. Warner Bros. Animation executive vice-president of alternative programming Peter Girardi and supervising producer Rick Morales will be on hand to provide an in-depth look into the artistry and creative processes behind this highly anticipated series kicking off a new era of storytelling in the DC Universe.
Attendees at the opening night screening will be some of the first to preview IFC Films charming stop-motion adult drama Memoir of a Snail, directed by Academy Award-winner Adam Elliot. The film won Annecy’s top prize, the Cristal Award, for best feature. Memoir of a Snail follows the life of Grace Pudel, a lonely misfit with a passion for collecting ornamental snails and a deep love for romance novels. Her life takes a downward turn when she’s separated from her twin brother at a young age. Despite ongoing hardships, Grace perseveres and finds inspiration through a friendship with Pinky, an elderly eccentric woman, as she slowly learns to find confidence and love.
Genndy Tartakovsky is this year’s recipient of the SCAD AnimationFest Award of Excellence honoring his creative contributions to the animation and entertainment industries. The award presentation is set for Friday. The award-winning animation visionary, director, writer, and producer is best known for the popular animated series Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, and Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal, as well as the hit monster movie franchise Hotel Transylvania.
Also Friday, Blue Eye Samurai production designer Toby Wilson will take fans “behind the blade” with an exclusive snapshot into the creative inspirations of the Emmy Award-winning Netflix show and a glimpse at the development process, as explained through visual development images. Blue Eye Samurai is currently in production on its second season.
Friday night, attendees can preview an episode of Common Side Effects, a new original series coming to Adult Swim in 2025. Co-created by Joe Bennett and Steve Hely and executive produced by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, Common Side Effects follows Marshall and Frances, two former high school lab partners who share a secret: Marshall has discovered the world’s greatest medicine, a mushroom that can heal almost anything. Bandera and Green Street Pictures produced the half-hour serialized comedic thriller. Co-creators Bennett and Hely will take the stage for a Q&A following the screening.
“At SCAD, animation is our number one degree program and a large part of student success includes the exclusive opportunity to be mentored by the best in the industry at this signature event,” said SCADFILM director Mollie Brock. “Our students and alumni are creating incredible stories that pair passion with state-of-the-art technology, redefining what is possible in animation.”
According to the school, SCAD Animation Studios is the world’s only animation studio at a university, offering university students unprecedented opportunities to create short films. The professional-style animation studio prepares students for postgraduate careers with inventive techniques and creative problem-solving. More than 600 current students and recent alumni from SCAD’s top-ranked degree programs have contributed to this year’s slate of creative shorts. SCAD Animation Studios will premiere two new original student films, Time Flies and Chelita, as well as host the annual student showcase that features the best of SCAD student work.
SCAD AnimationFest conversations, presentations, events, and panels include:
- Meet the Executives
- The Making of Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
- Saturday Morning Cartoons
SCAD students, faculty, and alumni will present their expertise and insights in sessions and screenings such as:
- SCAD Alumni Voices
- SCAD Animation Spotlight: The Making of Chelita
- SCAD Animation Spotlight: The Making of Time Flies
- SCAD Student Animation Showcase
SCAD AnimationFest passes, current schedule, and more information is available here.
Source: Savannah College of Art and Design
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
