‘Phineas and Ferb’ co-creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff ‘Swampy’ Marsh, along with ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ writers/directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans will be honored at the festival, which runs September 25-27; 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) has just announced the return of SCAD AnimationFest to Atlanta, running September 25-27. The highly anticipated three-day festival, held at SCAD’s state-of-the-art SCADshow theater, will honor Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, co-creators of Disney’s award-winning series Phineas and Ferb, and Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, writers/directors of the hugely popular Netflix animated musical adventure, KPop Demon Hunters.
“SCAD AnimationFest returns to SCADshow with a delicious mix of childhood nostalgia and the new sensations lighting up today’s feeds,” said SCAD president and founder Paula Wallace. “This year, SCAD salutes the legends behind Phineas and Ferb, awards the wildly popular KPop Demon Hunters, and welcomes everyone’s favorite ‘Tiny Chef’ (IYKYK!) - alongside premieres and panels with partners from Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video, Warner Bros. Animation and Netflix. Here in Atlanta’s animation corridor, SCAD students rub shoulders with the creatives they admire and the employers who hire. SCAD AnimationFest: big screens, bigger career breakthroughs!”
SCADFILM’s signature festival for digital media will feature sessions with top executives and creatives, as well as showcase SCAD students and alumni whose creative work is at the forefront of animation, motion media design, and visual effects.
“We are at a pivotal point in the industry and, more than ever, our students will benefit from the real-world insight from successful creatives,” said Mollie Brock, director and producer of SCADFILM. “This year’s programming reflects the many professional paths our SCAD students can travel and the diverse opportunities to tell their stories.”
Thursday’s schedule includes a panel discussion with Disney veterans, “Storytelling Through Music with Disney Television Animation and Disney Jr.” Then, attendees can “step inside the stump” with Ozlem Akturk, co-creator and director of photography of The Tiny Chef Show. In this exclusive behind-the-scenes talk about the wildly popular stop-motion series, Akturk will share the meticulous craftsmanship and creative storytelling.
The Mighty Nein will attend to share an exclusive look at their premiere season. In addition, an in-depth conversation with the series’ showrunner Tasha Huo, art director Joseph Martinez, and lead character designer Jess Lackey will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the storytelling, worldbuilding, and creative process that brought the characters of The Mighty Nein to life.
Opening night, SCADFILM will award this year’s SCAD AnimationFest Legends in Animation Award to Povenmire and Marsh for their impressive creative contributions to the animation and entertainment industries. This special event features a screening of a fan-favorite episode and a live conversation with the pair as they reflect on the show's legacy, their creative process, and their enduring impact on the world of animation.
On Friday attendees will hear from artists who have turned their unique styles into careers across animation, comics, games, and more. “Drawn to Stand Out: Building a Career with Your Unique Style” will feature a conversation with Eisner Award-winning illustrator Sanford Greene (Bitter Root) and comic artist, character designer, and art director Rossi Gifford (Invincible Presents: Atom Eve).
Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) will host a special screening of their latest animated movie, Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires. Following the screening, director Juan Meza‑León and producer Jose Carlos de Letona will discuss the creative vision, cultural inspirations, storytelling choices, and visual design that brought this unique fusion of superhero mythos and Mesoamerican history to life. Attendees will also get a detailed behind the scenes look at the highly anticipated Bat-Fam series with executive producer and showrunner Mike Roth and art director Guillaume Fesquet.
The final festival day, Saturday, will begin with “Flapjacks and Throwbacks: Monsters, Inc.” a screening event and breakfast bash. Following the screening, two industry veterans who played vital roles in the creation of the film - production manager and script coordinator Esther Pearl and story artist Nathan Stanton - will discuss behind-the-scenes memories.
Closing night, SCAD will celebrate KPop Demon Hunters, featuring themed treats and interactive activities inspired by the film’s colorful world and high-energy K-pop aesthetic. Netflix’s “electrifying” animated film follows a group of fearless demon hunters navigating a vibrant, music-fueled world where K-pop culture meets supernatural action. The film has soared to the top of global Netflix charts and made waves across international music platforms thanks to its vibrant fusion of K-pop style, Korean cultural motifs, and cutting-edge 3D animation. Director Chris Appelhans will be on hand to receive the SCAD AnimationFest Impact Award and share insights on the film during an exclusive post-screening Q&A.
According to the school, SCAD Animation Studios is the world’s only animation studio at a university, offering 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, Inkwashed and Blood and Bamboo, as well as host the annual student showcase that features the best of SCAD student work.
Additional SCAD AnimationFest conversations, presentations, events, and panels include:
- From Scratch to Screen: Adapting Written Novels for a Global Audience
- The First Sketch: Building a Career in Online Animation
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 Inkwashed
- SCAD Animation Spotlight: The Making of Blood and Bamboo
- SCAD Student Animation Showcase
Animation is one of the largest and most popular of SCAD’s preeminent degree programs. The SCAD animation program has consistently been named a top program in the U.S. by Animation Career Review. The SCAD School of Animation and Motion brings together the university’s top-ranked animation, motion media design, and visual effects programs to create a powerhouse of academics, talent, and next-generation technology. Along with the School of Film and Acting, School of Creative Technology, and School of Visual Communication, these programs and schools exemplify SCAD’s reputation as the global leader for art and design in higher education and its mission to prepare students for creative careers.
For SCAD AnimationFest passes, tickets, the current schedule, and more information, visit scad.edu/animationfest. Passes are available now; individual event tickets go on sale Friday, Sept. 19.
Source: Savannah College of Art and Design
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
