TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITORIAL / 5 TERRITORIES/ 6 CONCEPT / 8 Objectives / 9 AWARDS/ 10 Representatives / 11 BOARD / 12 EXPERTS / 18 PARTICIPANTS / 24 SCHEDULE / 34 PARTNERS / 46 TEAM / 54
The Animation Workshop is proud to host the for games, film, tv, virtual reality – or any thinkable NipponNordic Universe Accelerator in Viborg, or yet unimagined combination thereof. Denmark in 2017 and 2018. We will use the unique NipponNordic Universe Accelerator will work with opportunity to invite all participants to take full skilled and experienced tutors, who will present advantage of the deeply creative environment high-level masterclasses as well as supervising around The Animation Workshop. Everything workshops in cooperation with the wide range from serene workstations to noisy networking of local, regional, and international partners who events and parties will be available for attendees, support the program. and those with the freedom to stay a bit longer can remain in town for Viborg Animation Festival which has a special focus this year on France and Morten Thorning French animation. Center Director of The Animation Workshop VIA University College
The NipponNordic Universe Accelerator is an innovative and transnational project that aims to bring visionary and entrepreneurial artists and concept designers from Japan and Scandinavia together. Although the two territories are geographically very far apart from each other, there exists a mutual respect and curiosity towards the cultures and traditions of each other. What can create better understanding between people than working together with the ambition to identify and realize yet unknown visions? It is our hope that the results of NipponNordic Universe Accelerator will be new exciting IP’s that target the worlds imminent need for clever and constructive entertainment and communication, whether it be TERRITORIES
Endorsed by the Japanese Embassy in Denmark as the official event of the 150th Anniversary of the establishment of Japanese & Danish diplomatic relations, The Animation Workshop ran in 2017 a wide event called Kawaii & Epikku. It aimed to be the first and largest exposition in Denmark about Anime, Manga and 360° productions.
As a part of this wide event, NipponNordic 2017 supported the creative initiatives of its participants, following the global philosophy of Kawaii & Epikku to enhance knowledge and cultural exchanges between the Japanese and Danish/European professionals of the creative industry. This year will continue the successful program in the same innovative mentality.
This Universe Accelerator has been created to develop connections between two countries because of the big potential for more cooperation and co-production between diverse territories: There are many examples of TERRITORIES 7
Danish commitment to innovation, storytelling and design – from the fairy tale storyteller Hans Christian Andersen to a long list of world- renowned companies and brands of Danish origin, such as LEGO, Bang & Olufsen and Royal Copenhagen.
Denmark (and Europe in general), have a strong animation and games tradition, with, amongst others, a specific strength in producing cost effective 3D feature films. Also, the games industry in Denmark is known to drive innovation on a global scale. Danish game brands include Hitman and, lately, LIMBO and Subway Surfers. All of them are testimonies to Denmark’s industrial traditions, know-how and skills. As the Danish game industry is searching for new markets to penetrate, the Japanese market has become of great interest to Nordic developers, especially since Japan is looking towards Denmark for nordic designed products.
Japan has an old and well-established animation culture, especially in 2D, which has had an immense impact on western markets over the last 20+ years. Western productions, however, have a hard time entering the Japanese market. The potential market is, nonetheless, immense. Moreover, Japan’s industry, is struggling with a lag in 3D animation. Japanese game producers have had a huge impact on the western games industry and the way games are designed. This will establish an even closer collaboration and open up for new innovative ways of thinking about product development in the game industry. CONCEPT
NipponNordic is a four week artist residency for creative concept development, individual mentorship and cooperation between Japan and Scandinavia. During the accelerator the participants, Japan and Scandinavia-based, will develop universes, prototype concepts and story worlds for animated content, video games and XR, that can resonate across Denmark, Japan and beyond. CONCEPT/OBJECTIVES 9 SEPTEMBER 3 to 30 2018
During the first week, experts from the creative industries are expected to run masterclasses and workshops for the participants to strengthen their skills in pitching, cinematic and universe building. The second and the third weeks of the residency are the intensive mentorship program when experienced professionals OBJECTIVES help the participants to develop their projects by personal consultations to identify their audience, enhance their commercial potential On the final day of the Universe Accelerator, what will be the first day of and highlight the strengths of their IPs. Viborg Animation Festival (VAF), the participants will pitch their projects The last week starts with the Pitch day in in front of a board. The best projects will get the opportunity to access front of an international Board composed by major events throughout Japan and Europe to be presented again in front representatives of major companies of the of buyers of the industry, thus giving them an extra chance to reach the creative industries in Japan and Scandinavia. market. NipponNordic Universe Accelerator aims to spark and ensure the continuous development of original, high quality animation / cross-media or game content, which can resonate both artistically and commercially. The program aims to address the complementarity of those markets, and highlight partnerships and co-productions as viable alternatives to the subcontracting practices, which are a challenge for the creative industry in the era of globalization. AWARDS
SUNNY SIDE OF THE DOC PITCH AWARD
ANNECY INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL & MARKET PITCH AWARD
EXTRA RESIDENCY OPPORTUNITIES
May be given to a selection of projects by representatives and the board AWARDS/REPRESENTATIVES 11
REPRESENTATIVES
ARNAUD MIQUEL
ANNECY INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL/MIFA
Arnaud Miquel is Head of Content at CITIA and conferences curator of Forum Blanc and Annecy International Animated Film Festival. After graduating, he worked as Head of Digital Business Development at the animation studio Millimages before being appointed Head of Film and Digital Media Department for the French Embassy in Indonesia. Upon his return to Paris, Arnaud joined Google’s marketing teams in charge of YouTube B2B strategy. He moved to Annecy early 2018.
MATHIEU BÉJOT
SUNNY SIDE OF THE DOC
Mathieu Béjot is an international media executive. He was the executive director of TV France International, the association of French TV program exporters, from 2000 to 2018. He was previously cultural attaché in charge of creative industries at the French Embassy in Japan (1997-2000), Hong Kong (in charge of SE Asia, 1994-1997) and Canada (1988-1993). BOARD
The concepts and intellectual properties developed during this unique program, as well as the network and business opportunities it creates, are the clear follow-up of NipponNordic. A Pitch board composed of recognized international figures, investors and heads of companies assesses the 16 projects developed during the program, considering the strength of the universes, stories or game play.
Monday 24 & Tuesday 25 Parolesalen, Arsenalet BOARD BOARD 13
General Manager of Planning ASUKA & Production Division AT-X, Inc.
YAMAZAKI After graduating from university, she joined a local TV station and was in charge of sales. AT-X Several years later, she worked as a copywriter at a creative production company. In 2003, she joined AT-X, Inc. which is the Japanese subscription TV services only for ANIMATION/ANIME, and she directed Programming & Production Division which organizing more than 100 animation titles every month for the channel, and was in charge of investing in numerous animation works. July 2018, bumped up to the General Manager of Planning & Production Div., she is responsible for planning, investment and production. Producer at Sprite JUNICHI As one of the key original members of Sprite Animation, Junichi YANAGIHARA Yanagihara’s long career includes over ten years as an executive for Square Co. Ltd.’s U.S. subsidiaries, where he played an integral role in OLM INC. that company’s international expansion. Since Sprite’s 2002 founding, Junichi has managed the studio’s business and production affairs, and has been instrumental in shepherding its development into one of L.A.’s SPRITE most talked-about content developers, and design and animation service providers. Among his recent producer credits are Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures for Disney XD, Kong: King of the Apes for Netflix, the theatrical feature Rudolf the Black Cat, and the localization of the smash hit Japanese property Yo-kai Watch. BOARD 15
Game Designer at SYBO Games SEBASTIAN Sebastian Trelles, is a Game Designer from Uruguay. TRELLES He’s been working as a game designer for the last four years, and involved with games for the past seven years. SYBO GAMES He’s hands-on when it comes to game design, as he have a software engineering background and work experience that helps him implement his ideas. Brainstorming, pitching and prototyping game ideas in small, agile teams is his trade. Producer at Nørlum CLAUS Claus Toksvig Kjaer is a Danish Animation Producer. He studied English Literature at Aarhus University but changed course and went to pursue TOKSVIG Classical Drawing and Animation at The Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark. After graduation he worked on a number of short films before NØRLUM joining Cartoon Saloon in Kilkenny Ireland in the summer 2006, as Production Coordinator on their BBC Television Show ‘Skunk Fu’.
Returning to Denmark in 2009 he began working for Mark Film as Production Manager leading a series of animated science projects and commercials. In order to attract international co-productions Arsenalet hired him as Producer of their company cluster in mid October 2011. Focusing primarily on feature production he partnered up with Nørlum Animation Studio in 2013 co-producing such films as the Oscar nominated ‘Song of the Sea’ for Cartoon Saloon and ‘Longway North’ for Sacrebleu. The chance came for another collaboration with Cartoon Saloon in 2015, this time a 22 min. Pilot for Amazon Prime called ‘Eddie of the Realms Eternal’. 17
Filmmaker at Nexus FX Fx’s bright, contagiously fun personality is reflected in the playful GOBY diversity of his work. Employing a wide range of techniques, including 2D and 3D animation, stop motion and live action mixed with vfx, his work NEXUS includes commercials for global brands, quirky short films and dreamy music videos. His short film, To Build a Fire, set the festival world alight, winning the Oscar qualifying Grand Prix at the Rhode Island International Film Festival, and for 2 years running he has created the charming animated films which introduce Google’s annual developer conference, Google I/O. Most recently Fx collaborated with Google Doodles and Google Spotlight Stories to create the Emmy nominated Back to the Moon, which launched as the first VR enabled / 360 Google Doodle. EXPERTS
During the residency the participants will be guided and supervised by professionals from the industry to identify their audiences, enhance their commercial potential and highlight the strengths of their IPs.
On the first week the Pitch training will be held by Jessica Laurent, a Cinematic Design Masterclass by Jericca Cleland and World Building Jam led by Anders and Martin Rauff. The second and the third weeks of the residency are the intensive mentorship program when the participants are having regular consultations with their personal mentors to get ready for the Pitch Day. EXPERTS 19
JERICCA CLELAND
Director/Writer/Cinematographer
Jericca Cleland developed her filmmaking skills in the story-centric environment of Pixar Animation Studios where she designed filming and staging for the popular and award-winning feature films Finding Nemo and Toy Story 2. Since then, she has worked in various capacities both independently and for other major studios, including Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman Animations, and Walt Disney Animation. Other collaborators and clients include Cartoon Saloon, Warner Brothers, Legendary Entertainment, Electronic Arts, Microsoft Games, Psyop and Oculus Studios. Cleland is a co-owner and Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of the Oscar -nominated animation studio Nørlum, where she writes, directs, and oversees slate development and all special projects. Nørlum co-produced the award-winning 2D animated feature films Song of the Sea’and Long Way North and was one of two studios to produce season one of Disney’s TV series Big Hero 6. As another facet of her professional work, Cleland is a dedicated teacher and sought-after guest lecturer, often travelling to present master classes and lectures. These opportunities have taken her across Europe and North America and as well as to distant China and Peru. She also sits on the educational board of the highly-respected art school The Animation Workshop where she mentors the graduation films and teaches story, cinematic design, and visual storytelling. Cleland is a full and active member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Short Film and Feature Animation Branch and an accredited cinematographer with the Canadian Society of Cinematographers. JESSICA LAURENT
Director/Visual Storyteller
Jessica Laurent is a French director and visual storyteller graduated from The Animation Workshop. Fascinated by rhythm and with the story as the heart of her movies, she wants to bring hope and tenderness. She is the Viborg Animation Festival artist of 2018 and currently developing her next short filmSiblings between France and Denmark.
ANDERS RAUFF
Game and Universe Designer
Since 2006, Anders Rauff has worked as a game designer, world-builder, and fiction author. His previous projects include the trading card game Chaotic and a large-scale fantasy game called Noorhjem. Anders currently works at Funday Factory. EXPERTS 21
MARTIN RAUFF
Concept Developer
Martin Rauff works in an area shaped by the intersections of play, concept/IP-development, and narrative. He has been the driving force behind a diverse group of projects ranging from TV-broadcasts and games, books, albums, museum exhibitions, and large-scale events.
KENSUKE SHIMODA
Game Designer
A professional game designer standing at the forefront of game industry for more than 13 years. Involved in highly competitive smartphone gaming scene, he has always designed cutting-edge games including the football simulator BFB which won the 1st in Hong Kong App Store for a long time. And also deeply involved in Japanese game development community for a long time, he has often taken part in big conferences as a speaker and he is now training next generation game designers. SØREN FLENG
Founder & Producer
Søren Fleng is an animation producer with more than 20 years of experience in strategic development, financing and production. Søren have consulted, produced and executive produced for a number of large mobile gaming brands (incl. Angry Birds, Subway Surfers, Best Fiends and more) on how to expand into animated entertainment, and is most notably known for developing and producing the 3,5 billion view Angry Birds Toons animated series. Besides the commercial productions, Søren have a wast experience working with talent development, both as consultant, mentor and as producer of a number of renowned and award winning animation short films (Machine by Sunit Parekh-Gaihede, Goutte d’Or by Christophe Peladan, ZombieWestern by Tor Fruergaard and more). EXPERTS 23
SØREN JØNSSON
Producer and Game Designer
Søren Jønsson is a producer and game designer of both digital and analog games. He has worked professionally with games the last 18 years, and since 1999 released more than 100 games for retail. He works with and teaches iterative work processes (e.g. SCRUM). His Viborg based company Lemuria Consult ApS helps making ideas become real products in time and within budget. The other part of the company - Lemuria Games, develops and releases their own boardgames: www.lemuriagames.com
SIMON ROUBY
Expanded Animation Artist
Born in 1980, Simon Rouby learned to paint the hard way, that is to say; with a spray can. He then went on to study Animation at the famed Gobelins school in Paris as well as Calarts in Los Angeles. Adama, his first featured animation was nominated for the Cesar and European Film Awards for best animated feature in 2015. In 2017 he has been an artist in residence at the French Academy of Villa Medici in Rome where he started developing a new body of work using video installation. PARTICIPANTS
The Directors Sarina Nihei, Humphrey Erm, Seishi Irimajiri, Hiromitsu Murakami, Arnaud Tribout, the Visual artists Sascha Altschuler, Kristina Stengaard, Atsuhito Seki, Ruben Quasi, the Student in her last year Käthrine Yan (Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts), the fresh graduated Graphic storyteller students Line Høj Høstrup, Sofie Louise Dam, Emil Friis Ernst, Nilas RD, the Post-graduate student Kai Fukushima (Tokyo Denki University), the Game designers Ken Watanabe, Takashi Hamada, will develop their projects with the mentoring of experienced professionals during the NipponNordic Universe Accelerator in 2018. PARTICIPANTS 25
Position: Concept Artist Nationality: Danish Country of residency: Denmark Project type: Video game Project title: Drifter SASCHA ALTSCHULER
After graduating with a bachelor in CGA from The Animation Workshop in 2014 she has worked mainly in the game industry as a 2D Artist while continuing to develop her own projects. She works with a wide range of formats from graphic novels and interactive books to computer games and a bit of film/tv but mainly has her focus in the interactive camp at the moment.
Position: Artists & Visual Designers Nationality: Danish Country of residency: Denmark Project type: Digital comic Project title: Lille Menneske LINE HØJ HØSTRUP & SOFIE LOUISE DAM
Line Høj Høstrup: Sofie Louise Dam: She is a Danish illustrator and comics creator. Cartoonist based in Viborg. She has made She graduated from the Animation Workshop comics for clients such as The Nib, educational in 2017. She’s a regular contributor to Danish publisher Alinea and Illustoria – a magazine comic magazine Fiesta, and her first graphic for creative kids and their grown-ups. Her first novel The matter we’re made of will be out in picture book with author Kim Fupz Aakeson, autumn 2018. was recently published by Gyldendal Forlag and her next graphic novel This Land is My Land with author Andy Warner is published by Chronicle Books in spring 2019. Position: Artist & Visual Designers Nationality: Danish Country of residency: Denmark Project type: Comic book Project title: Horse and Sheep EMIL FRIIS ERNST & NILAS RØPKE DRIESSEN
Emil Friis Ernst: Nilas Røpke Driessen: He (b. 1994) is a danish cartoonist and illustrator He is 28 years old, from Denmark and graduated living and working in Viborg Denmark. He from The Animation Workshop as a graphic graduated with a BA in Graphic Storytelling storyteller in 2017. He makes comics that often from The Animation Workshop in 2017. He’s delve into the absurd and sometimes silly, but into big robots and cinema from around the has a core of exploring what it means to be a world. human, dealing with personal flaws, dreams and general frustrations of life.
PARTICIPANTS 27
Position: Director Nationality: Swedish Country of residency: Denmark Project type: Animated TV/Web series Project title: Space Doctor HUMPHREY ERM
Humphrey Erm was born in Sweden before traveling around the world, eventually studying for the character animation line in The Animation Workshop where he directed the bachelor film Once Upon a Candle that won the ISFVF award in 2014. Since then he’s been working on features such as Long Way North as well as the TV series Big Hero 6: The Series. He’s now excited to take part in NipponNordic.
Position: Post graduate Student Nationality: Japanese Country of residency: Japan Project type: VR Project title: VR game for communication between Japanese and English speakers KAI FUKUSHIMA
Born in 1988. Postgraduate student in Tokyo Denki University, developing a VR game to promote the players to communicate and learn English. Got the first and research prize at the 6th Serious Game Japan in DiGRA (Digital Games Research Association). Developing some indie games. Worked as a mechanical researcher and developer in a Japanese dairy products company from 2013 to 2018. Position: Game Designer Nationality: Japanese Country of residency: Japan Project type: Video game Project title: Mini books Adventure TAKASHI HAMADA
Born in Japan in 1984. Game Designer. Bachelor (Art). He joined a video game studio for 5 years, therefore started his company (GIFT TEN INDUSTRY.K.K) producing board games and digital contents. Because he is interested in mixtures of digital and physical things, he created several original games and sell to customers directory.
Position: Director Nationality: Japanese Country of residency: Japan Project type: Mobile Game Project title: JOHNNY9000 SEISHI IRIMAJIRI He is a Japanese Animation filmmaker. Also he worked as a graphic designer, music composer in the stage theatre industry in Japan. Then he studied at European Film College in Denmark in 2016. BORDERLINE, the graduation work, has been screened at over ten film festivals in the world. Currently he is doing many creative activities and study everyday to explore the possibilities of storytelling. PARTICIPANTS 29
Position: Stop Frame Animator Nationality: Danish Country of residency: Denmark Project type: Animated Short Project title: ÆRA KRISTINA STENGAARD JØRGENSEN
Graduated from The Animation Workshop in 2015 with a BA in Character animation, specialized in CG animation. She has since graduating worked on big productions for TV, in France, Valence and La Réunion, and in Denmark in Copenhagen. But is now based in Aarhus, Dk, working freelance as a stop motion- and CG animator.
Position: Director Nationality: Danish Country of residency: Denmark Project type: Web series Project title: Stoneage Bloodhair KLAUS TUE MADSEN
Klaus Tue Madsen (Or just Tue). Is a graphic designer and recent graduate from The National Danish Filmschool as a Director of Animation & Interactive Media. He is also a long time fan of japanese animation and culture in general. Position: Director Nationality:Japanese Country of residency: Japan Project type: AR Project title: Colorful Forms HIROMITSU MURAKAMI
Born 1975 in Yokohama, Japan. Studied video, animation and interactive art at Tokyo Polytechnic University and IAMAS in Japan. Moved to the UK in 2000, where he completed his MA in Animation at Royal College of Arts in 2004. Later founded his own company Flicker Corporation”after working as a freelance creator.
Position: Director Nationality: Japanese Country of residency: Japan Project type: Animated Short Project title: A Boy with Polka Dotted Arms SARINA NIHEI
She is a freelance animator and illustrator from Japan. She graduated from London’s Royal College of Art, with an MA in animation in 2014. Her graduation film from the RCA,Small People with Hats, has won several prizes at festivals around the world including OIAF, HAFF and BAA. Specialising in hand-drawn animation, she makes surreal short films and music videos. PARTICIPANTS 31
Position: Artist & Visual Designer Nationality: Japanese Country of residency: Japan Project type: Mobile Game Project title: YOKAI FRIENDS ATSUHITO SEKI
Atsuhito is a Visual Artist and 3D-CG at Kanaban Graphics in Tokyo, Japan. He studied Art Fundamentals at Sheridan College, Canada in 2004-5 and graduated from Kuwasawa Design School in 2015 having completed the Visual Design Program. His animation work includes: USAVICH, BART & CHAPY, PURUPOM, and INAZMA DELIVERY. He specializes in original illustrations based on Japanese folklore and mythology.
Position: Director Nationality: French Country of residency: Japan Project type: Animated TV/Web series Project title: TWINGO GIRL ARNAUD TRIBOUT
He is a french concept artist, a 2D animator and a filmmaker. He graduated from Gobelins animation school in 2015 and worked on different kind of productions including feature film, video game trailer, animated documentary and short films. He is co-founder and member of the animation collective Souviens Ten-Zan. Currently working in Tokyo at Yapiko Animation. Position: Student in her final year Nationality: Swedish Country of residency: Sweden Project type: Animated TV/Web series Project title: Rain or Shine KÄTHRINE YAN
Käthrine Yan was born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden. After completing her degree in Graphic Design at Central Saint Martins in London, she is adamant about dabbling between design, illustration and animation. When she is not working on her computer, she enjoys lurking about sketching unsuspecting local commuters on her travels.
Position: Artist/Visual Designer Nationality: Belgian Country of residency: Denmark Project type: Transmedia Project title: Ages to the Cosmos RUBEN QUASI
Humanist, visual artisan, curious hacker, and lifelong learner. His journey’s full of (re)discoveries. As an artist, he’s worked on video installations, unique concepts for performing arts and illustrations. As an activist, he’s organised socio-cultural events and produced collaborative pieces, as performances and a short movie. Today, he wants to marry both sides proposing a collaborative universe. PARTICIPANTS 33
Position: Game Designer Nationality: Japanese Country of residency: Japan Project type: Video Game Project title: Factory Days KEN WATANABE
Born in 1981. After graduating from University of Tokyo he joined Nintendo as a programmer in 2005. He was one of a member of the team of Pikmin 3 and Splatoon. After leaving Nintendo in 2015 he traveled over 20 countries. From around the summer of 2016 he started working as an indie game developer. Cat Painter” released in fall of 2017 is selected as Top 3 of the Google Indie Games Festival. CHAPTHER 34
SCHEDULE SCHEDULE/PITCH TRAINING 35
PITCH TRAINING
Instructor: Jessica Laurent
Place: Tove Janson classroom The Animation Workshop Kasernevej 1, Ground floor
MONDAY 3. SEP. TUESDAY 4. SEP.
09.30-12:30 Acting Exercises 09.30-12:30 Individual feedback
12:30-13:30 Lunch 12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-16:30 General pitching lecture 13:30-16:30 Pitches & Analyses Small pitching exercise Masterclass
VISUAL STORYTELLING: THE ART OF CINEMATIC STORYTELLING
Instructor: Jericca Cleland
Place: Parolesalen Arsenalet Kasernevej 8-10, 1st floor
In this 2-day masterclass, delve under the skin of story structure into what really makes narrative work. Then discover the power of connecting visual language directly to story for more cinematic and expressive work. Material is presented in a mix of seminar, lecture, and hands-on, participatory segments and is directly applicable to any format and medium of narrative visual storytelling. SCHEDULE/MASTERCLASS 37
WEDNESDAY 5. SEP. THURSDAY 6. SEP.
10:00 - 12:00 Opening/Masterclass 09:00 - 12:00 Story Substructure and Visual Structure: Participatory lecture with a Introduction mix of presentation and class analysis.
Introduction to Cinematic Design: Case Study-Finding Nemo: Participatory lecture with a mix of Presentation of a specific scene, presentation and class analysis. cinematic design break-down, and detailed walkthrough of the relationship 12:00-13:00 Lunch between the cinematic design and the story/emotional arcs. 13:00-17:00 Under the Skin of Story: Participatory lecture with a mix of 12:00-13:00 Lunch presentation and class contribution on story and substructure. 13:00-16:00 Story Creation Workshop II: Hands-on workshop to build on the work Story Creation Workshop I: of Day 1 and to generate a story that Hands-on workshop to apply and participants can work with in the next practice story substructure elements. segment.
Cinematic Design Workshop: Participants use a selected story and develop a cinematic design that defines the visual style and supports the story and emotional arcs. This can be done through notes, plans, and simple sketches; no need to create finished artwork - the emphasis in on the thought process and mapping a specific story to specific visual language on an individual basis. The workshop concludes with an instructor- led dynamic group development session to demonstrate how to apply these tools and philosophy to maximize the narrative and cinematic depth and reach of any given material. WORLD BUILDING JAM
Instructors: Anders & Martin Rauff
Place: Big Classroom The Animation Workshop Kasernevej 1
The participants get the chance to build solid FRIDAY 7. SEP. concepts for story worlds in small groups and come up with suggestions on how to use 17:00 - 21:00 World Jam them in terms of storytelling, interaction, SATURDAY 8. - SUNDAY 9. SEP. and product. 09.30-12:00 World Jam The weekend is just as much an introduction to a narrative tool as an opportunity to play 12:00-13:00 Lunch around so no previous experience in building 13:00-17:00 World Jam worlds is required. SCHEDULE/WEEKLY SCHEDULE 39 WEEK 1 3.-9. SEPTEMBER
Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
9:00- 10:00 Masterclass Visual Masterclass storytelling: Pitch Pitch Introduction Visual The art of Training Training to the 10:00- storytelling: Cinematic Jessica Jessica NipponNordic 11:00 The art of Design Laurent Laurent Studio Cinematic Jericca Cleland Tove Jansson Tove Jansson Design Parolesalen 11:00- Jericca Cleland 12:00 Parolesalen 12:00 - Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch 13:00 World Building Jam Masterclass Martin & Anders Rauff 13:00- Masterclass Visual Visual Big Classroom 14:00 storytelling: storytelling: Pitch Pitch Pitch Pitch The art of The art of Training Training 14:00- Cinematic Cinematic 15:00 Jessica Jessica Design Design Laurent Laurent Jericca Cleland Jericca Cleland 15:00- Tove Jansson Tove Jansson Parolesalen 16.00 Parolesalen
16:00- 17:00 World 17:00- Building Jam 18:00 Martin & Anders Rauff 18:00- Welcome 19:00 Dinner Big Classroom
Lectures & Workshops Project Development Social Events Final Pitch WEEK 2 10.-14. SEPTEMBER
Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
9:00- 10:00
10:00 Meet the Mentors 11:00
11:00- 12:00
12:00- Lunch 13:00
13:00- Project Development 14:00 Meet the Mentors 14:00- 15:00
15:00- 16.00
16:00- 17:00
17:00- 18:00
18:00- Late Screening 19:00 The Temple
Lectures & Workshops Project Development Social Events Final Pitch SCHEDULE/WEEKLY SCHEDULE 41 WEEK 3 17.-21. SEPTEMBER
Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
9:00- 10:00
10:00- 11:00
11:00- 12:00
12:00 - 13:00
13:00- 14:00 Project Development
14:00- 15:00
15:00- 16.00
16:00- 17:00 Meet & Drink
17:00- Arsenalet 18:00
18:00- Late Screening 19:00 The Temple
Lectures & Workshops Project Development Social Events Final Pitch WEEK 4 24.-30. SEPTEMBER
Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
9:00- 10:00
10:00- One-on-one 11:00 Meetings Pitch Day VAF Viborg Animation Festival 11:00- Parolesalen 12:00
12:00 - Lunch Lunch 13:00
13:00- 14:00 Pitch Day
14:00- Parolesalen 15:00 VAF Game Expo 15:00- Professionals VAF 16.00 Game Expo
16:00- 17:00
17:00- 18:00
18:00- Goodbye 19:00 Dinner
Lectures & Workshops Project Development Social Events Final Pitch SCHEDULE/WEEKLY SCHEDULE 43
Time Saturday Sunday
9:00- 10:00
10:00- 11:00 VAF Viborg Animation Festival 11:00- 12:00
12:00 - 13:00
13:00- 14:00
14:00- 15:00
15:00- VAF 16.00 Game Expo
16:00- 17:00
17:00- 18:00
18:00- 19:00 Artist: Jessica Laurent FRENCH KISS VIBORG ANIMATION FESTIVAL 2018 24. - 30. SEPTEMBER
Viborg Animation Festival - lovingly known as VAF - is Denmark’s largest animation festival and a celebration of the many wonders of animation. VAF provides wide access to animation culture at a high international level within the animated related worlds of entertainment, art, games, pedagogy and dissemination.
In 2018, the theme of VAF is France - the country that has given us Asterix, The Triplets of Belleville, Babar and so much more. VAF 2018 celebrates French cartoon tradition in every possible way, and invites you to experience Oscar nominated movies in the cinema, expressive virtual reality artworks, an XR & Game Expo, exciting exhibitions of French comics and concept art, as well as an ambitious video mapping project taking place at Viborg Cathedral and much more.
VIBORG ANIMATION FESTIVAL Download the app for full programme PARTNERS & SPONSORS
NipponNordic is made possible thanks to the following organizations. PARTNERS & SPONSORS 47
ARSENALET
Arsenalet is a creative stronghold founded in 2012 and is located in Viborg, Denmark. The building primarily houses companies who work with animation, games and new media.
Some of the companies at Arsenalet have at this point been involved in major international co-productions such as the Oscar nominated feature film Song of the sea. OFFICE H/ASF PARTNERS
An acknowledged and well connected marketing/ Media exchange: distribution office and service provider founded Office H researches and reports foreign news in 1999 by Hiromi Ito. Office H, based in Japan, on multimedia, ICT and contents business. offers the following professional services: Hiromi Ito introduces the Japanese new media overseas (FMX Film & Media Exchange in Business development and coordination, Germany, e-magiciens in France, Anima Mundi consulting: in Brazil, etc). Office H is an agent of Folimage (France) and used to be an agent for the National Film ASF Partners (Animation Sans Frontières Board of Canada, and also a service provider Partners) is a non-profit organization led of strategic marketing communications and by Hiromi Ito aims to cultivate personal business development, primarily for emerging exchanges between Japan and other companies and start-ups wanting to develop countries/regions for creative activities and business in the Japanese animation, multimedia distributions, and to dynamize cross-cultural and ICT sectors. collaboration and international coproduction. Office H/ASF Partners collaborated with the WAT – World Animation Theater: Animation Workshop as the partner of SEA - WAT is a brand of presenting in Japan globally Concept Development Masterclass in 2014. admired animated films directed by emerging and independent artists. Office H supports and promotes business potentialities of “new talents” in hosting or co-organizing shows of animated films from around the world, and in distributing them in Japan. PARTNERS & SPONSORS 49
ANNECY MIFA
CITIA organises the International Animation Each year, the Mifa Pitches showcase the best Film Festival, the Mifa and the Forum Blanc. It in original animation projects in their first phase also contributes to the development of the local of development in four categories: feature films, economy by proposing training programmes short films,TV series and specials and transmedia. and support to businesses in the animation and Open on an international level, the selection creative industries sector with the unifying space reflects young creation on the world scene. of Les Papeteries – Image Factory.
SUNNY SIDE OF THE DOC
Sunny Side of the Doc is the international The 4-day event creates unique opportunities for marketplace dedicated to documentary and +2,000 professionals from 60 countries, to follow specialist factual content, each year bringing the latest industry trends, present untold stories, together broadcasters, decision makers, make new connections and embrace interactive financing bodies, distributors, content creators forms of storytelling, through a variety of and producers from around the world to sell high-level pitching sessions, panel discussions, or buy projects and programmes, and to find networking activities and the added value of an coproduction partners. exhibition space. DANISH BUSINESS AUTHORITY
The Danish Business Authority endeavours Good international opportunities are vital for to create the best conditions for growth in economic growth. This is why we work to put Europe, and to make it easy and attractive to Danish businesses in the best possible position run a business in Denmark. The Danish Business in markets both near and far. We do this by Authority endeavours to improve the conditions e.g. proactive representation of interests and for growth in all of Denmark by stimulating realisation of the Digital Single Market. innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity, and by ensuring a world class ICT-infrastructure.
EU-JAPAN FEST JAPAN COMMITTEE
EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee is a non-profit The Committee supports Japan-related non-governmental organization established by programs held mainly in conjunction with each European ambassadors to Japan and Japanese year’s European Capital of Culture (ECoC), as business and cultural figures on the occasion well as the continuation, development and of the 1993 request to assist with Japanese offshoots of programs from previous ECoC, and participation in the European Capital of Culture preparation to future ECoC. Antwerp, in Belgium. PARTNERS & SPONSORS 51
INVEST IN DENMARK
As part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark has a proud tradition of collaborative Denmark, Invest in Denmark is a customized business partnerships, which has resulted in one-stop service for foreign companies looking world-leading competencies. Its tailor-made to set up a business in Denmark. solutions include connecting companies with key local contacts, arranging fact-finding tours and providing comprehensive benchmark analyses.
NORDISK FILM FOUNDATION
The mission of the Nordisk Film Foundation which brings us closer to achieving our vision is to encourage initiatives that develop and for the benefit of the industry, the individual shed light on talents of international standing. and society. Concurrently, we wish to develop solutions for tomorrow’s challenges in the film industry, OLM
OLM, Inc., one of Imagica Robot Holdings other credits include a variety of projects for Group’s companies, is a Tokyo-based production the global market like “Tinpo” and “Bee and company with renowned animation, live-action Puppycat.” Their styles range from 2D, digital and visual effects divisions. Best known for 2D, and traditional 2D anime, to video games, their work on the “Pokémon” franchise, OLM’s live-action and CG-hybrid feature films.
REGION MIDTJYLLAND
Region Midtjylland is the overarching administrative region which includes Viborg Kommune and represents another frequent supporter and collaborator of projects undertaken by The Animation Workshop. PARTNERS & SPONSORS 53
SYBO GAMES SYBO Games is a mobile game developer right owners of the game application Subway company located in Copenhagen, Denmark Surfers that they developed together with founded by Creative Director Sylvester Rishøj Kiloo. The game is by far the most played game Jensen and CEO Bodie Jahn-Mulliner. They are ever created in Denmark, and is one of the most mainly known for being creators and IP downloaded games in the world.
VIBORG KOMMUNE
This project is supported by Viborg Kommune, the home municipality of The Animation Workshop, and with whom we have a long history and excellent track record of cooperation. TEAM TEAM 55
THE ANIMATION WORKSHOP VIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
As one of the world’ top schools and knowledge center for animation, The Animation Worskhop has been training students for the last 30 years, leading them to work for major companies all over the world such as: LEGO, MPC, Sybo Games, Warner Bros Animation, Blue Bite - Unisoft, Riot Games, Double Fine, Massive -Ubisoft, Blink Ink, Giant Animation,Illumination, Framestore, Might and Delight, Double Negative, Chimney, Cinesite, Cartoon Network, Bullit Film, Aardman, Nørlum, Ja Film, Wil Film, M2Film, Aeria Games, Cartoon Saloon, Copenhagen Bombay, Bron Studios, Funday Factory, Monkey Tenis, Pixomondo, Media Molecule, Mark Film, Kong Orange, Animanostra, Precious Metals, Triband, Ghost, Heyday Aps, Beach Park Studios, A Film, Hide The Zebra, Powerhouse, The Third Floor, King, Snowcloud, Gear Works, Moving Picture Company, Feed Me Light, Argon FX, Passion Pictures Paris, Hydralab, Ted Ed, Golden Wolf, Parasol Island, Tin Drum Studio, Razor Edge Games, Fasad, Crytek GmbH, Advance A/S, Fork Film, Proof Inc, Clicks and Links, Fido Film, Six More Vodka, Pipangai etc. MORTEN THORNING
Center Director of The Animation Workshop/VIA University College, is the founder of The Animation Workshop, which is now more than 25 years old. Since the early beginning, Morten has been constantly pursuing and implementing new ideas for the school. He has been the leading force in bringing the educational level and atmosphere of The Animation Workshop to the level it is today. Devoted to the development of European animation, he has earned great respect. Morten Thorning’s role in the training activities is that of general manager.
CLÉMENCE BRAGARD
Project manager. After studying audiovisual and digital assets management, Clémence has worked for French broadcasters and production companies as an audiovisual researcher. Meanwhile, she has got involved in animation festivals, went back to study in 2013 and graduated from Gobelins, School of Image as a Production Manager. Since 2014, she has been coordinating and developing business and large audience events related to the animation industry. Clémence is the Project Manager for NipponNordic. TEAM 57
ÁGOTA VÉGSŐ
Project Coordinator. Agota is a Hungarian animated film director, illustrator and producer. She finished her studies at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest, MOME, in 2012 with two master degrees from animation and teaching. She attended The Animation European Production Workshop, ASF, in 2012/13. She had the opportunity to participate in the Open Workshop program at The Animation Workshop in Denmark in 2014. From 2014 she is working for The Animation Workshop as a production manager organising a collaboration with TED-Ed.
ROBERTA JABLONSKYTE
Project Assistant. Roberta Jablonskyte is an International Project Coordinator educated at the master level in Economics and Business Administration, Consumer Affairs Management, at Aarhus University in Denmark, where her studies mainly focused on qualitative research methods, business and project management. Roberta excels at logistics, planning, and execution of ancillary duties that demand a quick understanding and a willingness and marked ability to deal with pressure and short deadlines. Roberta has filled out budgetary roles in a wide variety of EU and privately funded initiatives originating from The Animation Workshop, and has worked closely with animation companies in Denmark and animation festivals in Europe. KASPER KRUSE
Managing Director, Arsenalet. Graduated as Director of Animation from the National Film School of Denmark in 2004 after several years of freelancing within illustration, design and animation for clients like Lego, Everlast, National Danish television and several danish magazines within lifestyle and media. After graduation he worked in the service of business- and government clients as Creative Director, making a huge amount of animated explainer-, product- and branding videos as well as award winning animated e-learning for Vestas. From 2016 Kasper was Project Manager for The Municipality of Viborg’s Animation Strategy for two years.
HIROMI ITO
Hiromi Ito established Office H - marketing communications producer office, in 1999. She is an expert on marketing communications in the Japanese animation, multimedia and ICT fields and has 10+ years of experience in North America based firms. She is the Project Coordinator for NipponNordic in Japan. SPECIAL THANKS TO
Lone Thaarup Nielsen Lana Tankosa Nikolic Mette Islev Liga Jensen Jane Lyngbye Hvid Jensen Maria Skov Pedersen Katrine Frausig Peter Dyring Olsen Svend Nordby Tim Leborgne Thomas Ahlmark Fabio Cujino Thomas Winther Adonis Flokiou Lamberto Anderloni Michelle Kranot Rasmus Jensen