The inaugural day of the “Sharjah Animation Conference 2025” attracted significant attention from animation enthusiasts and professionals. This event featured an exclusive workshop led by renowned Disney animator Tony Bancroft, known for his work on legendary characters such as Pumbaa from “The Lion King” and the parrot Yago from “Aladdin.”
The workshop, titled “Animated Comedy: Mastering Character Poses and Timing,” took place at the Mika Lab and offered attendees a unique opportunity to learn about the mechanics of creating comedic scenes in animation.
During a panel discussion named “The Future of Children’s Content and Artificial Intelligence,” several animation studio founders emphasized that AI represents a technological revolution that can be harnessed in content creation without replacing human creativity. The speakers noted that while AI does not generate creativity on its own, it can enhance creative tools when used thoughtfully.
The session featured input from Raymond Malinga from Creatures Studio in Uganda, Irmak Atabek from Mako Kids, and Olivier Lillardo from Blue Spirit Studio, part of TF1 in France, with Monia Aram serving as the moderator.
Additionally, the first day of the third edition of the Sharjah Animation Conference included a specialized workshop by talented animator Sandro Cleuzo, titled “Character Design Basics: From Concept to Final Drawing,” where he demonstrated the steps of creating expressive characters through hands-on application.