JOSÉ LUIS ÁGREDA, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF ROBOT DREAMS, TALKS ABOUT HIS WORK ON THE FILM AND BARRY J. C. PURVES SHARES HIS KNOWLEDGE IN STOP MOTION ANIMATION AT ANIMAC

Both conferences filled the Leandre Cristòfol Hall of La Llotja, on the third day of the Exhibition

The animator Nuria G. Blanco has presented Silly Sundays, the preschool series that she created and directed for the Irish studio Cartoon Saloon, and Enrique García, from the ONCE Foundation, has tested concepts disability, accessibility and animation

This afternoon the Exhibition hosted the premiere in Spain of the film The Concierge, produced by the renowned Japanese animation studio Production I.G

The creator Emilio Martí has ​​addressed human diversity through the cut out techniquein a workshop

The conference by the art director of the film Robot Drems, José Luis Ágreda, has focused the attention of an audience that has filled the Sala Leandre Cristòfol de la Llotja, in the third d’Animac day, theInternational Animation Film Exhibition of Catalonia, organized by the Lleida City Council. Ágreda, with nearly 25 years dedicated to drawing in all possible varieties, has explained his work on the film as art director, directed by Pablo Berger and nominated for this year’s Oscars. For Ágreda, “animation is a perfect medium for Pablo because it is a creative process that allows you to perfect things little by little, the way he likes to work.” He has also highlighted that “ the satisfaction of working on Robot Dreams has been that it was the film we wanted to make and, furthermore, we are enjoying verifying that it is also the film that people wanted to see”.

Who also captivated the attendees who also filled Room 2 was this year’s Animation Master awardee, Barry J. C. Purves, with his masterclass, where he has shared the themes, the storytelling methods that resonate in his cinematographic and stage work and reflections on art and the creative process: “Enjoy the artificiality, we need the artifice to express ourselves”. Purves is a master of the most artisanal and sophisticated stop motion, with a career that has led him to win international awards, an Oscar nomination and the trust of Tim Burton and Peter Jackson, among others. Among the pieces of advice that the public has fallen in love with, he has recommended to professionals and future professionals of stop motion “never tell a puppet what to do, let it grow in your hands ”.

During today’s event, the screenwriter and animation director Nuria G. Blanco also stopped by Animac, who spoke about the series Silly Sundays. Blanco has explained his creative work in this series produced by Cartoon Saloon and how to deal with non-violence in children’s animation. In this sense, he has highlighted that “children need Let them listen to their needs and feel understood. This establishes levels of trust and connection. It is not about giving in, but about listening to and understanding their needs.” For his part, the technician from the Directorate of Universal Accessibility and Innovation of the ONCE Foundation, Enrique García, gave a conference on the accessibility of video games, testing disability concepts through games. and animation. He has detailed the Ga11y project which encourages and promotes games being accessible and helps create employment, improves accessibility and raises awareness in society.

In addition, the Sala Ricard Viñes has hosted the Spanish premiere of the feature film The Concierge, produced by the renowned Japanese animation studio Production I.G. This film, by Japanese director Yoshimi Itazu, is the adaptation of the manga The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store, by Tsuchika Nishimura, and tells the story of Akino in her attempt to become a a full-fledged concierge.

As for the workshops, the activist and animator Emilio Martí, through “Animar colors: cut out animation and diversity”, has addressed human diversity through the technique of cut out  in the different shapes, colors, flavors and ways of expressing our affections and identities. He has done it in two sessions at the Animacrea space.

The day began at the Davall cafeteria with the meeting ‘Coffee with the artists’, with the room full, and during the day it was also possible to see the feature film Linda veut du poulet! or the monograph Variety Spain, the best recent short films from Spain that show an extraordinary variety of themes, techniques and styles, at CaixaForum.