Sharjah Animation Conference

“We bring together animation enthusiasts, professionals, and children to celebrate the art and craft of animation.” This second edition of the conference actually offers a rich programme of workshops, talks, screenings, and exhibitions which seem most suited to the industry; it’s organised by Sharjah Book Authority in partnership with Italy’s Bergamo Animation Days (BAD) and features a roster of heavy speakers from the industry – lots of Europeans, predictably enough, but also a good representation from the Arab world.

Highlights include a Masterclass by artist and director Junichi Hayama, celebrated for his work on titles like Fist of the North Star; an exhibition from stop-motion specialists Aardman Animation that promises an in-depth look at the studio’s innovative techniques and storytelling prowess, and a special 30th anniversary screening of The Lion King, with a presentation from top Disney animator Andreas Deja.

One day tickets are AED 280, the four-day pass is AED 400 (but there were heavy discounts when we last checked). Those prices just buy admission to the event; if you want to attend a workshop, you’ll pay extra – AED 350 per workshop (and no discounts that we could see). The workshops look particularly good, an hour long and generally on very practical topics like animating facial expressions and using Storyboard Pro; there are around two dozen of them over the last three days (day one is just the exhibition plus a concert of iconic game soundtracks from the Florence Pops Orchestra).