<h3>Where</h3><p>Online</p><h3>When</h3><p>March 24-26, 2022</p>

Toronto Animation Film Festival

<h3>Where</h3><p>Online</p><h3>When</h3><p>March 24-27, 2021</p>

<h3>Where</h3><p>Hot Docs Cinema | Toronto, Canada | 506 Bloor Street West</p><h3>When</h3><p>Monday April 25th</p>

<h3>Where</h3><p>Online</p><h3>When</h3><p>November 11-13, 2021</p>

Toronto Animation Industry Conference

<h3>Where</h3><p>Online</p><h3>When</h3><p>November 18-22, 2020<span class="ql-cursor">﻿</span></p>

<h3>Where</h3><p>Corus Quay, Toronto, Canada, 25 Dockside Dr.</p><h3>When</h3><p>Saturday to Sunday, November 2-3, 2019</p>

Toronto Animation / VFX Job Fair

TAAFI News

<p>As acquisitions officer for TVO, the technological extension of Ontario’s public education system, Kirsten is responsible for sourcing a wide range of kids programming. In her previous positions she spent 15-years in international sales and acquisitions of finished programming, most recently as director of acquisitions and Canada sales at Distribution360.&nbsp;</p>

Kirsten Hurd

<p>John Musker is a 40 year veteran of the Walt Disney Animation Studio where he was an animator, storyboard artist, writer, director, and producer.&nbsp;</p><p>John grew up in Chicago, Illinois as part of a large Irish Catholic family. He followed up his English Literature studies at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, with two years at CalArts as part of the new Character Animation Program in the mid-Seventies, where he learned not only from Disney and Chouinard veterans like Elmer Plummer, Bill Moore, and Ken O’Connor, but also his fellow classmates there, many who have gone on to direct distinguished films: folks like Brad Bird, Henry Selick, John Lasseter, Tim Burton, and Chris Buck. At Disney he was mentored by Eric Larson, the veteran animator and one of Disney’s fabled “Nine Old Men,” who brought Figaro the cat to life in <em>Pinocchio</em>, among many other characters in his distinguished career.&nbsp;</p><p>John became an animator on <em>The Fox and the Hound </em>(1981), and later joined Ron Clements to direct <em>The Great Mouse Detective </em>(1986) alongside Disney veterans Burny Mattinson and Dave Michener. Ron and John paired up to write and direct <em>The Little Mermaid </em>(1989) which John co- produced with Howard Ashman. Ron and John also wrote and directed a number of subsequent animated features including <em>Aladdin </em>(1992) <em>Hercules </em>(1997) <em>Treasure Planet </em>( 2002) and <em>The Princess and the Frog </em>( 2009.) John’s most recent project was <em>Moana </em>(2016) which he once again directed with Ron Clements, along with co-directors Don Hall and Chris Williams.&nbsp;</p><p>John retired from Disney Feature Animation in the spring of 2018, and is currently animating by hand his own short film, as well as chasing around his two and a half year old granddaughter Lucy and her baby sis, Gwen.&nbsp;</p><p>John resides in La Cañada, California, with his wife Gale, a former researcher at Disney, not far from his three grown children Patrick, Jackson, and Julia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>John Musker is a 40 year veteran of the Walt Disney Animation Studio where co-directed all your favorite films. Including <em>The Little Mermaid </em>(1989), <em>Aladdin </em>(1992), <em>Hercules </em>(1997), <em>Treasure Planet </em>( 2002), <em>The Princess and the Frog </em>( 2009) and most recently <em>Moana </em>(2016.)</p>

John Musker

<p><span style="background-color: transparent;">It’s time to put a spotlight on some of the new players in town!&nbsp;Epic Story Media and Headspinner Productions are two new players into the animation market led by a couple of industry veterans.&nbsp;Join us as they talk about launching new properties in this new world of global streaming and how they are doing things differently.</span></p>

Welcome to Toon Town!

Ben McEvoy

Ken Faier

Michelle Melanson Cuperus

<p>Ken Faier is el presidente and CEO of Epic Story Media and its subsidiary Epic Story Interactive. The mission for both companies is to put creators at the center of compelling and engaging franchises for kids. Previously, Ken served as SVP and GM and then SVP and executive producer for DHX Media after DHX acquired Nerd Corps Entertainment, where Ken served as El Presidente for over 10 years. </p><p>Prior to Nerd Corps, Ken was vice president of production and distribution for the children’s division at Alliance Atlantis. Prior to Alliance Atlantis, Ken was with Brunico Communications where he launched KidScreen as the founding publisher and eventually KidScreen Summit. Ken brings his deep experience to market in launching Epic Story and its long-term mission of bringing joy to the world! It’s Gonna be Epic!</p>