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

Toronto Animation Film Festival

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

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

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

Toronto Animation Industry Conference

<h3>Where</h3>Online<h3>When</h3>November 18-22, 2020﻿

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

Toronto Animation / VFX Job Fair

TAAFI News

Do you have the perfect idea for an animated tv show or web series? Are you wanting to learn the ins and outs of pitching from trained professionals? Are you ready to put your ideas out there-- and in front of experienced industry professionals? Then you're in luck; as our Big Pitch is back for 2023's Industry Conference!The competition is open to Canadian residents only and finalists must be able to present their project IN-PERSON!! Prizes included for winners of the competition from Pipeline Studios! We look forward to seeing all of your amazing submissions and wish all entrants the best of luck!

The Big Pitch presented by Pipeline Studios

Aron is an industry vet with two decades of experience. When he’s not crafting a killer pitch, or delivering his latest script, he is staying in touch with his “inner kid” by reading the latest comic books or playing the hottest video games. Over the course of his career, Aron has worked with Cartoon Network, CTC, Disney XD, Nickelodeon, Teletoon, YTV, Treehouse, KiKA, and CBC Kids. He has also contributed scripts to numerous animated comedy series including Taffy, Lex &amp; Plu: Space Taxi Drivers, Super Wings, Cupcake and Dinosaur: General Services, Chuck Chicken, Rusty Rivets, Pocoyo, Camp Lakebottom, Justin Time, Trucktown and The Insectibles. Prior to joining Lakeside Animation, Aron held senior development roles with some of Canada’s most prolific and acclaimed producers, including Breakthrough Entertainment and Portfolio Entertainment.

Aron Dunn

Ben leads creative initiatives for agencies, brands, media companies, entrepreneurs and educators, providing brand and content strategy, as well as hands-on creative production in animation, live-action, interactive web, apps, VR/AR, game development, events and interactive public activations, on projects throughout Canada, and internationally in the US, India, Singapore and China.&nbsp; As partner / executive producer, Friends &amp; Enemies, Ben works with his team of senior creatives and a broad network of multi-disciplinary production partners creating original and branded content experiences for brands, agencies and media clientele.&nbsp; Notable clients include: Google, VICE Studios, 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, CBC, Doc Channel, Teletoon, YTV, CTV, Discovery Channel, The History Channel, TVO Kids, Shaftesbury, and the National Film Board of Canada. Ben is also co-founder of the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI) and a former board member.

Ben McEvoy

Big Pitch Finalist Hugo van Essen&nbsp;was born and raised in a tiny town in rural Netherlands that was once liberated by Canadian troops long ago. He now works, climbs, and writes in Toronto. He has worked everywhere, from car garages to all-female construction companies to just regular production companies. Hugo holds a bachelor's in American Studies from the guttural-sounding University of Groningen, as well as a certificate in writing &amp; producing from Humber College. Hugo’s project&nbsp;Ferdinand&nbsp;was chosen as a semi-finalist for the pitch competitions of the Ottawa International Animation Festival and a finalist for the Toronto Animation Industry Conference.&nbsp;

Hugo Van Essen

Big Pitch Finalist Paula Peroff is a 2D Harmony Animator/ Rigging artist from Ottawa. In the past she has worked on projects including 'Hotel Transylvania: The Series', 'Dorg Van Dango', 'Doomlands' Season 2 and 'The Ghost and Molly McGee'. She previously worked for Mercury Filmworks before taking a break to develop her personal projects.

Paula Peroff

Wes Bryant is an 18-year veteran of the animation industry, with a passion for leading projects, elevating engaging stories, and executing the creative vision within the medium. With a background in Classical Animation, Wes has developed a unique skill set ranging across diverse disciplines, including animation, design, rigging, and storyboarding.His tenure at Pipeline Studios, where he began as an animator over 15 years ago, has seen him grow into a trusted leader. Wes is currently directing the second season of the hit PBS KIDS series Elinor Wonders Why. He also led animation for the new SpongeBob SquarePants feature film (Nickelodeon), Hotel Transylvania: The Series (Disney Channel), Alma’s Way (PBS KIDS), and Fangbone (WildBrain).When not wearing his many hats at Pipeline Studios, Wes is reliving his childhood, this time as a father to his 2.5-year-old daughter. A healthy balance of nature walks, dance parties, and snuggling up and watching Saturday morning cartoons together with a big bowl of cereal are weekly highlights.

Wes Bryant

Recent animation grads, it's been a long trip just to get here, and you've finally arrived at your destination - the animation industry. But even after 3 to 4 years of studying and honing your craft, making the transition from classroom to studio can feel daunting. You're not alone! Many have taken the same steps and felt the same mixture of excitement and apprehension you're feeling now. Theresa Scandiffio is joined by Kevin Micallef, Lindsey Weeks, and Natali Topalovska, who will be sharing their own early career experiences and touch upon the unique challenges facing grads today.

Theresa Scandiffio is the Associate Dean of Animation and Game Design at Sheridan College. Prior to joining Sheridan, Theresa led archival, curatorial and community outreach projects and educational initiatives at museums, festivals and universities in Toronto, Chicago, and Orlando. From 2010-2020, Theresa was a member of the programming team who launched the Toronto International Film Festival’s year-round home, TIFF Bell Lightbox. For over a decade, she led the strategic and artistic vision of the Toronto International Film Festival’s Learning, Heritage and Community Outreach divisions, including post-secondary research partnerships. Theresa has sat on numerous boards and advisories and was an Ontario delegate for the 2015 Governor General Canadian Leadership Conference and a 2017 Civic Action DiverseCity Fellow. She received her PhD in Cinema and Media studies from the University of Chicago.

Theresa Scandiffio

Mind the Gap: Navigating the Industry After Graduation presented by Sheridan College and Pipeline Studios

Kevin Micallef is a 29-year veteran of the Animation TV and Feature Film Industry, currently the Creative Director of Development&nbsp;at Nelvana Enterprises. Previously directing a number of shows that range from preschool to teen including the TV series Elinor Wonders Why which received Two Emmy Nominations, for Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Preschool Series. Grossology, which was nominated for six Canadian Screen Awards and Detentionaire, which received three Canadian Screen nominations as well as a nomination for Best Teen Series at the Cartoons on the Bay Festival. Prior to Directing, Kevin was an animator for Walt Disney Studios, Sony, Warner Bros and Lucas Arts on such features as Lilo and Stitch, Osmosis Jones and Eight Crazy Nights.

Kevin Micallef

Lindsey is a core member of Pipeline Studios' People &amp; Recruitment team and channels her extraordinary passion for people in everything she does. In her 5 years at Pipeline, she has successfully led countless initiatives to enhance studio culture and engagement, while remaining at the forefront of the studio's talent acquisition and co-operative education programs.&nbsp;

Lindsey Weeks

Natali Topalovska is&nbsp;the Production Workflow Manager for Brown Bag Films, with 12+ years of industry experience in the world of animation. Natali started her career as a Production Intern at Brown Bag Films&nbsp;(formerly 9 Story Entertainment) and steadily moved up the ranks before doing stints at Pipeline Studios, Yowza!&nbsp;Animation Corp, and House of Cool Inc., with roles in both scene planning and production management. Brown Bag was thrilled when she rejoined the studio as a Line Producer in 2021. She has been involved in many amazing series, including titles like&nbsp;Let’s Go Luna&nbsp;(PBS),&nbsp;Welcome to the Wayne&nbsp;(Nickelodeon),&nbsp;Pretzel and the Puppies&nbsp;(Apple TV),&nbsp;What If...?&nbsp;(Marvel), and&nbsp;Rosie’s Rules&nbsp;(PBS). She is currently based in Toronto, where she is producing a Pilot alongside her current role and teaching Part-Time as a Professor at Sheridan College.

Natali Topalovska

Sheridan College

Pipeline Studios

Show of hands; who’s heard of A.I. art? Well, if you’re looking to learn more about the rising trends and influence this new technology could bring to the industry, then you’re not alone! Join TAAFI co-founder and Producer (Friends &amp; Enemies) Ben McEvoy on Friday Nov. 3rd at 3:00pm - 4:00pm as he takes an incisive look at emerging trends focusing on artificial intelligence and how it’s used in the creative field, how it could continue to affect the art and animation industries, as well as the potential dangers, and powerful new tools it could provide artists. As we move forward into a new generation of technological advancement, we need to make sure we have the appropriate mindset to properly analyze and realize the potential that lies ahead– even if it seems a bit scary! (Note: This newsletter has been generated courtesy of our proprietary STAAF.A.I)Ok maybe one human. But only like 15%; I promise.

TAAFI News

Toronto Animation Film Festival

Toronto Animation Industry Conference

Toronto Animation / VFX Job Fair

Artificial Intelligence Era

Ben McEvoy, Executive Producer, Friends & Enemies