The Animation panel took place on Sunday at Summer in the City 2016. It featured creators such as Ed Stockham, Matt Ley, and Chloe Dungate, and was chaired by Fawn Mead.
The panel took place in Panel Room 3 and also featured Maddy Vian, Jamie Spicer-Lewis, Eddie Bowley, and Anthony “Kreid” Price.
When discussing their proudest moments as animators, Chloe said, “I’m proud that I can now call myself an animator”, while Eddie added that he was happy to be able to experiment with his work. Kreid, Eddie and Jamie all agreed that the series Eddsworld was the project that they were most proud of, with Ed saying: “Eddsworld was such an honour to be part of.”
On the subject of using YouTube as a platform for animation, there was discussion about the success of the animation community working with vloggers, filmmakers, and musicians, which can allow greater exposure for animators – for example, Eddie’s collaborations with Tom Ridgewell. Ed described YouTube as “a place where you can experiment”.
However, the panellists also spoke about the difficulties for animators on YouTube due to the site’s algorithm, which favours frequency of videos and watch time. Eddie said: “With animation, you can get quality, quantity, and fast turnaround, but you can only pick two.” He added that more animators are needing to be funded by companies, or working as a team and splitting a project between them.
When asked about their hopes for the future of animation on YouTube, Kreid answered “more original content”, with Maddie speaking about the recent increase in cartoons on traditional media, referencing Adventure Time in particular, and Matt adding: “It shows there is an audience for [animation].” Maddie added that she would love to see more hand-drawn animations in the future.
Offering advice for people starting out as animators, Kreid mentioned that YouTube animation is very “community-driven”, so going to meet-ups and showing people your work is important. Eddie suggested “start small” and “draw all the time”, while Jamie added that enjoying it is the most important part. Matt mentioned that “the payoff is worth it”, and Maddie finished by saying “animation is magic”. Chloe and Eddie both mentioned that YouTube can be used as a portfolio rather than a form of steady income and advised an aspriring animator in the audience that this is the best way of showing your work.
The panel ended with audience questions. One audience member asked why the panellists began animating. Eddie answered that Eddsworld was his initial inspiration while Chloe said hers was “having stories and not knowing how to tell them”.
Photos by Aria Mark.
Want more from Summer in the City 2016?
Check out our Summer in the City tag, where you’ll find all of our coverage.
You might also be interested in:
- Mental Health Panel at Summer in the City 2016
- Short Films Panel at Summer in the City 2016
- Creative Process Panel at Summer in the City 2016
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