When the Students become the Masters" An interview with Ed Bell and Nate Stanton from CTIAF 2023

Ed is a multiple award winning animation artist, director and writer, who’s work spotlights the joys and struggles of People of color — whether through the mediums of short-films, animated series, features or in VR. Ed is currently leading his team on PBS Digital’s intense historical animated series: History Of White People In America. In 2021 he collaborated with the Jim Henson Creature Shop and French animation Maestro Silvain Chomet . I’m an animation/comics nerd to my bones. But, I am attracted to work that challenges mainstream ideals of beauty, Heroism or Human Virtues, so when I left the studios and went independent, I focused on projects that help move the needle of diversity in the Entertainment Arts. “ Ed graduated from Cal Arts a month after getting hired by his first Hollywood studio, and he never looked back. Ed was recruited as a layout artist on two groundbreaking television programs in the 80’s - the notorious Ralph Bakshi’s Mighty Mouse the New Adventures and Nickelodeon’s “Ren&Stimpy Show”. He animated in the classical way for Brad Bird, Disney/Touchstone, Warner Brothers Animation and Paramount on groundbreaking films and programs like Be-Be-s Kids and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”, before joining Colossal Animation and Wild Brain as a head animation creative. Ed’s inviting hip-hop/ anime aesthetic can be seen in inspired commercial campaigns for clients such as Coca-Cola, Sony, Nike, Target and Wrigley’s Winterfresh Gum with the acclaimed Urban Hip Hopper spot. He’s won the BDA, Asifa Award, and Emmy nominations for that work. In 2001 Ed helmed the highly rated Narrative Documentary “Unchained Memories” for HBO.He’s won nominations for Emmy award, and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Program. At CTIAF 2023, Ed is interviewed by Nate Stanton.

A Vision for Visions - Nadia Darries and Daniel Clarke

Directors, Nadia Darries and Daniel Clarke talk about their collaborative process creating Aau's song for the latest Star Wars anthology. Nadia Darries is an adept animator and co-founder of Goon Valley Animation, with an avocation for songwriting. Nadia is a SAFTA-winning director, who has recently co-written and co-directed the Star Wars VISIONS 2 episode, “Aau’s Song”. She has worked on animated film and motion design as an animator, project manager, creative director and director since 2015. Her experience includes animating at Triggerfish Animation Studios on the award-winning BBC films Stick Man, Revolting Rhymes and Highway Rat. Daniel Clarke is a Cape Town based artist working in animation, film and Illustration. He started his career in animation in 2008 at Triggerfish Animation Studios; a collaboration that has lasted up until today and has seen him act as Production Designer and Art director on projects such as the feature film Khumba, BBC’s Stick Man and Snail and the Whale. As an illustrator and designer he has worked with, amongst others, clients such as Netflix, Animal Logic, The Line, National Geographic Kids, Nike, Adidas, Penguin Random House – amongst others. In 2018 he completed Kariba, a graphic novel which at the time was the most successful of its kind in Africa on Kickstarter. Daniel has worked as an illustrator and art director for international feature films such as Chronicle (2012); The Giver (2014); and Chappie (2015). Daniel recently directed Aau’s Song, a Star Wars: Visions film from Lucasfilm.