ANIMATION SPEAK/EASY

Pilar Garcia-Fernandezsesma is a filmmaker, animator, and teacher from New York. She is a RISD alum, a Glas and Jerome grant recipient, and a Student Academy Award gold medalist for her film “Ciervo”. Outside of her commercial work, she makes and works on a variety of short films, some of which have been shown at festivals like Annecy, Animest, Slamdance, and Animafest Zagreb. Pilar primarily works with 2D cel animation and often uses mixed media elements in her films by combining traditional and digital techniques. As a whole, her work ranges from fiction and fantastical to poetic and metaphorical, and often deals with human interpersonal dynamics paired with themes of womanhood, family, and our relationship to the natural world.
 
https://pilargarciafernandezsesma.myportfolio.com/

Lije Morgan is an artist and educator based between the Bay Area and Brooklyn. They teach animation, 3D, and game design. In their artistic practice, Lije explores the power of cute—examining how soft aesthetics can function as tools of persuasion, subversion, and surprise. Fascinated by the historical use of cute imagery in propaganda and soft power, they leverage disarming visuals in order to subvert audience expectations. They are also incredibly passionate about game design and the potential games have as tools for storytelling, education, and emotional connection. As a passion project, Lije hosts Boiled Over, a podcast where they interview independent animators from around the world about their work and creative process.


https://lije.com/

Maggie Brennan is a Queens-based animator, director, writer, musician, etc. She is the creator of "Agoraphilia," a series for Adult Swim SMALLS, which she also animated, directed, co-wrote, and scored. She wrote, directed, animated, and scored the short film "Our Bed Is Green," which premiered at SXSW and went on to play numerous festivals worldwide. She also wrote, animated, and voiced a micro series for A Studio Digital, and her comics have appeared in publications like The New Yorker, The Fader, and Inverse. She is currently working on her next animated short, “Venerations,” which has been awarded grants from NYSCA and The Jerome Foundation.

https://maggiebrennan.com/