Animation Exposé @ OIAF
Saturday, September 27, 2025
at the National Arts Centre (NAC)
Step behind the scenes into the world of animation at Animation Exposé! This incredible day at the National Arts Centre offers a rare look at how your favourite films and shows come to life. Meet the artists, studios, and storytellers shaping the industry today, and explore how imagination turns into art, frame by frame. From hands-on demos to inspiring conversations, whether you’re a casual fan or a budding creator, discover pathways to celebrate or turn your passion for animation into a career. Animation Exposé is a vibrant showcase—an exposé in the truest sense—of the talent, tools, and ideas behind the screen.
Artist Talks
Babs Asper Theatre, National Arts Centre (NAC), 1 Elgin Street
Get the ultimate animation experience at Animation Exposé! Meet the wizards behind the curtain at the Artist Talk Series, showcasing artists from your favourite projects, including never-before-seen surprises and tips on a career in animation!
Entry to the Exhibitor Fair is free and open to the public. A ticket or AnimaPass is required to enter Artist Talks at Animation Exposé.
Walt Disney Animation Studios presents Between the Frames: A Filmmaker’s Journey
10:00 am – 11:00 am, Babs Asper Theatre, NAC (Canal Level)
Join Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Malcon Pierce as he shares his career as an animator and artistic director, the creative inspirations that shaped his work, and the intersection of his personal and professional journey — culminating in a screening of his new short film, Versa.
Guest Speaker:
Malcon Pierce, Artistic Director, Walt Disney Animation Studios
11:15 am – 12:00 pm, 🤳 Meet & Greet 1/3 – Malcon Pierce, Canal Foyer, NAC
Meet Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Artistic Director Malcon Pierce! This is an opportunity to connect with him and ask your animation industry craft and career questions.
Access is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Please line up in the designated lineup immediately following the Artist Talk.
The Raccoons: Celebrating 40 Years in the Evergreen Forest
11:30 am – 12:30 pm, Babs Asper Theatre, NAC (Canal Level)
From Christmas special to global cult classic, The Raccoons is one of Canada’s most beloved animated series—and it all started in Ottawa. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the series, creator Kevin Gillis shares the behind-the-scenes story of how the series came to life—from its earliest concept stages and partnerships with CBC, to the music, animation, and values that shaped a generation of viewers.
Gillis is joined by Ottawa writer and animation historian Dan Lalande, with CBC Ottawa’s Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco moderating the conversation. The panel will also explore the 2023 4K restoration process and how the show continues to find new audiences through platforms like YouTube, Boomerang, CRAVE, and BritBox.
Whether you grew up in the Evergreen Forest or are discovering it for the first time, this is a rare chance to hear directly from the creator behind a true Canadian animation classic.
Guest Speakers:
Kevin Gillis, President & Executive Producer, Run With Us Productions
Dan C. Lalande, Freelance Writer
Moderated by:
Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco, Host, CBC
12:45 pm – 1:45 pm, ✍️ Signing 2/3 – Kevin Gillis, Canal Foyer, NAC
Meet Kevin at 12:45 pm after the Artist Talk for a signing! Buy your new favourite merch item on-site or bring that coveted childhood treasure from home.
Netflix presents The Making of In Your Dreams
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Babs Asper Theatre, NAC (Canal Level)
Join Director/Writer Alex Woo, VFX Supervisor Nicky Lavender, and Head of Character Animation Sacha Kapijimpanga for an inside look at the creative vision behind Netflix’s upcoming animated feature, In Your Dreams. The team will dive into the film’s journey from concept to screen, highlighting the craft and collaboration that shaped its striking animation and emotionally resonant storytelling.
Guest Speakers:
Sacha Kapijimpanga, Head of Character Animation, Sony Pictures ImageWorks
Nicky Lavender, VFX Supervisor, Sony Pictures ImageWorks
Alex Woo, Director / Writer, Kuku Studios / Netflix
Moderator:
Ramin Zahed, Editor in Chief, Animation Magazine
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm, ✍️ Signing 3/3 – The creative team behind Netflix’s In Your Dreams, Canal Foyer, NAC
Join Director/Writer Alex Woo, VFX Supervisor Nicky Lavender, and Head of Character Animation Sacha Kapijimpanga, the creative team behind Netflix’s In Your Dreams, for an exclusive poster signing.
The Strange Universe of Clyde Henry
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm, Babs Asper Theatre, NAC (Canal Level)
Step into the universe of Clyde Henry Productions, the surreal and darkly funny stop-motion duo behind Madame Tutli-Putli (Academy Award–nominated), Higglety Pigglety Pop!, The Girl Who Cried Pearls, and more. In this candid conversation with OIAF Artistic Director Chris Robinson, Chris Lavis, Director and Co-Founder of Clyde Henry Productions, will reveal the offbeat inspirations, handcrafted artistry, and strange magic that power the studio’s hauntingly beautiful work. Expect insight, weirdness, and probably a few laughs.
Guest Speakers:
Chris Lavis, Director, Co-Founder, Clyde Henry Productions
Moderated by:
Chris Robinson, Artistic Director, Ottawa International Animation Festival