Animation Exposé @ OIAF
Saturday, September 26, 2026
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.
Animation Exposé Archive
Previous guests have included:
Chris Lavis, Oscar-winning director of The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Malcon Pierce, director (Versa) and animator (Tangled, Frozen, Big Hero 6, Encanto)
Legendary Canadian animator Kevin Gillis, creator of The Raccoons
The creative team behind Netflix’s In Your Dreams, including Writer/Director Alex Woo (Incredibles II, Finding Dory), Head of Character Animation Sacha Kapijimpanga, and VFX supervisor Nicky Lavender (The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Edge of Tomorrow, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban).
Gints Zilbalodis, Oscar-winning director of Flow
The creative team behind DreamWorks Animation’s Oscar-nominated The Wild Robot, including Writer/Director Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon, Lilo & Stitch), Production Designer Raymond Zibach (Kung Fu Panda), Head of Story Heidi Jo Gilbert (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, The Princess and the Frog) and Film Editor Mary Blee (How to Train Your Dragon, Treasure Planet).
Charles Huettner, Show Creator and Jonathan Djob-Nkondo, Director, Writer, Character Designer for Scavengers Reign ‘
Michael Yates, Series co-creator, Writer, Director of Pixar’s Win or Lose, senior creative team member for Hoppers, Turning Red, and Soul
Nick Bruno & Troy Quane, Oscar-nominated directors of Nimona
Celebrated artist Luke Pearson talks with award-winning Director Andy Coyle about the art of Hilda
A Masterclass with director Hisko Hulsing (Undone)
Deep dive into the work of animator Masaaki Yuasa (Inu-Oh, Devilman Crybaby, Mind Game)
Walt Disney Animation Studios directors Dan Abraham (Baymax!, Story Artist, Encanto) and Trent Correy (Zootopia+, Animation Supervisor, Frozen 2)
We Lost Our Human creators Rikke Asbjoern (Creator/Executive Producer), Mani Beil (Line Producer), Chris Garbutt (Creator/Executive Producer)
Vivienne Medrano, creator of Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss
Batwheels producers Simon J. Smith (Supervising Producer), Michael G. Stern (Showrunner, co-Executive Producer)
Walt Disney Animation Studios Head of Animation Scott Clark (Zootopia 2, Luca, Toy Story 3, Up, The Incredibles, Monster’s Inc. and more!)
Prime Video’s The Boys Presents: Diabolical with Madeleine Flores (Director), Simon Racioppa (Showrunner / Executive Producer), Giancarlo Volpe (Supervising Director)
Rebecca Sugar, creator of Steven Universe and storyboard artist for Adventure Time and Hotel Transylvania
Matthew A. Cherry and Bruce W. Smith, Oscar-winning directors of Hair Love
Chris Butler, director of ParaNorman and Missing Link, writer of Kubo and the Two Strings, Masters of the Universe and Wildwood
Ralph Bakshi, director of Fritz the Cat and The Lord of the Rings
Henry Sellick, director of Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas