The Spring 2025 EPIC Speaker Series

June 2nd, 9th, 16th, & 23rd

Online, 6pm to 9pm PST

4 Speakers. 4 Evenings. 1 low price.

Early Bird Pricing: $130

1 Ticket Provides Access to All Sessions

Location: Zoom

The event will not be recorded. Recording is strictly prohibited.

*ONLY* email addresses associated with a ZOOM account will be eligible for entry. If you do not have a ZOOM account, open a FREE account at https://zoom.us/signup and provide us with the email address used at sign in.

June 2, 2025: Specificity in Animation

Learn about this secret ingredient that separates good from great animation.

Ludovic Bouancheau Animation Supervisor at Dreamworks

Nathan Engelhardt, Animation Supervisor

WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS

Nathan Engelhardt is an Animation Supervisor for the Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank. He has worked on films such as Wreck-It-Ralph, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Frozen 2, Encanto and more. After receiving his B.F.A. at the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2006, Nathan got his start in animation at Blue Sky Studios, working on films such as Horton Hears a Who!, Ice Age 3 and Rio. Recently, he co-wrote and directed an independent animated short film entitled “Forevergreen,” which will be premiering at festivals in 2025. Nathan lives in Los Angeles with his wife and four kids.

June 9th, 2025: Internal Life – Showing Thought Process in Animation

An exploration of how to communicate a character’s thought process through facial and body movement, with examples from live action and animation.

Victor Navone, Supervising Animator

PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS

Victor Navone is an artist, animator, and teacher. He taught himself computer animation as a hobby, and was hired by Pixar in 2000. He has worked on numerous films and shows, including Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, WALL-E, Toy Story 3 & 4, Inside Out, Coco, and the recent streaming shows Dream Productions and Win Or Lose. Navone has been teaching animation since 2005, and he currently resides in Oakland, California with his wife and two children.

June 16th, 2025: The Future of Animation: Bridging Film, Games, and Immersive Media

Animation is evolving beyond traditional boundaries, merging the storytelling of film, the interactivity of games, and the immersion of VR. In this talk, Jax Lee shares insights from over 18 years in the industry, exploring how animation techniques are adapting across mediums, the growing role of real-time technology, and what the future holds as these industries converge. Whether you’re an aspiring artist or a seasoned professional, discover key strategies to stay ahead in this dynamic and ever-changing landscape.

Andrew Chesworth Head of Character Animation and Lead Character Designer at NETFLIX

Jax Lee, Senior Animator

INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC

Jax Lee is a VES-nominated Senior Animator and Animation Supervisor with over 18 years of experience in animation across film, games, and immersive media. Currently at Disney Industrial Light & Magic & ILM Immersive, Jax has contributed to groundbreaking projects, including Marvel’s What If ..？– An Immersive Story (Emmy Award Winner), Vader Immortal (GDC Award Winner), and multiple Star Wars and Marvel titles. With expertise in keyframe and motion capture animation, facial performance, and real-time workflows, Jax has led international teams, developed animation pipelines, and even performed performance capture. Fluent in multiple languages and certified in Agile Leadership, Jax continues to push the boundaries of animation across different entertainment platforms.

June 23, 2025: Observation & Energy in Animation,

Especially for Animating Animals

In this talk, I will share my journey to becoming an animator outside of the major studios, while delving into the concept of energy in animation through fundamental physical principles and personal observations. I will outline my creative process and perspective, particularly in relation to animating animals, supported by examples from recent projects I have worked on. These projects include the video games Haven and Blanc, the feature film Cat & Dog (2024), and the feature film Flow, which received the 2025 Oscar for Best Animated Feature, the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film, and the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (Independent) – among many others!

Everett Downing Directory at Walt Disney Animation Studios

Thibaut Delahaye, Senior 3D Animator

FREELANCE ARTIST

Thibaut Delahaye is a 50-year-old animator based in the south of France, with over 25 years dedicated to the animation industry. Initially focused on comic drawing, he transitioned to animation after a brief training in 3DS Max, which led to his first significant role on the renowned TV show Funky Cops.

Throughout his career, Thibaut has worked on numerous TV series and feature films, including Flow, Cat & Dog, Even Mice Belong to Heaven, White Fang, and Triplets of Belleville, as well as various video games like Haven, Blanc, John Wick VR and Furi. He has held positions as an animator, supervisor, and mentor, teaching advanced animation techniques, acting, and body mechanics for the past decade.

Thibaut’s skill set is tool-agnostic, having adapted to software such as Maya, Blender, and Softimage over the years. He is known for his curiosity, precision, and the ability to create lifelike animations. Currently, he oversees all animation aspects at the Ecole Des Nouvelles Images in Avignon, where he continues to foster new talent in the animation field.