Major annual animation events in the UK include the Manchester Animation Festival (Nov), the UK's largest festival, and the 10-day London International Animation Festival (LIAF) (Nov/Dec). Other key events include the Brighton International Animation Festival (April), Animex in Teesside (Nov), and the Move Summit in Scotland (Feb). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key Annual Animation Events & Festivals
- Manchester Animation Festival (Nov): The UK's largest animation festival, held in Manchester, features screenings, panels, and hosts the Young Animator of the Year UK competition.
- London International Animation Festival - LIAF (Late Nov-Dec): A 10-day event screening hundreds of independent films, held at the Barbican and other venues.
- Brighton International Animation Festival (April): A three-day, not-for-profit festival focused on international, independent animation, workshops, and VR.
- Animex International Festival (Nov): Hosted by Teesside University, this festival focuses on animation, VFX, and games.
- Move Summit (Feb): Scotland's premier animation event bringing together industry professionals.
- Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival (Sept/Oct): Cardiff-based festival specializing in Japanese animation.
- British Animation Film Festival (Annual): Showcases British and international animated entertainment, often held at London venues. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Specialized and Emerging Events
- Factual Animation Film Festival (FAFF) (Oct): Dedicated to non-fiction animation.
- Manipulate Festival (Feb): Scotland-based festival focusing on animated film, puppetry, and digital art.
- TAASCE – The African Animated Shorts & Comics Experience (Oct): Showcases African animation. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Workshops and Screenings
- Analogue Animation Workshops (Various): Regular London-based workshops focusing on traditional techniques.
- Bring Your Own Animation - April 2026 (London): Monthly meetups.
- Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends Exhibition (Feb-Nov): Often hosted at the Young V&A. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Comments ()