Global growth for world-renowned animation and computer games festival

Teesside University’s Animex festival for animation, games and visual effects is expanding its global footprint as it celebrates 25 years of success.

This autumn, the internationally renowned festival will be expanding beyond Middlesbrough and introducing a second venue in Malaysia for Animex South East Asia.

Now in its 25th year, the annual Animex conference brings together thousands of students, creators and professionals from the animation, computer games and visual effects industries.

The event includes insightful seminars and workshops delivered by experts as well special exhibitions and networking opportunities.

A week-long, international Animex festival will begin with five days in the UK followed by the inaugural two-day Animex South East Asia festival, delivered in partnership with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Kuala Lumpur.

By increasing its footprint, Animex is able to reach a wider audience and source more culturally diverse programme content from creators around the world.

Suhaimi Juhan, from the Faculty of Film, Theatre & Animation at UiTM, said: “It’s an honour for us to collaborate with Teesside University on Animex South East Asia.

“It’s very exciting to develop another version of Animex which will focus on the culture and content related to the Asian and South East Asian region.

“We are trying to inspire a new generation of animation and games professionals, and holding this event in Malaysia will enable to us bring the industry together in one platform to share ideas and knowledge.”

Animex invites special guests to offer a behind-the-scenes look into their work within animation, gaming and visual effects.

Previous speakers have shared exclusive insight into blockbuster titles including Barbie, Harry Potter, The Last of Us, Shrek and Star Wars and games such as LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy, Dead by Daylight 3 and Minecraft Dungeons.

The festival has also welcomed a number of Teesside University alumni as expert speakers, highlighting the calibre of graduate talent developed by the University and the contribution they make to the animation, games and visual effects industries.

The 2024 speaker and event line-up will be announced shortly.

The UK and South East Asia audiences will be able to engage with the conference in person and will have access to both events’ talks online.

Teesside University developed Animex to inspire and celebrate the best of animation, computer games and visual effects.

Dr Joanne Noble, Principal Lecturer (External Events) in the University’s School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies, said: “For the last quarter of a century, Animex has been a destination event for fans, industry professionals and students who want to learn about the latest developments in the animation, games and visual effects industries.

“Back in 2020, Teesside University’s five-year strategy for Animex was to grow this community further and develop a set of international hubs around the world that could deliver Animex alongside us in order to attract a more diverse range of speakers and include programme content which wouldn’t otherwise be easily accessible to a UK audience.

“Therefore, we are delighted to be able to announce the launch of Animex South East Asia this autumn in conjunction with UiTM, which I am sure will herald the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership.”

Animex will come to Middlesbrough between 11 - 15 November, and Animex South East Asia will follow immediately after in Kuala Lumpur on 16 and 17 November.

Tickets are on sale now on the Animex website.

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