Animation Nation Forum Returns to Manchester this November

Manchester, UK - Thursday 15th October 2026 - Manchester Animation Festival (MAF), the UK's only Oscar® and BAFTA®-qualifying animation festival, today announces further programme highlights for 2026, alongside details of Animation Nation Forum, its flagship industry event and a key annual gathering for the animation sector.

Adding to this year's festival line-up, the highly anticipated French feature LUCY LOST, based on the acclaimed book by Michael Morpurgo and produced by Xilam Animation, will receive its UK premiere, followed by a Q&A with director Olivier Clert and writer Helen Blakeman. The programme will also feature a special screening of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and DNEG Animation's The Cat in the Hat, followed by an exclusive behind-the-scenes session exploring how the iconic Dr. Seuss story is being reimagined for a new generation, featuring Jean-François Leroux, DFX Supervisor at DNEG Animation. Further highlights include a session from Spud Gun Studios, the creative force behind the wildly popular Mashed, one of the biggest animated channels on YouTube, boasting millions of fans and billions of views worldwide.

On Tuesday 10th November Fix the Animation Nation, MAF's new TED‑style rapid‑fire session, invites the industry to put forward the most pressing challenges facing animation today - and the solutions that could help shape its future. Selected participants will take to the stage alongside global storytelling strategist and Collective Moxie founder and CEO Julie Ann Crommett for a fast‑paced exchange of ideas designed to spark action across the sector. The Animation UK Annual Meeting will take place as part of the Tuesday ANF offering, adding another key moment for industry collaboration and sector‑wide discussion. ANF Connect has expanded this year with three sessions running throughout the day for attendees looking to grow their business and build industry relationships. ANF Connect is the Forum's must‑attend B2B meeting event, offering 15‑minute one‑to‑one meetings with leading figures in animation - ideal for pitching ideas, forming partnerships and advancing projects. Portfolio reviews will also run throughout, giving creatives direct access to studios and recruiters.

Animation Nation Forum returns on Wednesday 11th November to Bridgewater Hall, supported this year by Manchester City Council, the Forum will bring together industry leaders for a programme of key discussions and networking opportunities, addressing the most pressing issues and challenges facing the animation sector today. Opening with a special Forum Welcome Breakfast, offering delegates an opportunity to reconnect with peers before a packed day of discussion, insight and networking.

The first panel, Where Is the Next Generation of Talent Coming From, asks how we ensure today's uncertainty doesn't become tomorrow's skills gap. Our speakers will unpack what good practice looks like, share practical approaches, and explore the bigger questions around attracting, nurturing and retaining the next generation of talent. The conversation, which is sponsored by ScreenSkills, will be led by Tom Jenkins Creative Director of Spud Gun Studios, with a panel including Kieran Argo, Animation Production Liaison Executive at ScreenSkills Shelley Page, Key Talent and Artist Liaison at Locksmith Animation and William Grave filmmaker and Founder of The Human Made Mark.

A second panel on UK Feature Production examines the growing spotlight on feature animation creatives and the readiness required from studios to meet both the opportunities and the demands of long‑form work. How can the UK develop the skills, infrastructure and creative ambition needed to compete globally? The Meet Your Producer session is a guided networking mixer that brings together creatives and producers, creating opportunities to spark new collaborations and ideas into future projects.

The afternoon programme features a range of new and innovative formats; The Super Summit, a free-to-attend ticketed event, brings together Heads of Department from across the industry, including Leanne Loughran Senior Manager - Talent Connection at Industrial Light & Magic, David Park Managing Director Animation Studio at Dream Games, alongside other representatives from the industry for a knowledge‑exchange session focused on leadership, culture‑building and practical advice for both emerging and established HODs. State of the Animation Nation, supported by Liquid Violet, sees some of animation's most influential voices come together for a roundtable discussion examining the current health of the industry. Tackling hard-hitting questions and reflecting on both the challenges and successes of recent years, the session will explore what lies ahead for the sector - featuring Kate O'Connor, Executive Chair and Strategic Lead, at Animation UK and Crosby Clyse, Managing Director of DNEG Animation. Making Characters Work explores how character can be a powerful driver of engagement, brand building and commercial growth. Speakers include Tom Judd, Associate Creative Director at Duolingo and co-founder of Animade and Kenny England, Director of Digital, Social and Communities at Aardman Animations.

Speaking about the 2026 Animation Nation Forum, MAF Festival Director Steve Henderson said: “The animation industry thrives when people come together to share ideas, discover new work and build relationships that help move the sector forward. ANF's Industry Day and our industry activity throughout the festival is an opportunity to do exactly that - bringing together established and emerging voices alongside a programme that celebrates the creativity and ambition of the sector. With the welcome support of Manchester City Council, our guests and delegates can provide a moment in the industry calendar: a place to make connections, spark conversations and look ahead to the future of animation.”

The Bridgewater Hall marketplace, which is free to attend, will facilitate networking between studios, recruiters and animation professionals, offering portfolio reviews, IP and legal advice, funding guidance and more.

Manchester Animation Festival is presented with the support of Higher Education Partner University of Salford, Festival Partner HOME, and Festival Patrons BBC Children's, Blue Zoo Animation Studio, Channel 4, DNEG, Epic Games, Industrial Light & Magic, Manchester Metropolitan University, Nottingham Trent University, Sue Terry Voices and Universal Pictures. Additional Event Supporters include Aardman Animations, Animation UK, Leeds Arts University, Liquid Violet, Locksmith Animation, ScreenSkills, Spud Gun Studios and TVPaint, alongside Marketplace Supporters Marks & Clerk, Wacom and HUE. Animation Nation Forum is supported by Manchester City Council.

Tickets for Animation Nation Forum are now on sale. For full programme details and updates, visit https://www.manchesteranimationfestival.co.uk/industry/anf-programme/