The 20th anniversary of Pictoplasma, one of the most prominent character design festivals in Europe, brought a wealth of visual materials and showcased the evolution of character design, with a fantastic cover by Peter The Roman.
Our motion designers shared their insights on this year’s edition, which featured animated shorts with unique and non-commercial styles, hands-on workshops and art experimentations.
Panel, speakers and discussions
Influential speakers such as Philip Hunt, Hsiang Chin Moe, Ilenia Notarangelo, Rebecca Dell, and Alan Steadman discussed the evolution of character design in the industry in the panel "The Era of Characterism." They questioned whether characters, often perceived as childish in the West, could find a place in sectors like banking. Animator Joe Bennett, renowned for his work on Adult Swim, captivated audiences with his surreal yet authentic storytelling, incorporating realistic elements into stylized cartoon scenes. The festival highlighted diverse artists like Jess Bianchi and Tchias Ruth, who address adult themes with childlike voices in their characters.
AI, Art and Copyright
So Lazo discussed the challenges of copyright infringement, sharing her experience of having her designs sold on a renowned platform without her consent. Despite her efforts, her artistic rights remain violated. A notable change from the previous year was the reduced focus on AI, indicating a shift towards acceptance of AI's growing role in the artistic community.
Scavengers from Joseph Bennett on Vimeo.
Workshops and Interactive Sessions
Interactive sessions included wood whittling by Thai designer Parn Aniwat, creator of @wood.youmind, where participants created wooden toys. The festival also featured videos like Ludopatia and Scavengers Reign. Genie Espinosa spoke about imposter syndrome and her inspiration from vintage rubber wrestler toys, which influence her playful perspective in illustrations.
Overall, the Pictoplasma 20th anniversary celebrated the rich diversity and evolving nature of character design, encouraging artists to experiment and push boundaries in their creative endeavors.
