The Gotham Film & Media Institute and Laika Animation have launched an animation accelerator program which is designed to support early and mid-career animators.
The Laika x Gotham Animation Accelerator aims to support animation creators in developing pitches with an emphasis on visual clarity, storytelling strength, and viability in the animation marketplace.
Selected fellows will benefit from individualized mentorship, access to Laika’s Portland, Oregon based animation studio, participation in programming at the Annecy International Animation Festival, and opportunities to present their work during Gotham Week.
Jeffrey Sharp, Executive Director of The Gotham Film & Media Institute said, “This fellowship marks The Gotham’s first dedicated initiative focused on animation and signals a significant expansion of Gotham Week. We’re honored to collaborate with Laika, a studio whose long-standing engagement with nonprofit and educational partners reflects a shared commitment to nurturing emerging creative voices.”
“We’re thrilled to partner with Laika, a legendary animation studio at the forefront of innovation,” said Kia Brooks, Deputy Director of The Gotham Film & Media Institute. “By providing resources, mentorship, and industry access this program will bring to life visions of this exciting cohort of artists.”
Laika’s Chief Marketing & Operations Officer, David Burke, said, “At Laika, we believe the future of animation depends on investing meaningfully in creators who are ready to push the medium forward.” He went on to say, “Our partnership with The Gotham reflects a shared commitment to identifying bold voices and helping them refine ambitious animated short film pitches into projects that are both creatively distinctive and production ready.”
Selected fellows will participate in a six-month intensive program featuring: individualized monthly mentorship sessions with industry professionals, a curated one-day visit to Laika’s Portland, Oregon headquarters, discussions with key team members, conversations about handcrafted and hybrid animation techniques, sessions on Laika’s filmmaker-led creative approach, and case studies inspired by their upcoming animated feature, “Wildwood.”
The program is open to animation directors, storyboard artists, visual development artists, character designers, and animators with prior professional experience, top-motion fabricators, stop-motion/2D/3D animators or those with high-quality independent animation experience. Writer-creators are welcome if partnered with an experienced animation artist.
Applicants should submit a pitch for an animated short film (logline, synopsis, or brief treatment) along with high-quality visual materials that convey the project’s style and tone, including concept art, storyboards, animatics, puppet concepts, costume fabrication samples, stop motion set pieces, or animation samples.
The cohort will be selected with Laika’s core values in mind: Be Brave, See Beyond the Norm, Thrive Through Community, Respect the Quest, and Bring Your Story. These principles reflect both organizations’ commitment to supporting diverse voices and fostering innovation in storytelling.
Applications are now open here, and close on April 2. The cohort will be announced in early May.
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