Will Becher, Academy Award Nominated Director Redesigns Manchester Animation Festival For 2023
Skwigly
Manchester Animation Festival, the UK’s biggest celebration of animated film has launched it’s 2023 call for entries and revealed that Will Becher, the Oscar-nominated co-director of Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon has been revealed as the artist who has designed the Manchester Animation Festival 2023 ident.
The festival, which celebrates its 9th edition between the 12-17 November 2023 in venue and then from the 18-30 online has also launched a call for entries for its Film Competition and Industry Excellence Awards, with winners receiving a magnificent trophy, designed and manufactured by master modelmakers Mackinnon and Saunders.
Since 2019 MAF has welcomed designers, animators and artists with an association with the festival to design the look of the event, which takes place from the 12-17 November in venue and then 18-30 November online. A tradition started by Frida Ramirez through to Izzy Burton last year.
Becher has perhaps one of the longest associations with the festival dating back to 2015 when the event was established having been one of the first guests at the event, presenting the first Shaun the Sheep feature for the inaugural MAF.
Becher said:
“As a long-time fan of the Manchester Animation Festival, it is a great honour to be involved in creating the look for the 2023 edition. I love stop-motion animation, character comedy… and bees… so bringing to life this year’s bespoke festival intro will be the perfect challenge.”
As a somewhat peculiar tradition Becher has attended every odd numbered edition of MAF, presenting work such as the Shaun the Sheep features, Early Man as well as sitting on the jury and sharing his character animation expertise. This makes him no stranger to the festival and it’s host venue HOME.
Will Becher speaking at MAF 2019
Becher continued:
“The iconic HOME venue in Manchester is a great place to meet fellow filmmakers, animation fans and enjoy this varied artform at the UK’s largest festival of animation – I can’t wait to see the MAF 2023 programme.”
Having worked for Aardman Animations, Laika and on his own short films such as Off Beat and The Weatherman it won’t come as a surprise that the 2023 design features a traditional clay feel and handmade look.
As well as producing the teaser image above a full poster and animated sting will be revealed in September when the MAF 2023 programme is launched and the films selected for competition are announced.
Speaking of his upcoming film, Becher noted:
“I’m so excited to be working on the branding and animated titles for the Manchester Animation Festival 2023. The MAF team have given me the opportunity to explore more of my own work and style and I can’t wait to share the results with this years audiences on the big screen in November. Through creating the look for MAF 2023 I’m exploring vibrant colours and textures in clay and aim to discover just how much performance one can get from an insect.”
Manchester Animation Festival returns in venue from the 12-17 November 2023 and then online from the 18-30 November. The call for entries for the film competition is open now on FilmFreeway and the Industry Excellence Awards are open on the MAF website until the 28 July.