As we continue our countdown with #MAFAdvent day 5, we’re spotlighting a brilliant session with @MohoAnimation’s own Víctor Paredes. He gave us a charming and energetic tour of how Moho turns stunning illustrations into lively animated pieces — plus teased some exciting innovations coming soon.

What love story melts your heart every time? Which sexy short sends you silly? Do you have a favourite animation all about affection? For #MAFAdvent day 4, we’re turning the page back to our session celebrating the book "Intimate Animation" with @Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth

Today’s festive flick through memory lane for #MAFAdvent day 3 takes us to an unforgettable behind-the-scenes session for Zootropolis 2. We were thrilled to welcome Chad Sellers and Renato dos Anjos, who shared an inspiring look at crafting expressive characters and dynamic scenes.

As #MAFAdvent day 2 summons a little sparkle, we’re revisiting the enchanting world of Rafi the Wishing Wizard from BBC Studios. Our MAF audience was treated to an exclusive early peek at the South Manchester based series that is arriving in 2026 and yes, it was as magical as it sounds.

We’re opening our animation advent calendar with #MAFAdvent day 1, and what better way to start than by celebrating family? Whether you share your holidays with relatives, friends or your found family, our annual Family Day always reminds us how special these connections are.

And that's it for another year! Thank you to everyone who attended #MAF2025, our amazing sponsors and everyone who helped to make this edition one of our best festivals yet. We'll be back next year - sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates! buff.ly/dAqeBpr

Looking at a career in animation? Our Paths Into Animation panel is crammed full of useful insight from Baz Sells, @0ddcat.bsky.social & Will Anderson. Watch it back as part of our #MAF2025 Online Programme before it disappears this Sunday >> tinyurl.com/yc3tvh9w

The mighty Cartoon Saloon visited #MAF2025 to receive this year's Fellowship Award. During their visit, director Nora Twomey told us the powerful story behind the studio's hugely important 2017 release The Breadwinner. See more via MAF online buff.ly/lIiUC6u

Why is it important to shout about your own skills? Golden Wolf studios shared some thoughts on this key topic during our Art of the Ad panel discussion at #MAF2025. The full chat is available via MAF Online until 30 November. Find out more: buff.ly/K2dC2BV

Is creative curiosity a learnable skill? This was one of the big topics we discussed during our Constantly Curious panel chat at #MAF2025. Here's Creative Director Daniel Efergan sharing his thoughts... Watch the full panel via MAF Online until 30 Nov buff.ly/K2dC2BV

Did you miss our #MAF2025 Fellowship with the ace @cartoonsaloon.bsky.social? From those first initial chats around the kitchen table in Dublin to meeting animation royalty at awards ceremonies, you can watch back the full conversation as part of our Online Programme >> tinyurl.com/ycykc8d2

"A dream movie in animation has sort of been a white whale..." If you missed director Alex Woo's guided tour of dreamland during #MAF2025 last week, you can revisit his panel on MAF Online to find out how In Your Dreams was made! Find out more tinyurl.com/yrh37f3n

Ah this time last week we were knee deep in animation goodness enjoying the last in-venue day of #MAF2025. Did you join us for it? Remember all online festival content is available for FREE for anyone who joined us in person with a Festival Pass...

Don't be sad that #MAF2025 is over, be psyched that MAF online is here until 30 Nov! An online pass gets you access to some of 2025's biggest events like Alex Woo's #InYourDreams deep-dive, Cartoon Saloon's Fellowship Award, shorts & more! Tune in: buff.ly/K2dC2BV

We're just coming up for air after our busy in-venue leg of the festival last week. And to brighten up your Monday we wanted to take a look back at the winners of our #MAF2025 film and industry awards! So if you missed who won what, here's a handy recap >> tinyurl.com/53be2uap

I had a fantastic week on my 5th visit to @mcranimation.bsky.social #MAF2025 #ManchesterAnimationFestival #Animation #Festival #Manchester

Popped to the wonderful @mcranimation.bsky.social and came away with a fantastic selection for this week's #LastFourWatched!

We just want to say a BIG thank you to everyone who joined us at #MAF2025 this week - it's been joyful & jam packed! Whilst the in-venue fun might be over, our Online Programme runs till 30 Nov. So you can enjoy lots more MAF magic from the comfort of your own home ✨ >> tinyurl.com/4vs59jnd

25 years of wonderful storytelling✨ Oh @cartoonsaloon.bsky.social we only scratched the surface but feel really lucky to have had the chance to look back at your beautiful body of work. This behind the scenes sequence from Wolfwalkers was really special to see... #MAF2025

This afternoon we're celebrating 25 years of the brilliant Cartoon Saloon with our #MAF2025 Fellowship Award. So what's your favourite film of theirs? We'd love to know!

Last day of @mcranimation.bsky.social big sad :( Got some good talks booked for today, including a workshop on animation tools in @unrealengine.bsky.social and finding out more about #WomenInAnimationUK later. #MAF2025

Have you joined us this week at #MAF2025? So much inspiration and insight - and we still have one more action-packed afternoon and evening for you! Expect panels, talks, features and shorts - plus tonight we'll be crowning our 2025 award winners!

It's the last day of our in-venue part of #MAF2025! Are you ready for another dose of animation goodness? Festival Director @stevehenderson.bsky.social is here with your handy round up... Let's do this!

Heading back from a whistle stop 24 hours at @mcranimation.bsky.social Had a wonderful time with fantastic people! While it wasn't in competition, DUCKS won the audience vote at the MAFter dark screening, which was a lovely surprise!

...and that was Wednesday at #MAF2025! Thanks to all who joined us. What was your favourite bit? We'll see you all later today for our final in-venue day - there's plenty left to see! Last minute tickets are available here tinyurl.com/3w56ccaj

What do the content creators of today need to bear in mind when making the hit content of tomorrow? That was the focus of today's Animation Nation Forum panel chat on The Future Normal. Afterwards, we invited one of our expert panelists, Rob Doherty, to share the advice he'd give to new studios.

It's not all panels and networking - today's Animation Nation Forum is also home to our MAF Marketplace, allowing you to have a quick chat with some of the industry's biggest voices. Who knows what could come from it? #MAF2025

It's Wednesday at #MAF2025 & we're at The Bridgewater Hall for our Animation Nation Forum - a day-long celebration of the triumphs, challenges and future of the UK animation sector. It's not all we're doing though. There's still lots on at HOME and Manchester Central Library...

Today at #MAF2025 we were treated to a look back at an amazing 50 yrs of Industrial Light & Magic ✨ From Star Wars to the Oscar winning animation Rango, it was packed with brilliant behind the scenes stuff - including this, the very first test the ILM team did of the T-Rex for Jurassic Park! 🦖

What’s better than an evening in the pub? An evening in the pub filled with animation! Are you joining us for MAFter Dark tonight? Vote for your fave film on a beer mat, sip a pint & share a giggle >> maf2025.eventive.org/schedule/68c... Plus first 100 people in the door get a free drink!

"Your instincts are your most valuable tool as an animator" - JP Vine "Make friends with failure" - May Kindred-Boothby "An idea can come at any time, walking your dog, on the loo, at an exhibition, log them all" - Chris Ullens Sound advice from our short film directors this morning. #MAF2025

Ready for Day 3 of #MAF2025? Hell yeah we hear you cry! Festival Director @stevehenderson.bsky.social is on hand with some of the goodies you can catch today... What's on your festival hit list?

What a way to kick start the week! Big thanks to everyone who attended Monday at #MAF2025. We crammed lots in, from Will Anderson's artist talk & Alex Woo talking #InYourDreams, to Adult Swim ending things in style! Enjoyed today? You're in luck. There's 3 more MAF days left. See you tomorrow!

Did you know that #MAF2025 has taken over Manchester Central Library this week? It’s true - not content with filling @HOME_mcr & @anthonyburgess with animation goodness, today’s attendees will also find @CartoonSaloon shorts on loop plus #VR headset fun at the library. Come and say hi! 👋

Hey look - it's ace animator Will Anderson shortly after he'd taken Anthony Burgess Foundation crowds on a whistle-stop tour of his play-filled career so far. Not only does #MAF2025 bring you access to top talent - but you can also network with them at HOME, if you spot them! Perfect!

Imposter syndrome... it's something that impacts all of us, especially when we're starting out. Thankfully, DNEG's Character Animator Amy Adcock has some expert tips that can make interviews, networking and making contacts as painless as possible!

Over at Anthony Burgess Foundation, the animators of tomorrow have been finding out how to kick start their animation careers. The insight is worth paying attention to. It comes from our expert panel of industry guests, DNEG's Amy Adcock, Locksmith Animation's Shelley Page & animator Tito Olawole

We may be half-way through #MAF2025 day 2 but we're still reeling from our Family Day. It was great seeing so many of you HOME for stop-motion animation workshops, hearing about Laura Tofarides creative journey, celebrating the animators of tomorrow Young Animator of the Year Award ceremony & more!

Welcome to day two of #MAF2025. Here’s Festival Director Steve Henderson with an inside look at what we have planned for today! Expect fun from artist Will Anderson, Aardman, Flycheese Studio, Netflix, Adult Swim & more! Need last minute tickets? Head here www.manchesteranimationfestival.co.uk

Are you a young animator starting out in the industry? Stop-motion director @lauratofarides.bsky.social shares her top 3 tips with you... #MAF2025

So we've a packed Family Day for you today. Our Festival Director @stevehenderson.bsky.social is here with a handy Sunday rundown! Are you joining us for all the fun?

The day has finally arrived! Are you ready for #MAF2025?! We’ve got uk premieres, panels, previews, workshops, masterclasses and so much more. Hold onto your hats and hang on for a wild ride! Day 1 of #MAF2025 is GO! buff.ly/dnwSc9j

Before it hits Netflix this month, we're going deep on the streamer's latest animated feature #InYourDreams, with the film's director Alex Woo as our guide. Join us as he takes us on an exclusive 'making of' talk, supported by our pals Leeds Arts University buff.ly/2ruQaUu

Only one more sleep to go before #MAF2025 takes over HOME, International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester Libraries & The Bridgewater Hall for a five-day celebration of the all-things-animated. To say we've got a lot planned would be a huge understatement. Visitors can expect to find...

We've waited patiently - and now it's almost time for #MAF2025 to begin! The fun starts this Sunday with our Family Day - but there's lots to see throughout our time at HOME, The Anthony Burgess Foundation and Manchester Central Library next week. Including...

Long-time MAF fans will know that there's nothing quite like our @skwigly.bsky.social screening. Their team whip up a mix of the most innovative, imaginative & exceptional shorts from talented artists from all over the world & serve them up in one unmissable evening!

As if our Family Day wasn't already jam packed-to-the-rafters with fun stuff, we've also got a number of kid-friendly #StopMotion workshops throughout the day, giving the animators of tomorrow the chance to craft their very first character. Wallace and Gromit better watch out!

We're excited to welcome members of the BFI National Lottery Short Form Animation Fund team to #MAF2025 including Jez Stewart, Kate Maxwell & Liz Warren for a tour/screening of the excellent films it has backed. Keen to find out how you can apply? This is the event for you...

Hey look! It's Academy Award-nominated animator and author Joanna Quinn with a little message about her super-special #MAF2025 Book Club event next week. Speaking of which... have you bagged your seat for this one yet? It's going to be great! buff.ly/lePiqHc

It's not a festival until you've got an official festival line-up poster - and with just a few days to go before #MAF2025 kicks off, we thought it's about time we shared ours! What's on your to-watch list this year? Tickets available here buff.ly/HvsJI7e