Animation Fusion

Happy Independence Day! 🇵🇭

Today, we celebrate the courage, creativity, and resilience of the Filipino spirit. As storytellers, artists, and animators, we continue to bring Filipino stories to life—sharing our culture, imagination, and talent with audiences around the world.

May we continue to create, inspire, and innovate with the same passion that defines our nation.

From all of us in the Philippine animation community, Mabuhay ang Kalayaan!

Art by: Migs (Intern)

🎬 ICYMI: Animation Fusion 2026 – 3D Animation: An Introductory Workshop

Hosted by the Animation Council of the Philippines (ACPI) and led by animation director and mentor Airi Beltran, this engaging session introduced participants to the foundations of 3D animation while offering valuable insights into the realities of working in the global animation industry.

From sharing her inspiring journey from the Philippines to Canada and her work on projects such as Monsters at Work, The Addams Family, and Wondla, to demonstrating essential animation principles through live examples, Airi provided attendees with practical knowledge and professional guidance.

✨ Key topics covered:
• Creating believable walk cycles through weight, balance, and movement
• Enhancing facial acting with natural and appealing expressions
• Using references effectively in the animation process
• Building a strong demo reel that showcases industry-ready skills
• Developing a mindset of continuous learning and improvement

Airi also highlighted the importance of nurturing local talent and strengthening animation education in the Philippines to help create globally competitive content produced locally.

Stay tuned for upcoming specialized workshops with Airi Beltran, designed for beginners, intermediate learners, and aspiring professionals looking to elevate their animation skills.

Animation Fusion: 3D Animation – An Introductory Workshop with Airi Beltran, a learning session designed to introduce the fundamentals of 3D animation for aspiring artists, students, and creative professionals.

This workshop will provide an engaging overview of 3D animation principles, production workflow, and creative techniques, guided by industry insights from Airi Beltran.

About the Speaker: Airi Beltran
Airi Beltran is a 3D animation director, mentor, and creative storyteller whose career bridges the worlds of art, technology, and performance-driven animation. With over a decade of experience in the industry, she has worked on internationally recognized productions such as Monsters at Work, Transformers: EarthSpark, WondLa, The Addams Family, and The Adventures of Puss in Boots.

From the Philippines to North America, Airi’s creative journey began in publishing, graphic design, and photography, eventually evolving into a distinctive blend of artistic storytelling and technical problem-solving. With a background in Computer Science, she found 3D animation to be the perfect intersection of creativity, logic, and technology.

She currently serves as an Animation Development Director at ICON Creative Studio in Canada and has spent years mentoring aspiring animators through Vancouver Film School and independent coaching. Known for her thoughtful guidance and ability to simplify complex animation principles, she has helped students and professionals strengthen both their animation skills and their critical thinking, storytelling, and problem-solving abilities.

Learn more about Airi Beltran:
Website: www.airibeltran.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_motion/
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6300410/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/airibeltran/

Registration Link: Free admission https://forms.gle/TQeSvaPChRzjXGFC7

We look forward to your participation in this creative learning experience.

Join industry professional Mr. Thomas Esmeralda for a special follow-up class and Q&A session on digital painting for production in animation, film, and game development.

With over 16 years of professional experience, Mr. Esmeralda has worked as an Art Director, Illustrator, and Matte Painter for internationally recognized studios including DreamWorks, Industrial Light & Magic, Framestore, Digital Domain, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts, and Microsoft Games.

In this session, participants will gain further insights into real-world production workflows, visual development, background painting, and story-driven digital visuals, along with the opportunity to engage directly with Mr. Esmeralda through an interactive Q&A discussion.

📅 Date and Time: 15 May 2026, 1:30 - 5:00 PM
📍 Venue/Platform: PlayLab Animation Studio or Zoom Online
🎟️ Registration Details: https://forms.gle/Zmiwz7KJWbFkzWED9
🎟️ Open for all. Onsite participation is limited and available on a first-confirmed basis only. Selected participants will receive an email confirmation.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a seasoned artist and take your digital painting skills to the next level.

Animation Fusion 2026: Digital Painting for Production Workshop (Animation, Film, Game) with Thomas Esmeralda

Unlock the art and craft of digital painting for production in this specialized workshop led by industry professional Mr. Thomas Esmeralda.

Designed for aspiring and professional artists in animation, film, and game development, this session will explore essential techniques and workflows used in real production environments—from visual development and background painting to creating compelling, story-driven visuals. This is an overview of the process.

What to expect:
-Industry-standard digital painting techniques
-Visual development for animation, film, and games
-Composition, lighting, and color for storytelling
-Practical tips and workflows used in production
-Insights from real-world projects
-Whether you're building your portfolio or refining your skills, this workshop offers valuable knowledge to elevate your creative work for the screen.

📅 Date and Time: 17 April 2026, 1:30 - 5:00 PM
📍 Venue/Platform: PlayLab Animation Studio, 1506 High Street Corporate Plaza II, 11th Ave. Corner 26th St., Taguig City
🎟️ Registration Details: https://forms.gle/CR2HwGoYxCaW6uuM7
🎟️ Exclusive for Young Creatives Challenge and Animahenasyon Finalists
🎟️ Application Submission: 12 April 2026

In partnership with the Department of Trade Industry - Young Creatives Challenge

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a seasoned artist and take your digital painting skills to the next level.

Animation Fusion 2026: Digital Painting for Production Workshop (Animation, Film, Game) with Thomas Esmeralda

Unlock the art and craft of digital painting for production in this specialized workshop led by industry professional Mr. Thomas Esmeralda.

Designed for aspiring and professional artists in animation, film, and game development, this session will explore essential techniques and workflows used in real production environments—from visual development and background painting to creating compelling, story-driven visuals. This is an overview of the process.

What to expect:
-Industry-standard digital painting techniques
-Visual development for animation, film, and games
-Composition, lighting, and color for storytelling
-Practical tips and workflows used in production
-Insights from real-world projects
-Whether you're building your portfolio or refining your skills, this workshop offers valuable knowledge to elevate your creative work for the screen.

📅 Date and Time: 17 April 2026, 1:30 - 5:00 PM
📍 Venue/Platform: PlayLab Animation Studio, 1506 High Street Corporate Plaza II, 11th Ave. Corner 26th St., Taguig City
🎟️ Registration Details: https://forms.gle/CR2HwGoYxCaW6uuM7
🎟️ Open for all, limited slot for onsite participation.
🎟️ Application Submission: 13 April 2026, 10:00 PM

In partnership with the Department of Trade Industry - Young Creatives Challenge

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a seasoned artist and take your digital painting skills to the next level.

Celebrating a season of rebirth and new beginnings. Just like every frame brought to life, today reminds us that there is beauty in the process and hope in the finish line.

Maligayang Pasko ng Pagkabuhay! 🥚

Art by: Migs (Intern)

Before the story continues, there is stillness.
Before the motion, a pause.

Black Saturday reminds us that even in darkness, creation never stops.

Even the most vibrant stories need a moment of stillness. 🕊️

In the world of animation, we know that the "blank space" between frames is just as important as the drawings themselves. Today, we pause to reflect, rest, and find inspiration in the silence.

Wishing everyone a meaningful and peaceful Good Friday. May this time of reflection recharge our creative spirits.

Art by: Migs (Intern)

This Maundy Thursday, we pause not just in silence, but in reflection.

May this Holy Week be a gentle reminder that even in stillness, there is purpose.

Just as every frame matters in bringing a story to life, may this sacred time renew our passion, restore our creativity, and ground us in humility and gratitude.

May we find meaning beyond deadlines, inspiration beyond pressure, and light even in the quiet in-between moments.

Art by: Migs (Intern)