About this item
With the advent of advanced hand-held technology and the widespread nature of the internet, the world of animated filmmaking is more exciting and accessible than ever. Due to this cultural and technological development, the success of independent animated film makers is on the rise. Independent Animation showcases some of the greatest, most innovated giants in the field and helps guide readers through the artistic process and production techniques. Story development, casting, color, distribution, and the intimidating aspects of production are elucidated using various examples from all over the world. Readers will also explore the changing nature of the audiences' relationship with animation, granting firsthand guidance in navigating the diverse fields of animated film-making.
About the Author
Ben Mitchell is a Bristol-based animation/post-production freelancer, independent director, composer, graphic novelist and writer/researcher.
As a freelancer he has produced animation work for the BBC, Channel 4, Plymptoons, Somethin' Else, Wonky Films, A Productions, Slurpy Studios, Channel Flip and Rumpus Animation to name a few.
As an independent director he has produced four short animated films - "House Guest" (2008) , "Ground Running" (2009) , "The Naughty List" (2010) and "Klementhro" (2015) - that between them have sold for broadcast and touring programmes, won multiple awards and been showcased at over 100 international film and animation festivals including ITFS Stuttgart, Clermont-Ferrand, Encounters, Ottawa International Animation Festival, Monterrey International Film Festival, I Castelli Animati and Anima Mundi. He is presently working on a new short film "Sunscapades" and recently released his first non-fiction book on animation production for Taylor & Francis "Independent Animation: Developing, Producing and Distributing Your Animated Films" (2016) .
As co-owner and Managing Director of Skwigly Online Animation Magazine, Ben's research experience stems from a wealth of interviews with artists from all manner of fields of animation production, from students/independents to directors/producers of major mainstream TV series and feature films. As well as written features Ben also produces and presents additional content strands for the magazine such as podcast series "The Skwigly Animation Podcast", "Intimate Animation" and "Independent Animation" as well as the video documentary series Lightbox,
As well as being involved in preselection for a number of organisations including the British Animation Awards, Ben has also curated screening events for various festivals including the Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival, Bradford Animation Festival and Manchester Animation Festival and serves as a programming consultant on the Skwigly/Film Hub NWC events programme This Is Not A Cartoon.
On top of his work in the field of animation Ben is also a musician, having composed for independent films and podcasts as well as his own music under the moniker Struwwelpeter. His work as an independent graphic novelist includes the three-part series "Throat" as well as the comic adaptation of his thesis film "House Guest"
