Animation aficionados and aspiring creators, brace yourselves for a Southern draw(l). Nashville is stepping into the animation spotlight with the very first Animation Y’all Expo, taking place February 21-23 at Lipscomb University. Spearheaded by the Bancroft brothers, Tom and Tony, former Disney animators and current faculty members of Lipscomb’s animation program, this event promises a powerhouse lineup of industry greats that Southern animators previously had to hop on a plane to the West Coast to experience.
Both having inked their marks on classics like "The Lion King" and "Mulan," the Bancroft brothers have channeled their mastery into an event that features sessions on everything from voice acting to visual development. “For years, we have participated in animation expos that were always on the West Coast,” Tony Bancroft said in a statement posted by Lipscomb University. “There was nothing like this for professional animators in the South.” With Tennessee's animation scene evolving and Nashville's entertainment industry burgeoning, the expo aims to chart new territory in a region previously untapped by such professional-level events.
Attendees will have the chance to absorb knowledge from industry titans like Disney’s Mark Henn, attend behind-the-scenes lectures, and engage in hands-on workshops. High on the event highlight reel are screenings of animated films like Snow Bear and a look at The Light of the World, stoking the embers of inspiration for creators and fans alike. The expo isn't just a feast for the mind; over 50 artists, local studios, and animation suppliers will also populate the exhibition floor for an immersive creative experience, as reported by Lipscomb University’s news announcement.
Seizing on Nashville's dynamic entertainment potency, Lipscomb’s animation program, founded by Tom Bancroft in 2015, has positioned itself at the heart of this Southern renaissance in digital storytelling. "We felt like this was the perfect time to bring the animation community together and help make Nashville a destination for animation," Tony Bancroft conveyed in the same news release. From networking opportunities to industry panels, Animation Y’all Expo is poised not just to showcase talent, but to stimulate the pulse of the Southern animation network.
