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AI Animation & Filmmaking Accelerator
Direct an animated short. Ship the cut.
A hands-on BC + AI accelerator for creators who want to turn an idea into a finished film—through story, visual direction, motion, sound, editing and critique.
Now booking · Current offers
Choose your production format
Next production call
Ask about the next Animation Accelerator.
No current offering is listed. Contact the BC + AI program crew for the next schedule and production brief.
Cut 01 · The work
Watch what past cohorts made
The strongest evidence from the accelerator is the work itself. These four projects do not look like one house style or one model’s demo reel. They carry the choices of the people who made them.
Cohort 3 wrapped in August.
Program film
See the production room before you enter it.
Story, generation, performance, edit and critique belong to one directing process.
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Anna Havrylyukh’s animated short
03
Grub’s Cantina, by Jennifer Li
04
The Rain-Shelter Regulars, by Felipe Ruiz Reyes
Cut 02 · Production journey
From idea to final frame
The tools will change. The directing decisions still have to connect from the first audience question to the final screening.
01 Audience and scope
Name the audience promise and the smallest version of the story that still works.
02 Storyboard and shot plan
Turn the premise into beats, boards and a shot plan before spending generation credits.
03 Character and world lock
Lock character turns, world references, props, materials and lighting before motion.
04 Creative production toolkit
Choose tools around the direction: story, voice, timing, colour and delivery.
05 Motion and sound
Direct motion from stable frames, then shape performance with voice, timing and sound.
06 Edit, review and handoff
Review the cut, fix continuity by story value and package the smallest shippable version.
07 Screen the cut
Finish with a film you can show, submit or carry into the next cut.
Cut 03 · Call sheets
Schedules and deliverables
Pick the production shape that matches the cut you want to make. Dates, prices and registration status stay attached to each live offering.
Coming soon
Cohort 5 — Vancouver Intensive
- When
- October 31, 2026
- Schedule
- Saturday, October 31 · 10 AM–6 PM Pacific.
- Capacity
- 16 seats
- Final cut
- A finished 10–15 second animated micro-short.
- Bring a laptop and arrive with the requested creative AI accounts configured.
- Three two-hour studio blocks with one-hour breaks. Resource pack and private cohort chat included.
- No recording is promised for this in-person intensive.
- Budget approximately CA$50 for participant tool usage.
- Enrollment through October 30 at 11:59 PM Pacific.
Studio agenda
- Direction, story, audience, world and shot scope
- Break
- References, first and last frames, motion, voice and audio
- Break
- Edit, polish, critique and in-room cohort screening
Cohort 5 · In person
One day inside MML
Hosted at Multimodal Media Lab (MML), a close BC + AI creative partner and the creative home of AI Film Club. MML is a Vancouver studio and research lab for AI film, immersive media and creative technology, at 375 Water Street, Suite 645, one block from Waterfront Station.
October 31, 2026Saturday, October 31 · 10 AM–6 PM Pacific.
A finished 10–15 second animated micro-short.
Direction · Tiny Ghost Studios
Cohort 5 instructors
Working studio practice, live production judgment and direct critique from the people building the pipeline.
Luke Minaker
Co-founder, Tiny Ghost Studios
An animator and director working across film, television, games, client production, and original IP. Luke leads story, direction, performance, and production review.
Mayumi Rollings
Co-founder, Tiny Ghost Studios
Tiny Ghost Studios co-founder and AI animation upskilling lead. Mayumi develops production workflows for animation professionals and emerging filmmakers.
Kris Krüg
Program Lead, BC + AI
BC + AI program lead. Kris shapes the cohort arc, connects the production work to the wider creative community, and helps participants get the cut over the line.
Public production resource
Field Guide + deeper learning
Course path, production tools, credit reality checks, reference pools, review language, rights context and the terms used in the room.
Open the Animation Accelerator Field GuideCut 04 · Before you book
Frequently asked questions
Which format should I choose?
Choose the online studio if you want three live sessions, production time between meetings, and a finished 30–40 second animated short. Choose the Vancouver intensive if you want a one-day in-person room and a finished 10–15 second animated micro-short. The registration section shows which formats are open.
Are recordings included?
The three-session online studio includes recordings of its live sessions. The in-person Vancouver intensive does not promise a recording.
What should I bring and budget for tools?
Bring a laptop and arrive with the requested creative AI accounts configured. Participants joining the Vancouver intensive should budget approximately CA$50 for tool usage.
Where is the in-person intensive?
The Vancouver intensive is hosted at Multimodal Media Lab (MML), a close BC + AI creative partner and the creative home of AI Film Club, at 375 Water Street, Suite 645, Vancouver, one block from Waterfront Station.
Does an Animation Accelerator ticket include Futureproof?
No. The Vancouver intensive scheduled alongside Futureproof weekend is separately ticketed. Futureproof admission is not included, the accelerator curriculum is not festival-sponsored, and a festival screening is not guaranteed.
Final call · Pick a cohort
Choose your production format
Next production call
Ask about the next Animation Accelerator.
No current offering is listed. Contact the BC + AI program crew for the next schedule and production brief.