The USC School of Cinematic Arts’ John C. Hench Division of Animation & Digital Arts (Hench-DADA) will host the 25^thAnnual Conference for the Society of Animation Studies (SAS) titled Redefining Animation. The event invites scholars, researchers and artists to present, address and critique the expanding art form across disparate media and to contribute their papers, ideas and observations to engage a variety of topics in the ever-evolving field of animation and digital arts. Redefining Animation will take place at USC from June 23-27.

“We are proud to host the Society for Animation Studies' Redefining Animation here at the School of Cinematic Arts,” said Kathy Smith, Chair of the John C. Hench Division of Animation & Digital Arts. “Los Angeles provides a dynamic location and meeting place for scholars and practitioners at varying intersections of the industry, academia and the arts, and we welcome all to participate in this year's stellar conference.”

Redefining Animation will begin on June 23 with an opening address by DreamWorks Animation’s CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and CCO Bill Damaschke. The Conference will feature a multitude of screenings, panels and micro-talks, ranging in topics including “Animation on the Move: Animated Journalism and Global Reporting;” “New Frontiers in Visual Music;” “Animating the Future: Collaboration and Storytelling;” “Poetry in Motion” and “DIY Viral Animation.”

Keynote speakers include Character Animator and USC Professor Tom Sito, Artist David Quayola, USC School of Cinematic Arts’ Electronic Arts Endowed Chair of the Interactive Media & Games Division Tracy Fullerton, Visual Effects Supervisor and USC Professor Michael Fink, Robotics Designer Dr. David Hanson and Geena Davis, Actor and Founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. The Conference will conclude June 27, with DreamWorks Animation inviting a limited number of guests for an in-depth tour of the DreamWorks Animation Studio.

“The SAS is pleased to be holding its annual conference at USC School of Cinematic Arts this year,” said Dr. Paul Ward, Professor of Animation Studies at the Arts University Bournemouth, UK, and President of the Society for Animation Studies. “We are a truly international society, devoted to the study of animation in all its forms, with members all over the world. Previous conferences have been hosted at esteemed institutions in the UK, Europe, North America and Australia. The current importance of animation to a wide range of creative industries is reflected in the diversity of research, practice and scholarship going on within the SAS; it is a dynamic and exciting growth area, and we welcome new members all the time.”

Redefining Animation will launch at 2pm on Sunday, June 23rd, at the George Lucas Lobby, School of Cinematic Arts Complex, USC, Los Angeles. See website for details.

Information on registration is available here.