ANIMASYROS returns with a rich educational programme inspired by this year’s main theme "Africa: An Animated Continent”. Under the guidance of experienced instructors from Greece and abroad, children, teenagers, adults, disabled individuals and our beloved "veterans" (the elderly) will have the opportunity to create their own African masks, animate exotic animals of the African savannah and be transported in the most exciting way to the tropical zones and desert landscapes of our neighbouring continent. Furthermore, for the first time this year, a three-day intensive workshop for animation and multimedia students and young professionals will take place, dedicated to animation scriptwriting, storytelling, and storyboarding. The instructors will be Oscar-nominees Joanna Quinn, the internationally acclaimed animator, and Les Mills, film producer and screenwriter.

The workshops:

-Exploring the mysteries of the African masks
 Ceramics & animation workshop
 For families with children aged 7+ years old
 Instructors: Thomas Künstler & Manos Mastorakis

Participants will create their own ceramic masks under the guidance of ceramist Manos Mastorakis, decorate them with African patterns and, along with acclaimed director and animator Thomas Kunstler, bring them to life in their own stop-motion animation film.

Date: 24, 25 & 26 September
Time: 16:00 - 19:00
Venue: University of the Aegean

Participation in the workshop is free, but reservations are required. Applications can be submitted to the email address education2@animasyros.gr until Friday, September 20th.

-Animating Our Stories: Cut-Out Animation Workshop 
 For teenagers
 Instructor: Dimitris Armenakis

Drawing inspiration from Sembène Isete's project “Our Stories”, Greek director and animator Dimitris Armenakis invites participants to combine ancient traditions with modern techniques of stop-motion and cut-out animation. Together, they will create their own enchanting story that celebrates the shared heritage of Africa and Greece.

“Our Stories” is an oral history project focused on migration to Greece during the 1970s and 1980s. Through oral testimonies and photographic material, the aim is to raise awareness about the longstanding presence of migrant communities in the country, especially in Athens. "Our Stories" is an independent project by Sebene Eshete, implemented with the support of the Landecker Democracy Fellowship by the Humanity In Action Foundation. The discovery of people and stories was made with the contribution of the Greek Forum of Migrants.(https://ourstories.gr/)

Date: 24, 25 & 26 September
Time: 16:00 - 19:00
Venue: University of the Aegean

Participation in the workshop is free, but reservations are required. Applications can be submitted to the email address education2@animasyros.gr until Friday, September 20th.

-Are you ready to change your story?
 For professionals
 Instructors: Joanna Quinn & Les Mills

A three-day hands-on intensive workshop on animation script writing, storytelling and storyboarding, under the guidance of the Oscar-nominee Joanna Quinn and the internationally acclaimed animator and film producer Les Mills. The workshop is project based and aimed at animation/multimedia students or young professionals seeking their creative path in animation storytelling whether they have completed a short film or not.

Date: 24, 25 & 26 September
Time: 11:00 - 14:00
Venue: University of the Aegean
Working language: English

Participation in the workshop is free. Applicants will be selected based on their portfolio by the educators and the ANIMASYROS team. Those selected to attend will be notified via email.
Applications can be submitted to the email address education2@animasyros.gr until Monday, September 2nd.

The application form for the workshop must include the following information:
- Name/Surname
- Email
- Link to your artwork portfolio
- A short statement (up to 500 words in English) from the applicant on why they want to attend the workshop and what they expect from it.

Additionally, within the educational program of ANIMASYROS powered by PPC, the following workshops will take place:

-The journey of spices
 Workshop for individuals 60+ years old
 In collaboration with the Open Care Centre for the Elderly (KAPI) of Syros - Ermoupolis
 Instructor: Margarita Simopoulou

Inspired by the colorful patterns of beloved Africa, the experienced animators of the Open Care Centre for the Elderly (KAPI) of Ermoupolis will tell us a story about the importance of food and feeding. The spices will magically travel to our neighboring continent to be transformed into colorful narratives with the technique of stop-motion animation.

-Colors of Africa
 Workshop for individuals with disabilities
 In collaboration with K.D.A.P.-M.E.A. Syros - Ermoupolis
 With the support of John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation
 Instructor: Elena Pavlaki

Tall spotted necks, white striped legs and golden hair-crowns. These are some of the exotic heroes of this workshop. Colors, shapes and textures give life to animals and landscapes of the African savannah, rainforests and deserts.

-Animawatch, animaplay!
 In collaboration with the Education Center for the Environment & Sustainability of Syros – Ermoupolis & the National Centre of Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME)
 Instructor: Dimitris Papacharalambous

The workshop explores the basic thematic, aesthetic and narrative characteristics of films, combining educational processing of issues related to audiovisual and film education activities, experiential games, artistic creation, and theatrical and pedagogical expression.

-An audiovisual journey to Africa
 Workshop for the students of the Special Primary School of Ermoupolis
 Instructors: Agisilaos Robolas & Anna Economou

Exploring the characteristics of Africa and immersing their senses in the world of colors and movement, the students of the Special Primary School of Ermoupolis will create a stop-motion animation film and take us on a journey to the African continent.