Next Lab Generation hits Half-Decade Anniversary at Annecy MIFA 2025
Featuring the Freshest Batch of Innovative 3D Animation Projects
* Next Lab Generation will be gracing the Annecy MIFA event for the fifth time with its winning projects that vary from “cool enough to freeze your eyeballs” to “so hot they’d sizzle your socks.”
* Internationally recognized as a significant platform for the animation industry, Annecy MIFA 2025 showcases not only the fascinating combinations of pixels and polygons but also the brilliant minds behind them.
* This fifth inning isn’t just a casual meet-and-greet. There’s a whole conference lined up to discuss the pioneering work put forward by the Next Lab Generation, amplifying industry talks and innovation to ‘Spinal Tap’-esque levels.
Breaking Records, Creating Groundbreaking Art
For the half-decade mark, Next Lab Generation not only returns with the animation industry’s crème de la crème, but also serves as an imperative stage where these artistic souls can bask in the glow of their well-earned victory and display their brilliant pieces to the world.
Hot Take
Ah, the smell of fresh pixels in the morning! It’s the season of Next Lab Generation’s return to Annecy MIFA, and I tell you, it’s about as exciting as an espresso shot in your morning latte. I mean, what better way to celebrate their five-year anniversary than on the international platform of Annecy? We eagerly await to see their hot-off-the-press genius make waves akin to the digital version of ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa.’ Get your popcorn ready, animation fans, because this spectacle promises to be more thrilling than a roller coaster in VR. It’s gonna be an elegant ballet of polygons and pixels, giving you the wildest form of ‘Swan Lake’ you’ve ever seen!
Join us as we introduce the avante-garde winners of the Next Lab Generation 2025 call at the globally renowned Annecy MIFA 2025 festival—an international hotspot for animation industry events. Hear about the future of animation and video game production technologies and processes in a special conference about the Next Lab Generation event, held every year in Madrid.
Discover the groundbreaking projects of Fran de Olano with Ashes, Baboo Matsusaki, Gabriela Diniz, and Caco Diniz with Echoes of Drowning, and Aroa Talens Ferrés with Padre nuestro que estás en los cielos. These talents surfaced victorious at the Next Lab Generation 2025 competition, standing out among 70-plus submissions and winning the favor of our esteemed jury of industry professionals.
Catch these innovative projects getting the spotlight at the Next Lab Generation amphitheatre on Friday, June 13, at 9:45 a.m., at the Rotonde de l’Europe within the Imperial Palace. Check out more event details on the festival’s website. Get firsthand insights from the triumphant project creators as they share their experiences and technological adventures in transforming their creative process through the Next Lab platform.
Applied Innovation Through Next Lab R&D—I: A Comprehensive approach
Also, look forward to a captivating speech from Next Lab director, José Luis Farías, detailing the journey and accomplishments of Next Lab over the past five years. With 81 supported projects originating from over 30 countries, the event will highlight ground-breaking initiatives and research ventures that have positioned Next Lab at the forefront of industry innovation.
Get the first look at the “HaMo Real-Time Animation System”, one of the pioneering projects in digital puppetry. Unlike other motion capture technologies, HaMo’s unique capability allows for use at live events or real-time productions virtually anywhere.
We’re also excited to showcase significant progress on “Next Lab Grease Pencil VR”, a transformative tool that allows for drawing and animating in virtual environments. Get a free demo of the tool here.
Returning to Annecy—XR&Games Area: Your Gateway to Video Games and XR Innovations
After last year’s success, we’re bringing back the XR&Games Area with more interactive discoveries and immersive experiences. Focusing on fostering innovation in animation and new media sectors, the space will host a cinematic and video game trailer competition, conferences, pitch sessions, and more. Catch a glimpse of our program here.
We would like to express our gratitude to the Community of Madrid, Department of Culture, Tourism, and Sports, Ibermedia Next, ICAA, the Ministry of Culture, Madrid Film Office, Madrid Audiovisual Cluster, Annecy Festival, FOM, Weird Market, Pixel Cluster, and DIBOOS for their generous support and participation in making Next Lab Generation 2025 possible.
Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/the-fifth-edition-of-next-lab-generation-arrives-in-annecy-with-its-winning-projects/