Manchester’s long-running motion design festival returns to Freight Island next March, with more than 20 speakers, three stages, workshops and a new marketplace.
If you work in motion design, animation or a related creative role, it’s time to block out 10-11 March on your 2027 calendar. Because Motion North, the festival that pairs big global names with an intimate, friendly vibe, just announced its first wave of speakers for its next edition. Taking place at Freight Island in Manchester city centre, the two-day event will feature more than 20 speakers across three stages, alongside workshops, demos, panels and portfolio reviews.
Motion North is run by local studio Mighty Giant, whose aim is to champion the industry and give Manchester a leading professional event of its own.
It began in 2010 as a grassroots gathering for the creative community to meet and swap ideas. Since then, it’s grown into a popular festival for motion designers, animators, filmmakers, VFX artists, illustrators and designers.
Who’s speaking?
The line-up announced so far leans towards studios that have been doing some of the most interesting work in motion and 3D over the past few years.
Headliners include Found, the studio known for its high-end 3D product and brand films; Lucas Zanotto, the multi-award-winning designer and artist whose playful work grows out of his background in product design; and Oscar-winning VFX studio DNEG, who’ve worked on more Hollywood blockbusters than you can shake a stick at.
Illustration and animation studio Nice Shit, arguably the discipline’s most descriptively named company, will also take to the stage, as will Emmy-winning animation director Margherita Premuroso.
They’ll be joined by animation studio Panic, 3D artist Eva Cremers, 3D design studios Foreal and Dada Projects, stop-motion studio A+C, designer and animator Mat Voyce, animation duo Duncan & Max and illustrator and animator Alice Bloomfield. Mikey Dowdle is also on the bill, and there are hands-on workshops in Cavalry and Houdini.
More speakers will be announced in the run-up to the festival. You can see the current line-up on the Motion North website.
More than just talks
Motion North 2027 won’t just be about talks, though. The event will also debut The Marketplace: a curated showcase where independent artists will present and sell their crafts, graphic prints and books. A good opportunity to pick up a few Christmas gifts and to take something home for yourself besides a notebook full of scribbles.
There’s also a programme of social mixers, including one event hosted by Creative Brunch, and more to be revealed. A great opportunity to network, share ideas or just talk nonsense at the end of a packed day.
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