Taking the advantage of Hungary being the honorary guest of the world’s no.1 animation gathering; the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Mifa market, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, Budapest (MOME) organized a thematic meeting focusing on the challenges of integrating AI in the education while maintaining creativity and artistic integrity in talent management. MOME aimed for creating a school networking event for the GEECT community and beyond, which on the one hand allows participants to explore a current topic with the help of experts, and on the other hand provides an opportunity for colleagues to meet, talk and exchange ideas.


Every year, several film schools are represented at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market. This is because they accompany their selected films to the Graduation Film section, and because many professional events, like pitches, masterclasses, portfolio reviews and animation courses are available in English, making it an excellent forum to get in touch with fellow institutions and potential international students. Many of these schools are also members of the CILECT organization and its European affiliate GEECT.

With the internationalization of training, and the transcontinental nature of animation production, there is a need to prepare students differently for starting their professional career. Recent years have brought many challenges, new phenomena and technological changes that not only students, but also teachers and universities are struggling with. We are facing a new era in animation art and industry which we must adopt.

Thematic meetings within the animation education community are vibrant opportunities for fostering innovation, collaboration, and networking. One such event -themed around the challenges of use of AI in animation education -brings together educators, students, and industry professionals to discuss the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in animation pedagogy and strengthen inter-institutional connections. AI has rapidly evolved to become a game-changer in the animation industry. Tools powered by AI can generate realistic movements, automate labor-intensive tasks like in-betweening, and enhance visual effects production. However, integrating AI into animation education is not merely about adopting cutting-edge technology, it’s about rethinking how students are taught to harness these tools effectively while maintaining creativity and artistic integrity. Taking advantage of the fact that Hungary will be the honorary guest of the Annecy Festival in 2025, the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME) based in Budapest is initiating a panel discussion with the support of GEECT and participation of its member institutions to facilitate dialogue on these issues and subsequently create a space for sharing knowledge and good practices.

PROGRAMME & CONTRIBUTORS
-09:30-10:00 Welcome: Introduction to Hungarian Animation Industry and Higher Education
by Eszter Lányi, Head of Training, Hungarian National Film Institute; Zsuzsanna Vincze, Head of MOME Film Centre
-10:00-10:30 Keynote: “Crafting Tomorrow: AI, Talent, and the New Grammar of Animation”
by Zoltan Batho G, Breda University of Applied Sciences/Cradle
-10:30-11:00 coffee break/networking
-11:00-12:30 Panel discussion: “Treath or Potential” -with professionals and representatives from member schools on the challenges of AI in animation higher education
Panel members: Balázs Kerek, DIGIC Pictures, Hungary; Uri Kranot, The Animation Workshop, Denmark; Joao Real, RE:Anima, European Joint Master in Animation
Moderated by Dániel Deák, Festival Director of Friss Hús Budapest International Short Film Festival

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
Attending the meeting required the general acreditation to the festival and registration on a special link, which gathered information about the audience (name, institution, porítóin, e-mail).
The event was attended by 46 participants from 16 countries, representing 24 universities (theachers and students also) as well as a number of cultural institutions, embassies, and other professional organisations.

HIGHLIGHTS
The programme featured a welcome session highlighting the Hungarian animation industry and its educational landscape, followed by the stimulant keynote of Zoltán Batho G, form BUas/Cradle address on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on animation pedagogy. A panel discussion brought together representatives from academia, art and the animation industry to explore the challenges and opportunities AI presents in the context of higher education, particularly with regard to safeguarding creativity and artistic integrity in talent development. Balázs Kerek, from DIGIC Pictures, Hungary together with Uri Kranot, acclaimed visual artist, teacher at The Animation Workshop, Denmark and Joao Real, representing RE:Anima, the European Joint Master in Animation had a vibrant exchange. Both parts of the program encouraged the audience to continue exploring the topic through discussions during the break and after the sessions.


The diverse international participation detailed in the above point underscores the growing importance of cross-institutional dialogue in navigating the pedagogical and ethical implications of AI in film-and media education. The event successfully fostered meaningful academic exchange and inter-institutional networking within the GEECT and beyond, which also contributed to promotion of the organization’s activities.

OPEN SECTION
In addition to rapidly developing technology, animation education is also influenced by problems closely related to social processes. Universities have the task of providing answers to ecological, geopolitical, and mental health issues affecting young generations. It is easier to find solutions to these problems together, exchanging experiences and good practices through dialogue. Following this meeting, seeing the enthusiastic participation of colleagues and the discussions that continued afterwards, we hope that we have started a series of GEECT animation schools’ meetings with this and that more will follow, at which animation higher education and its challanges will be discussed within a similar framework. MOME would be happy to be able to continue organise GEECT Thematic Meeting in Annecy for the animation schools community!