Nuit Blanche 2024 @ NFB/ONF: Pixilation Animation is FUN!

As a vibrant member of the Montréal arts community, the National Film Board was participating again in Nuit Blanche festivities and programming March 2nd 2024 , and with a dream to create an interactive animation worksop for the whole family, they asked us to design and deliver a 2 Station Pixilation Activity hosted in the NFB Space of their downtown building. 

The challenge was a big one: how to design a hands-on and fun animation activity in a very busy environment for hundreds of folks to create their own film, but only having 8-10 minutes maximum with each group?

From concept to final event activity facilitation and debrief, I worked with the NFB and our two amazing workshop facilitators Lolo Desrosiers-Guité & Sarah McNeil to create a unique, interactive, educational and unforgettable experience for all ages and abilities. We decided to design 2 short scenes for each station, where each participant was given clear and short instructions, with creative expression allowed for them throughout to make their project their own.

I flew into Montreal a few nights before the big event to set-up the equipment, test the lights, and run a few demonstrations, and then we were off to the races for Saturday night! And wow, it was busier than I could have ever have imagined… No amount of rain or crowds could keep the poeple away, as we had a steady stream of participants for 7 straight hours, made up of families, individuals, couples, and groups of friends at one of our two stations.

In 7 hours, a total of 91 films were created with 171 participants, with each receiving their own project via AirDrop or email upon completion of the activity.

For me, the most rewarding part of the event was watching so many people curious and enthusiastic about animation! The smiles, the laughter, the “wow….”’s as they watched their final project play — it was a real delight to facilitate such a positive and engaging experience for so many people who showed up in full creative mode.

It just goes to show how fun Digital Literacy can be! As I’ve said many times before, there is no better way to understand how media is made, than by making it yourself.

If you are interested in hosting an interactive animation station for the public like this at your festival or event, we would be thrilled to deliver a fully customized and equally memorable experience for you as well. Send us a message, and we would love to work with you.