Join Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley as they explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality.

In the first ever live episode of Intimate Animation, recorded during the Manchester Animation Festival, we meet director Phil Wall and producer Chloe Beale of Strange Acre Studios, discussing their recently-completed BFI-funded short film Woodland which tells the story of arborists Alastair and Fergus who struggle to reveal their love to the narrow-minded village community they live amongst.

Also joining us is Julia Wiza to talk about her Nottingham Trent University thesis film Bogdanka, a tale of a young woman soon to be wed, inspired by Slavic mythology.

Presented by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley
Recorded at HOME Manchester
Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell
Thanks to Manchester Animation Festival and the HOME Manchester tech team

The post Intimate Animation (Season 4) #6 – Live at Manchester Animation Festival appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

Join Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley as they explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality.

In this episode we welcome back Lori Malépart-Traversy, who has followed up her enormously successful student film Le Clitoris with Magical Caresses (Caresses magiques), a five-film NFB series of animated documentaries that humorously present a range of testimonials and historical facts that demystify the subject of masturbation. Based on intimate accounts from Sarah Gagnon-Piché and Sara Hébert’s Caresses magiques book series, the series will be represented at this year’s Annecy festival with episode 3 (Sweet Jesus) playing in competition, on the heels of episode 5 (Masturbation: A Short History of a Great Taboo)’s recent win at Sommets du cinéma d’animation for Best Educational Film.

Also discussed in this episode: The upcoming premiere of previous podcast guest Signe Baumane‘s new independent feature My Love Affair With Marriage, the quiet UK return of Lisa Hanawalt‘s Tuca and Bertie, a look at Netflix’s Big Mouth spinoff series Human Resources and Sam O’Leary’s animated segments for the Inside No. 9 episode Wise Owl.

Presented by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley
Interview conducted by Ben Mitchell
Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell

The post Intimate Animation (Season 4) #5 – Lori Malépart-Traversy appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

Join Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley as they explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality.

In this episode we meet Alberto Mielgo, whose film The Windshield Wiper is nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 2022 Academy Awards. The film, which premiered last year at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, is produced by Mielgo (pinkman.tv) and Leo Sanchez (Leo Sanchez Studio) and addresses the question “What is love?” through a series of intimate, interwoven glimpses into people’s lives. Mielgo’s previous work includes the enthusiastically-received, Annie Award and triple Emmy-winning Love Death + Robots episode The Witness, as well as his similarly accoladed production design work on Disney’s Tron Uprising with other commercial projects including work for Gorillaz, Harry Potter, Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse and the video game Beatles Rockband.

Also discussed in this episode: More on the British Animation Awards including award wins for previous Intimate Animation guests Renee Zhan, Anna Ginsburg and Caitlin McCarthy, love and sex-themed highlights from Miyu Distribution‘s new YouTube channel Bang Bang, the Manchester Animation Festival‘s new events strand MAF Presents and the return of Cardiff Animation Festival in April.

Presented by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley
Interview conducted by Ben Mitchell
Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell

The post Intimate Animation (Season 4) #4 – Alberto Mielgo appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

Join Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley as they explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality.

In this episode we meet Renee Zhan, whose film Soft Animals is presently screening as part of this year’s Encounters Film Festival having premiered earlier this year at Annecy. Since beginning her animation studies at Harvard University under Ruth Lingford, Renee’s films also include the Sundance Jury Award-winning Reneepoptosis and last year’s National Film and Television School mini-epic O Black Hole. Last month saw the director join BlinkInk’s talent roster following her contribution to their Adult Swim Off The Air episode Progress.

Also discussed in this episode: Encounters highlights including Animated Encounters Grand Prix winner Farce (dir. Robin Jensen), Best of British Animation Award winner Eating in the Dark (Dir. Inari Sirola), Annah la Javanaise (dir. Fatimah Tobing Rony), Self Scratch (dir. Chenghua Yang), Night of the Living Dread (dir. Ida Melum), Trona Pinnacles (dir. Mathilde Parquet), Breaking Bread (dir. Yuan Li Elizabeth Xu), Jeijay (dir. Petra Stipetic/Maren Wiese), Günter Falls In Love (dir. Josephine Lohoar Self), Love is Just a Death Away (dir. Bára Anna Stejskalová), Sweet Nothing (dir. Joana Fischer/Marie Kenov), Lolos (dir. Marie Valade) and Granny’s Sexual Life (dir. Urška Djukić) plus recent work from Henriette Reitz, Christa Jarrold and Future Power Station.

Presented by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley
Interview conducted by Ben Mitchell
Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell

The post Intimate Animation (Season 4) #3 – Renee Zhan appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

Join Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley as they explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality.

In this episode we catch up with Will Anderson, whose film Betty is released online this month following a festival run including screenings at Pictoplasma, Encounters, Animafest Zagreb, GLAS and PÖFF Shorts as well as a BAFTA Scotland win and Scottish Short Film Award at the Glasgow Short Film Festival. The film follows lovebird Bobby as he searches for his butter, his Betty and ultimately a love that has apparently melted away.

Also discussed in this episode: The evolution of Lisa Hanawalt’s Tuca and Bertie having moved to Adult Swim for its second season, BlinkInk‘s E4 miniseries Blind Love on First Date Island, Adeena Grubb’s stop-mo short Dating is Shit, Sacha Beely/Strange Beast‘s animated Gillette spot A Song For Pubes and Diablo Cody’s inscrutable “sexying up” of The Powerpuff Girls.

Presented by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley
Interview conducted by Laura-Beth Cowley
Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell

The post Intimate Animation (Season 4) #2 – Will Anderson appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

Join Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley as they explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality.

In this episode we meet Shoko Hara, whose film Just A Guy offers unique and unusual insights into the relationship between serial killer Richard Ramirez and his female devotees – including his long time girlfriend Eva O – through testimonials as well as the director’s own personal correspondences. The film’s raw visuals and agile animation style, combined with elements of collage and archive footage, create a rich visualisation of the fascinating world of death row relationships and the women who nurture them.

With festival selections including Annecy, ITFS Stuttgart, OIAF, Interfilm Berlin, Animafest Zagreb (winner of the Grand Prix) and Krakow Film Festival (winner of Best Short Film), the film handles the duality of ethics, emotions and love in the most unlikely of places.

Also discussed in this episode: Short film highlights from recent and upcoming festivals including new work by Joanna Quinn, Marcel Barelli and Martina Scarpelli; inscrutable European TV offerings such as John Dillermand and Monsieur Flap; the return of Big Mouth; and the unusual sexual politics of Space Jam: A New Legacy.

Presented by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley
Interview conducted by Laura-Beth Cowley
Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell

The post Intimate Animation (Season 4) #1 – Shoko Hara appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

Join Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley as they explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality.

Symbiosis (Dir. Nadja Andrasev – MIYU/SALTO)

In this episode we meet Nadja Andrasev, whose film Symbiosis tells the story of a betrayed wife investigating her husband’s mistresses who finds her jealousy is gradually replaced by curiosity. Having premiered internationally at last year’s edition of the Annecy festival, the film has gone on to win a multitude of awards including the Zlatko Grgić Award for best first film made outside of an education institution at Animafest Zagreb this month.

Also discussed in this episode: Recent animation festival highlights including Betty (Will Anderson), Nox Insomnia (Guy Charnaux), Sex Moves (Alex Bernas), For Baby’s Sake (Emma Lazenby), Altötting (Andreas Hykade), Just A Guy (Shoko Hara) and Cwch Deilen/Leaf Boat (Efa Blosse-Mason) as well as BlinkInk/Zombie‘s recent animated spot Love Story for Viagra and J.G. Quintel‘s new series Close Enough.

Presented by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley
Interview conducted by Laura-Beth Cowley
Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell

The post Intimate Animation (Season 3) #6 – Nadja Andrasev appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

Join Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley as they explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality.

In this episode we meet Prague-based directorial duo Michaela Mihályi and David Štumpf, whose recent short SH_T HAPPENS produced by BFilm, FAMU and Bagan Film has screened to much enthusiasm and acclaim around the world at events including Sundance, Clermont Ferrand, LIAF and Anima Brussels.

Also discussed in this episode: Laura-Beth’s recent experience animating about the taboos of womanhood for Calling The Shots, the unexpected revival of Tuca & Bertie, the long-overdue progressiveness of Pixar’s Out and love’n’sex-themed short film highlights from the recent online edition of ITFS Stuttgart.

Presented by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley
Interview conducted by Laura-Beth Cowley
Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell

The post Intimate Animation (Season 3) #5 – Michaela Mihályi & David Štumpf appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

Join Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley as they explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality.

In this episode we meet UK-based Polish director/animator Natasza Cetner whose MA graduation film from the Royal College of Art Nigel was recently released online as a Short of the Week Premiere and Vimeo Staff Pick to much enthusiasm. Using quasi-traditional 2D animation approaches, the film is an inventive spin on the story of Nigel, a lonely gannet who hopelessly falls in love with a concrete statue. Serving as a reflection of our own misconceptions in love, the film has screened at numerous festivals including LIAF, PSIAF, Anifilm, Animocje, Tricky Women, PÖFF Shorts, Animac and Animateka as well as being written up on outlets including Creative Review, It’s Nice That and Director’s Notes.

Also discussed in this episode: Selected love’n’sex-themed films and event highlights from the recent Anima Festival in Brussels and new shorts to watch out for at the upcoming Cardiff Animation Festival.

Presented by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley
Interview conducted by Laura-Beth Cowley
Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell

The post Intimate Animation (Season 3) #4 – Natasza Cetner appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

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The post Intimate Animation (Season 3) #1 – Caitlin McCarthy appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

Join Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley as they explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality.

If you wish to get involved or have any topic you’d like us to address in the next podcast then please get in touch with us on either Facebook, Twitter, by email to ben@skwigly.co.uk or leave a comment below.

Special guest: Veljko Popović of Lemonade3D, whose short film Cyclists has picked up numerous awards during its festival run and will screen at Bristol’s Encounters Festival later in the month.

Presented by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley
Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell
Music by Ben Mitchell

The post Intimate Animation (Season 2) #6 – Veljko Popović appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

Join Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley as they explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality.

If you wish to get involved or have any topic you’d like us to address in the next podcast then please get in touch with us on either Facebook, Twitter, by email to ben@skwigly.co.uk or leave a comment below.

Special guest: Dario van Vree of Studio Pupil, whose short film Tabook about a young woman overcoming her inhibitions was released online this month to coincide with Face Your Fears day.

Presented by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley
Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell
Music by Ben Mitchell

The post Intimate Animation (Season 2) #5 – Dario van Vree appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

Join Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley as they explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality.

If you wish to get involved or have any topic you’d like us to address in the next podcast then please get in touch with us on either Facebook, Twitter, by email to ben@skwigly.co.uk or leave a comment below.

Special guests: Chintis Lundgren and Draško Ivezić, director/writer and co-writer respectively of Manivald, a quasi-follow up to the duo’s previous film Life with Herman H. Rott.

Manivald recently won the award for Best Croatian Film at Animafest Zagreb as well as screening in the official selection of this year’s Annecy International Animated Film Festival. Upcoming screenings include Brazil’s Anima Mundi later this month.

Presented by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley
Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell
Music by Ben Mitchell

The post Intimate Animation (Season 2) #4 – Chintis Lundgren & Draško Ivezić appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

Join Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley as they explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality.

If you wish to get involved or have any topic you’d like us to address in the next podcast then please get in touch with us on either Facebook, Twitter, by email to ben@skwigly.co.uk or leave a comment below.

Special guest: Comic artist and NFB filmmaker  Diane Obomsawin, whose latest film J’aime les filles (I Like Girls) won the Grand Prize for Independent Short at last year’s Ottawa International Animation Festival, with upcoming screenings including Animafest Zagreb and the Annecy International Animated Film Festival.

Presented by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley
Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell
Music by Ben Mitchell

The post Intimate Animation (Season 2) #3 – Diane Obomsawin appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

Join Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley as they explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality.

If you wish to get involved or have any topic you’d like us to address in the next podcast then please get in touch with us on either Facebook, Twitter, by email to ben@skwigly.co.uk or leave a comment below.

Special guest: Kim Noce of Mew Lab, whose latest film Love in Idleness was commissioned as part of the Shakespeare400 Still Shakespeare series.

Presented by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley
Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell
Music by Ben Mitchell

The post Intimate Animation (Season 2) #2 – Kim Noce appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

Join Skwigly’s Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley as they explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality.

If you wish to get involved or have any topic you’d like us to address in the next podcast then please get in touch with us on either Facebook, Twitter, by email to ben@skwigly.co.uk or leave a comment below.

Special guest: New York-based Latvian animator Signe Baumane (with producer Sturgis Warner) – whose filmography includes the acclaimed shorts series Teat Beat of Sex and the independent feature Rocks In My Pockets. – discussing her latest feature film project My Love Affair With Marriage.

Learn more about how you can contribute to the project at kickstartmarriagefilm.com

Presented by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley
Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell
Music by Ben Mitchell

The post Intimate Animation (Season 2) #1 – Signe Baumane appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.