Motion (conference)

Motion is the annual conference on animation, motion graphics and visual effects. The first motion conference was held in 2006, as a regional event taking place in the Southwest part of the United States. The event is now worldwide, and is attended by 2D animators, 3D animators, motion picture title designers, visual effects artists, game animators, motion graphic artists and broadcast designers. Motion is held in Albuquerque, New Mexico each year, starting on the last Sunday of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Overview

Some of the highlights of the conference include "Motionfest", an animation festival for 2D, 3D, anime, experimental, webisode and feature animations. Each year, a juried panel selects the finalists and winners for this event. The motion awards are another aspect of the conference. These honor the best in commercial motion graphics, broadcast design, and motion picture trailer design. There is an intimate expo element at the conference, where companies set up booths, demonstrating their products and/or services, recruiting attendees for work in the field. Most of the companies are in the animation, motion picture, broadcast or video game industries. The 'higher-ed pavilion is a segment of the expo for schools, which specialize in animation, motion graphics, vfx or sound design.

Each year, professionals in the industry are selected to present at Motion. Recent presenters have included Alex Lindsay (founder of Pixel Corps), Phil Nibbelink (a former member of Walt Disney Animation Studios) and After Effects experts Trish and Chris Meyer.

Presentations at Motion focus on 'the art' of animation, motion design and vfx. Recent presentations have included; Flash Goes to Hollywood, Advanced Cameras and Lighting in After Effects, The Art of Screen Graphics: Deconstructing The Bourne Ultimatum, and VFX and the Production Pipeline.

In addition to the presentation, there are numerous panels of industry experts, that are set up to discuss a wide variety of topics from the business aspects of animation and motion graphics to where to draw inspiration. Motion also offers a program to all attendees that call Motion{u} for full- and half-day courses in workflow, software used for animation and motion graphics, and creativity. These courses are taught by industry professionals.