Expert contributors

ARCHIE BIRCH
Others Experts


CLEA MALLINSON
She has over 15 years of video editing experience and in the dramatic MIDPOINT of her career thus far, she shifted from editing real people to hamsters being chased by giant doughnuts. Clea has worked at Triggerfish Animation and Sunrise Productions on shorts, series and features films including Supa Team 4, Netflix’s first ever African animated series. From doing an MA in screenwriting in Ireland, to taking animation writing classes delivered from Nigeria, Clea is excited to continue her creative journey as a writer/director. Her projects focussing on self-expression, connection and the environment have received numerous funding grants and she has pitched twice at Animation Du Monde, receiving a residency at Ciclic Animation. When she’s not glued to her screen you'll find her in nature, crocheting Totoro's, or (finally) playing D&D.


Jeani Varty
Jeani Varty is a young director and visual development artist who has been active in the industry since 2016. Having worked as a freelancer turned trainer for the past 4 years at Mollo animation academy, she has gained an appreciation for the developing artist and community at large. Jeani has since struck out on her own as a freelancer, working on multiple shows and developing her own IP. Her main focus now is shifting to building digital communities, networks, and spaces for freelancers and young animators looking to learn - this is done through her discord server, SADAC - the South African Digital Arts Community.


Daniela Del Castello
Daniela Del Castello is currently an animation and visual development trainer at the Tshimologong Precinct in Johannesburg South Africa, where she directs short films and upskills local artists to help them gain a footing in the industry and help further develop their artistic journey. Prior to becoming a trainer she worked for Minds Eye Creative for 4 years as an animator and character designer. Some of the clients she worked for included Netflix, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. She Co-directed, character designed and animated for the CTIAF 2023 trailer. She has an honours degree in Fine Arts and a Masters Degree in Digital Art from Wits University. Her Masters involved studying the 3D animation pipeline and a research and creative project where she used stop frame, painting on glass animation to explore the relationship between animation and Queer aesthetic. She presented her paper and series of animated works at the Queer/ing animation Symposium 2017 and at the 2016 Turbine Art Fair.