ANIMATION SPEAK/EASY

A screening and discussion series for animation lovers in NYC

...a new screening series called Animation Speak/Easy, an interactive, in-person event where three guest speakers each share an animated short that inspires them, followed by a lively audience discussion. After two years of isolation, we want to create a space that brings together curious, inspired artmakers who are passionate about animation and its constantly changing forms.

Animation Speak/Easy Vol 17

Join us for Vol. 17!


Come on down to Rullo’s Brooklyn on Thursday, November 20th for our final show of 2025. Animation Speak/Easy Vol. 17 will serve up a hearty 3-course meal featuring fresh guests and fresh films. See you there!

Thurs. Nov. 20, Doors @7:00pm, Screening 7:30-9:00pm
Rullo’s Bar @ 560 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

**No cover.

Animation Speak/Easy Vol. 17 will be held in partnership with SVA MFA Computer Arts. 

Please RSVP for Vol 17 on November 20th 

Our next guests

Peter Ahern

Peter Ahern


Peter Ahern is an award winning animator, illustrator and filmmaker living in Brooklyn, New York. Freelancing as a 2D animator, designer and director, he has worked on a wide variety of commercial, television and music video projects for clients such as Netflix, the NBA, Nike, Pokemon, Showtime, Disney and the X-Games. In addition, his award-winning short films have screened at numerous festivals around the world, his illustrations have been both published and featured in prominent gallery exhibitions and he's served on several animation festival juries. In his free time Peter loves to travel, watch cheesy horror flicks, talk about animals and fill his hollow leg with delicious food.
 
www.peterahern.com

Candy Kugel

Candy Kugel


Candy Kugel, a longtime voting member of AMPAS and the TV Academy, began her career as a “gopher” at Perpetual Motion Pictures, a commercial and TV programming studio in NYC, while still a student at RISD. A supporter of indy films, she’s made well over a dozen award-winning independent shorts which are part of MoMA’s Film Archives. Through Buzzco Associates, she has created TV programming, educational films & ads - most notably MTV’s 'Moon Man' ID, works for Sesame St., 'Talking About Sex' for Planned Parenthood (Annecy Cristal), and WGBH’s 'Between the Lions' (Emmy). "It’s Still Me!”, a 17-minute informational DVD that helps to visualize aphasia and provide methods for non-verbal communication, has become a valuable resource for people living with aphasia all around the world.

buzzco.nyc

Poyen Wang

Sarah E. Jenkins

Sarah E. Jenkins is a transdisciplinary artist from central Pennsylvania, living in Western Massachusetts. They create experimental stop motion animation and images that explore themes of labor, queerness, wildness, and their Appalachian upbringing. Her work is rooted deeply in experimentation with a trickster nature, often responding to a site or object(s). Jenkins is an Assistant Professor of Animation, Creative Arts and Visual Culture at Hampshire College. When they aren’t teaching or making art, you may find her pulling tarot or taking meandering walks with her adventure cat, Nessie. 

www.sarahejenkins.com

Here's what our first guests had to say

Congratulations for this great first event to bring together the animation community. I loved that you choose three artists from different backgrounds and interests. It made for surprising discoveries! Also the discussion was well prepared and really made it particularly interesting...

Delphine Selles-Alvarez
Film Curator and Curator of Animation First

It was exhilarating and I’m so thankful for the chance to share something I’m passionate about with others, as well as be included with two amazing animators I had never had the pleasure of meeting before...

Erica Perez
Animator

Such a treat to go in depth (if ever so briefly) on the pieces that were picked, get to hear why and see how they resonated with other people there. And really just so swell to be around live humans in real space and time talking the walk and walking the talk.

Jeremiah Dickey
Animator

Who are we?

Andy London

Andy London is a graphic novelist, director and animator. Since the mid nineties, he’s been writing graphic novels and making independent animated shorts. In addition to making films and comics, Andy runs an animation program at Hostos Community College in New York City and is a Visiting Lecturer in the AFVS Department of Harvard University. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

www.letitfallapart.com

Anna Samo
Anna Samo

Anna Samo was born in Moscow, Russia, lived and studied animation in Berlin, Germany and is currently based in Brooklyn. As an independent filmmaker she uses a variety of analog animation techniques to create emotional and poetic work. Her most recent films OBON, The Opposites Game and Conversations with a Whale and The Wild-Tempered Clavier have been screened and awarded at film festivals around the world. 


www.samo-animation.com

Lisa LaBracio

Lisa LaBracio is a freelance animation director who specializes in handmade animation techniques. As part of the founding production team at TED-Ed, Lisa has directed dozens of educational shorts in a variety of styles, and as an educator, has taught 100+ animation workshops to communities all over the world. Lisa is based in Brooklyn, where you can find her mediating an argument between her stop motion studio and her plant children regarding how much sunlight to allow into the home studio.
 
​www.lisalabra.com

Read about Animation Speak/Easy in the press

"Building an Accessible Animation Community in NYC with Animation Speak/Easy"
by Siz Wang (ASIFA EAST)

Stay in touch


Sign up for our mailing list here:
*Animation Speak/Easy will never sell, rent, or lease your contact data to third parties.

Welcome to Form Builder

Follow us on Instagram for regular updates and animated inspiration.