Here are the details about the keynotes, case studies & panels of CartoonNext 2026.
KEYNOTE • How a Swedish games company, The Gang, is driving innovation across immersive gaming experience?
About the keynote
Speakers: Evan Opperman (Senior Client Director at The Gang Sweden - SE) & Matt Sheppard (Senior Product Manager at The Gang Sweden - SE)
Their motto is “Shaping the Future of Games.” Cartoon Next reveals why - if it’s cool - The Gang is often the ones behind it. They’re at the cutting edge of Roblox, Fortnite, Meta Horizon Worlds and more. Discover about the Future of UGC Gaming and what can be learned from their experience and expertise.
PANEL • A New Era for Stop Motion!
About the panel
Speakers: Angélica Lares (General Director of International Centre of Animation at Taller del Chucho Studio - MX), Sarah Cox (Chief Creative Director at Aardman Animations - UK), Kerdi Kuusik-Oengo (Producer at Nukufilm - EE)
Discover how stop motion is enjoying an exciting chapter in its history, experimenting with creativity and tech, forging new partnerships and future opportunities. Cartoon Next talks to three leaders of the industry. From British legend, Aardman, with their new “Shaun The Sheep” movie and ground-breaking ventures with Pokemon and LEGO, Taller Del Chucho, the Mexican studio, beloved of stop motion master, Guillermo Del Toro, with their innovative collaboration with toy company, Bandai, and the world’s oldest stop motion studio in Estonia, Nukufilm, with new productions and testing Ai in its pipeline.
PANEL • AI & Animation: How the future is shaping work in this age of Generative AI?
About the panel
Speakers: Audrey Schomer (Media Analyst & Research Editor at Luminate Intelligence - US) in Blue Button, Marianne Carpentier (Director of Innovation & New Tech at TF1 - FR) & Cathal Gaffney (Chief Innovation Officer at Brown Bag Films – IE)
As AI continues to divide the industry, in a Special 2-parter, Cartoon Next explores what’s next for jobs in animation – both those more vulnerable to change and the new jobs which might be created in the future. Part 1 explores attitudes and approaches to Gen Ai, as animation confronts disruption in production and workflows, with insights drawn from data and expert interviews by Audrey Schomer of entertainment market research provider, Luminate Intelligence. Marianne Carpentier reveals the outcome of their exploration into AI at Studio TF1. While safeguarding creativity, how it might affect future content and production pipelines. While Cathal Gaffney from award-winning Studio, Brown Bag, talks about their plans to integrate AI into their operation, with the collaboration of their workforce. And what new range of tech tools they might be offering to buyers and partners.