The Children’s Media Conference ran from 8-10 July in Sheffield this year. Featuring a range of engaging discussions, take a look back at the conference, as we recap Animation UK’s Animation Assemble! panel and other highlights.
Animation UK recently returned to the Children’s Media Conference (CMC) in Sheffield. Attended by 1000 delegates, with 220 speakers and hosts featured, the three conference days were filled with pitching sessions, networking opportunities, receptions and panels. Discussions ranged from the dominance of YouTube and how creatives can embrace AI in their workflow, to broader questions about the current children’s media industry, with emphasis on the exciting news about the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s (CMS) new inquiry into children’s TV and video content in the UK – which Animation UK will be responding to.
This year, Animation UK sponsored and co-produced “Animation Assemble! The Next Chapter for UK and Global Animation”, which featured a panel of independent consultants who shared their thoughts and insights on the changing industry landscape and what this means for the future of animation, in a session moderated by Jodie Morris (Creative Sprouts). The session was produced by Shannon Reeve (Blue Zoo) and Kate O’Connor (Animation UK), and executive produced by Tracy Liddell (Studio Liddell).
Panellists Jiella Esmat (8 Lions Entertainment), Robin Gladman (Red Squirrel), John Reynolds (Flip Side Media), and Laura Taylor-Williams (Media Stori Consultancy) emphasised that as the current industry landscape has already been disrupted and changed, the animation sector needs to be more entrepreneurial, collaborative, agile and proactive, as well as form more strategic partnerships – both nationally and globally, but also commercially with brands. They highlighted how creator economy models have been particularly successful, in a world where data literacy is now key.
But how can this be financed? The panel emphasised that sourcing funding is like compiling a jigsaw puzzle, where sources can range from more traditional broadcaster funds and regional incentives, to fresher co-production deals and brand partners. The panel called for more viable funding strategies, especially the expansion of funding criteria to make them more accessible for smaller and younger animation companies, and also called for better distribution models. They encouraged the audience to think of their IP more long-term and globally from the outset too, potentially modelling out of future earnings with a clear global distribution plan, and optimising IP via multi-platform brand strategies.
AI was also another topic of discussion, where the panel highlighted the importance for companies to examine how to incorporate AI into their workflow and how to implement it strategically in our industry. While it may be useful to use its tools operationally to stay competitive, questions around ethical licensing, copyright, and creativity remain.
The session wrapped up with some positive messages for the future of the industry, including celebrating the digital literacy of creators, talent of the younger generation, YouTube’s announcement on deprioritising AI content, and the CMS inquiry.
Question Time 
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
Throughout the week, Animation UK attended a variety of other panels and we were pleased to see a range of speakers from our membership contributing to most sessions, including “Question Time” – sponsored by Magic Light Pictures, featuring Blue Zoo’s Oli Hyatt and Aardman’s Emma Hardie – and “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is”, the pitching session showcasing fresh ideas from Brighton Zoo and Bonnie and Braw.
Opening Keynote with Frank Cottrell-Boyce 
Last Word with Basil Brush
We also attended the “Opening Keynote” – where we heard from Waterstones’ Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce and this year’s Changemaker Lily Mott about shaking things up in the children’s media industry – the “Creative Keynote” on the legacy of Paddington Bear, and the “Last Word”, which was delivered by Basil Brush himself. The event has shown that CMC remains the place to be to engage with the UK’s children media sector.
CMC has a reputation for the quality of the content in the sessions. It’s because they’re all curated by volunteer producers from across the industry and the amazingly hard-working Advisory Committee members. What was really pleasing this year was to hear so much praise from delegates for the thoughtful, analytical and insightful conversations that happened on the panels. We couldn’t do that without the industry volunteers. CMC really is ‘by the industry for the industry’.
Greg Childs, Organiser of The Children’s Media Conference
We would like to thank the CMC team, the panellists and our fellow conference attendees for a wonderful few days. We look forward to seeing you all again in Sheffield next year!
Registered delegates and catch-up ticket holders can access the recorded panel sessions and reports on the CMC website. Videos of the sessions will come out on a rolling schedule over the next few weeks. For other information about CMC, visit their website here.
