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The Animation Project for Seniors

The Animation Project for Seniors (55+) is back! Join us for one of (2) cohorts this fall to get hands-on learning in animated stop motion storytelling.

WHAT IS THE ANIMATION PROJECT (TAP)?

The Animation Project for Seniors is a series of online and in-person animation workshops for seniors, prioritizing those living in North York. Through animated stop motion storytelling, seniors will interweave creative expression, storytelling from their own perspective with the development of digital literacy.

HOW WILL THE COHORTS WORK?

There will be (2) cohorts for the program that will cover the same three modules, just held at different running periods. **Please sign up for just one of the two cohorts.**

COHORT 1 and its 3 workshop modules will run from: September 8th – October 8th.

COHORT 2 and its 3 workshop modules will run from: October 20th – November 19th

You can learn more about the cohort modules by viewing the cohort in-take forms below.

HOW WILL THE PROGRAM WORK?

The artist and program facilitator will be Cristal Buemi, a Puerto Rican-Canadian, award-winning multidisciplinary artist (stop motion animation, video art/installation, collage and digital design) and educator.

Participants will have the flexibility to sign up for all 3 modules in a single cohort, or to focus on just one module. The online sessions will be 2 hours long and the in-person sessions will be 4 hours long.

The program will conclude with an in-person session to celebrate the end of the program and give participants the opportunity to connect across both cohorts.

If you’d like to learn more about The Animation Project for Seniors, join us for a Zoom info session on August 22nd at 11am.

Module 1: Foundations in Technology + Animation

Module 1: Foundations in Technology + Animation 

1) Digital Literacy + Me (Online)  

Cohort 1: Monday September 8th, 6-8pm

OR

Cohort 2: Monday October 20th, 6-8pm

This workshop is all about getting comfortable with a virtual community and environments.  We will explore different platforms/ terminology, file sharing spaces and review best practices for photo and video capturing on a smartphone.

2) Introduction to Frame by Frame Art Making (Online)

Cohort 1: Wednesday September 10th, 6-8pm

OR

Cohort 2: Wednesday October 22nd, 6-8pm

We will begin to explore the wonderful world of Stop Motion Animation in this introductory workshop.  Covering the history, terminology and basics of this diverse and unique medium where the possibilities are endless.

Module 2: Mixed Media Animation

Module 2: Mixed Media Animation 

In-Person 

All in-person workshops in this module will be at TAIS:
Located at 1411 Dufferin St Unit B, Toronto, ON M6H 4C7

1) Animation Principles 

Cohort 1: Saturday September 20th, 1-5pm

OR

Cohort 2: Saturday November 1st, 1-5pm

No matter what type of animation you are interested in, understanding the 12 principles of animation will help elevate your skills by creating smooth, engaging and interesting movements.  Through discussion and practice we will discover what the principles are, and how they work together.

2) Collage + Paper 

Cohort 1: Saturday September 27th, 1-5pm

OR

Cohort 2: Saturday November 8th, 1-5pm

Through a hands-on approach, in this workshop we will discuss and explore the wonderful world of collage/ paper animation.

Module 3: Storytelling

Module 3: Storytelling (Online)

1) Deconstructing Stories 

Cohort 1: Monday September 29th, 6-8pm

OR

Cohort 2: Monday November 10th, 6-8pm

To become better storytellers first, we must understand what different types of story structures are out there.  In this class we will explore different narrative/ non narrative storytelling formats.  We will then explore how language can connect to colour, texture, movement and composition to help drive our visual stories forward.

2) Sound for Animation 

Cohort 1: Wednesday October 1st, 6-8pm

OR

Cohort 2: Wednesday November 12th, 6-8pm

Music and Sound effects play an important role in animation.  In this workshop we will dive into the use of sound in various animations, and how to capture tone, and mood when pairing movement with sound.  We will also review how to source or create your very own sound effects.

3) Storyboarding 

Cohort 1: Monday October 6th, 6-8pm

OR

Cohort 2: Monday November 17th 6-8pm

In this workshop we will learn the ins and outs of what makes a good storyboard.

4) Drawing in Animation

Cohort 1: Wednesday October 8th, 6-8pm

OR

Cohort 2: Wednesday November 19th, 6-8pm

Through a hands-on approach, in this workshop we will explore different animation techniques. Participants have the opportunity to create their very own expanded flipbooks and animated sequences using hand drawn techniques.

Final Session and Celebration!

This is an in-person session to celebrate the end of the program and give participants the opportunity to connect across both cohorts.

Final event is tentatively Saturday, November 29th. The exact date and time will be shared with participants once finalized.

All registrants and participants are welcome to join the session! Food and drink will be provided.

PROGRAM DETAILS

This program is for those ages 55+ living in North York

All North York residents are encouraged to apply to this program, but please note that priority will be given to Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour as well as to 2SLGBTQ+ community members and Newcomers (people who arrived in Canada within 7 years).

Date & Time: Classes meet Mondays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays, 6–8 PM (hybrid format, schedule varies by cohort).

*Additional Materials will be provided by NYA & TAIS

*Materials pick-up info will be sent out to participants 

This is an application form. You will hear from our team with next steps.

Program contact information tap@northyorkarts.org

 

Fall Workshop

Dates: Classes meet Mondays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays depending on Cohort schedule.

Time: 6–8 PM

Where: Hybrid format (online Zoom + in person), In person location – @TAIS – 1411 Dufferin St. Unit B, Toronto, ON M6H 4C7

Price: Free

Deadline to Apply:

Cohort 1: Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025

Cohort 2: Thursday, October 16th, 2025

Apply For Cohort 1
Apply For Cohort 2

Check out the final projects from our previous participants!

2024
2023
2022
2021
2020

Meet your Instructor : Cristal Buemi

About Cristal Buemi, Lead Facilitator

Cristal Buemi is a Puerto Rican-Canadian, award-winning multidisciplinary artist (stop motion animation, video art/installation, collage and digital design) and educator (OCADU Experimental Animation).  Her work pushes frame by frame boundaries by exploring the diaspora through land and its relation to the body, materiality and inherent beauty found in the minutia.  Through a mindful, feminist, experimental, and ecological lens, Cristal focuses on abstract storytelling, sustainability and texture.  Her works have been exhibited worldwide including: The NYC Independent Film Festival, Yonge-Dundas Square, Animac, Harbourfront Centre, Fashion Art Toronto, Cardiff Animation Nights and broadcasted on AMC, MTV, BellMedia and HBO.  Cristal most recently co-founded Frame by Frame, a research and programming initiative that through the magic of stop-motion animation creates flexible and adaptive artistic opportunities accessible to participants of all abilities.

For more information about Cristal visit her website: https://www.cristalbuemi.com/

 

Meet your Program Lead : Declan David

Declan David is an emerging visual artist and animator based in Toronto, celebrated for his vibrant use of colors and innovative styles. Influenced by his Trinidadian and American heritage, the Neo-expressionist movement of the 1980s, and the graffiti culture of the 1990s, Declan’s works delve into the contemporary Black male experience. His diverse portfolio includes experiential paintings on glass and canvas, illustrations, and animations, steering away from sensationalized depictions of Black bodies.

declan-david.format.com

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