TORONTO ANIMATION ARTS FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES DARK SLOPE AS PLATINUM SPONSOR FOR TAAFI 2025

Today, the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI) announced that Dark Slope, one of North America’s leading virtual production studios, will be supporting the festival as a program contributor and Platinum Sponsor for TAAFI 2025. 

TAAFI 2025 will take place from April 9th to April 13th, offering a vibrant mix of screenings, panels, networking opportunities, and hands-on experiences for industry professionals, students, and fans alike.

This partnership brings together two industry leaders in the animation and virtual production industries to enhance the festival experience, offering unique programming and showcasing cutting-edge technology to attendees. Dark Slope will lead two specialized sessions spotlighting in-camera VFX and Motion Capture at their state-of-the-art facilities, providing attendees with hands-on insights into innovative production techniques. The company will also be participating in the Job Fair to engage with talent interested in bringing animations to life in new ways.

“TAAFI has always been a hub for celebrating animation in all its forms, from 2D and 3D to stop-motion and visual effects,” said Karen Jackson, TAAFI Chair. “Our mission is to foster creativity, collaboration, and innovation by bringing together diverse perspectives and talent from Canada and beyond. With TAAFI 2025, we’re focusing on the idea of the ‘Industry We Want To Work In,’ addressing shared challenges like inclusivity, sustainability, and ethical technology use, while creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue, business connections, and creative inspiration.”

Christine Thompson, Head of Animation at Dark Slope, added: “At Dark Slope, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of animation and virtual production. Hosting key parts of TAAFI 2025 at our studio provides an incredible opportunity for festival participants to engage with the latest in virtual production and motion capture technologies that can help bring quality animation to life, faster.”

To purchase tickets, please visit: https://aftontickets.com/taafi-2025

- 30 -

About the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI):

Founded in 2012, the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI) is a not-for-profit arts organization whose mission is to make Toronto the premiere international destination for animated arts and entertainment. TAAFI hosts a film festival and a variety of recurring industry and public events throughout the year to create unique opportunities that connect animation artists and enthusiasts, and transform the way people create and view animation of all forms. Past TAAFI guests have included Domee Shi (Disney•Pixar’s Bao), Dean DeBlois (DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon), Jorge Gutierrez (Maya and the Three), Elizabeth Ito (Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time), Eric Goldberg (Disney’s Aladdin), Natasha Allegri (Frederator’s Bee and PuppyCat) and Josh Cooley (Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out). 

‍About Dark Slope

Dark Slope’s accomplished team of trailblazers and advanced spatial and virtual production technologies combine to bring quality television and unforgettable immersive experiences to life for clients and partners including Marblemedia, Aircraft, Insight Productions, Nickelodeon International, Dave & Busters, Hasbro, Epic Games, NBC Peacock, Wildbrain,  TVOntario, Warnersmedia and more. Dark Slope is recognized as a Realscreen Trailblazer for their impact on the scripted and unscripted industries (2023), and as a North America Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ (2022) and Canadian Deloitte Technology Fast 50™ (2022) 

‍