Creative Workshop for Companies & Animated Film Show with Oscar^® Short

For its 20th anniversary, Medland GmbH & Co. KG from Taunusstein chose a special combination: a creative workshop followed by my Animated Film Show.

The event at NEUE DENKEREI in Kassel brought together hands-on animation, individual creativity and a customized film program – including my Oscar^®-winning short film QUEST.

This combination shows how a creative workshop for companies can become part of a special anniversary celebration or corporate event.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Medland, a company specializing in medical products, invited members of its sales team and their partners from across Germany to spend a weekend together in Kassel.

One part of the anniversary program was my Zoetrope Workshop. Using this early animation technique, the participants created their own short loop animations and discovered in a very direct way how individual drawings begin to move. No previous drawing or animation experience was required.

The venue was NEUE DENKEREI in Kassel, a space designed for exchange, creative work and new ideas. Its open atmosphere provided a fitting setting for the workshop and the anniversary celebration.

The creative part of the event was followed by highlights from my Animated Film Show – including my Oscar®-winning short film QUEST.

Managing Director Klaus Michallik first saw my work in June 2023 at the International Animated Film Festival in Wiesbaden. (Read the full report.)

He was impressed by the combination of infotainment, artistic quality and humorous insights and later decided to include my program in Medland’s anniversary celebration.

Kassel was chosen not only for its central location, but also because I recommended a suitable venue and provided suggestions for other parts of the weekend program.

During the workshop, participants created one-second loop animations on paper strips and brought them to life in a traditional zoetrope – analog, handmade and immediately visible in motion.

The ideas were as individual as the participants themselves: some drew inspiration from their hobbies, while one participant created a little figure knitting a scarf with the Medland logo.

Although everyone worked on their own animation, the creative process also led to exchange and mutual support. Some participants helped each other with drawing or coloring, combining different skills as they worked on their animation strips.

At the end of the workshop, the participants presented their animations to the group. Seeing the individual ideas come to life in motion was a rewarding conclusion to the creative process – and gave everyone the opportunity to share and appreciate the variety of results.

The presentation of my animated films was met with great enthusiasm. But there was one more surprise at the end:

As the creator of the Oscar^®-winning short film QUEST, I had brought the original Oscar^® statuette with me. For many participants, it was the first time seeing a real Oscar^® from Hollywood up close.

Whether as part of a company anniversary, corporate event or incentive program, a creative workshop offers participants the opportunity to step away from their usual routines and try something new together.

The Medland anniversary showed how hands-on animation can be combined with an Animated Film Show: first creating your own moving images, then experiencing professional animated films and the stories behind them.

The Zoetrope Workshop can be adapted to different group sizes and event settings. For companies, it can be part of an anniversary celebration, corporate event or incentive program – either on its own or in combination with my Animated Film Show.

The program and schedule can be adapted to the specific event and group.