HELLO!
I am an award-winning German-English freelance director, animator and illustrator based in Berlin, who works across a wide range of aesthetics, techniques and materials, focusing on visualising abstract ideas in abstract ways. Heavily influenced by avant-garde, abstract and modern art movements, I am completely obsessed with geometric shapes, straight lines and perfectly round circles, creating dynamic and playful compositions bursting with colourful shapes and visualised sounds.
I've always been fascinated between the connection of philosophy, animation and film theory, and so my personal films often attempt to visualise philosophical concepts focusing on our perception of time and spatiality, blurring the lines between theory and practice.
Above all, I simply enjoy exploring again and again on every single project how to convert a thought into its handmade, tailored visual language, figuring out the right shapes, colours and movement for thoughts, concepts and atmospheres, online and offline.
I've always been fascinated between the connection of philosophy, animation and film theory, and so my personal films often attempt to visualise philosophical concepts focusing on our perception of time and spatiality, blurring the lines between theory and practice.
Above all, I simply enjoy exploring again and again on every single project how to convert a thought into its handmade, tailored visual language, figuring out the right shapes, colours and movement for thoughts, concepts and atmospheres, online and offline.
© Trang Nguyen
I moved from a small German village to London to study animation at the University for Creative Arts in Farnham, and then completed my Animation MA at the Royal College of Arts in 2019. My films have screened at many festivals over the last 9 years, including Annecy, Palm Springs, Encounters, Raindance, Uppsala, Guanajuato, Rhode Island and won several awards, my graduation film 'Any Instant Whatever' was longlisted for an Academy Award in 2022.
I am currently enjoying exploring the world of freelancing as a director, animator and illustrator, whilst also expanding my practice into all things 'expanded animation'.
I've worked with independent artists and filmmakers, musicians, news outlets, brands and studios all across the world - on music videos, short films, explainers, logo animations, illustrations or installations for events, and even created a giant three-dimensional mural in Berlin. Sometimes I sneak in as a visiting lecturer at the University for Creative Arts in Farnham, UK, trying to turn everybody into a fan of abstraction and non-narrative animation or have the honour to participate as a judge at an animation festival.
Also, I'm a co-director and founder of KINEMUS, a hybrid 2Dx3D animation studio in Berlin, a space where we explore hybrid and expanded animation through installations, music videos, sculptures and mixed media projects.
I'd be happy to help you visualise thoughts, concepts, music and atmospheres - get in touch and we can discuss your ideas together!
MAIL@MICHELLEBRANDANIMATION.COM
I am currently enjoying exploring the world of freelancing as a director, animator and illustrator, whilst also expanding my practice into all things 'expanded animation'.
I've worked with independent artists and filmmakers, musicians, news outlets, brands and studios all across the world - on music videos, short films, explainers, logo animations, illustrations or installations for events, and even created a giant three-dimensional mural in Berlin. Sometimes I sneak in as a visiting lecturer at the University for Creative Arts in Farnham, UK, trying to turn everybody into a fan of abstraction and non-narrative animation or have the honour to participate as a judge at an animation festival.
Also, I'm a co-director and founder of KINEMUS, a hybrid 2Dx3D animation studio in Berlin, a space where we explore hybrid and expanded animation through installations, music videos, sculptures and mixed media projects.
I'd be happy to help you visualise thoughts, concepts, music and atmospheres - get in touch and we can discuss your ideas together!
MAIL@MICHELLEBRANDANIMATION.COM
Studios & Clients
BBC & BBC News, The New York Times, WHO, Chanel,
Royal Academy, National Gallery, Tate, Imperial College,
Sony, Netflix, Strange Beast, Submarine, BBC Rural Media
and a bunch of super talented artists and directors across the world!
Awards
Finalist - Shiny Awards 2025
Jury Award Best Music Video - Anifilm 2024
Shortlist Best Craft Animation - Berlin Commercial Awards 2024
Finalist Best Music Video - AEAF Awards 2024
Best Music Video - London International Animation Festival 2024
Best International Video - Animix 2024
Jury Award Best Music Video - Paris International Animation Festival 2024
Best Experimental - Short to the Point 2023
Best Music Video - Animakom 2023
Norman McLaren Award 2023
Longlisted for an Academy Award 2022
Camarthen Bay Film Festival - Best Animation 2022
Winner Motion Awards 2021
Supertoon Festival - Best Student Film 2021
Florida Animation Festival - Best Frame-by-Frame Animation 2021
PIAFF Paris International Animation Film Festival - Coup De Coeur Prize 2021
Lisbon Animation Festival - Best Short Film 2021
Vimeo Staff Pick 2020
Raindance Film Festival - Best Animation 2020
Rhode Island Film Festival - Best Animation 2020
Rhode Island Film Festival - Best Experimental 2020
GIRAF Festival of Independent Animation - Best Sound Design 2020
Short to the Point – Best Animation 2020
Australian Effects and Animation Awards - Best Student Film 2020
Animation Block Party - Best Student Film 2020
International Exhibition of Animation Art, Phenakistoscope - Best Experimental 2019
German Multimedia Award 2012 & 2016
SOME SELECTED SCREENINGS
Dresden International Filmfestival 2024
Guarimba Animation Festival 2024
Fest Anca 2024
Ottawa Animation Festival 2024
Anima 2024
Dresden Filmfest 2024
Anifilm 2020 & 2024
DokLeipzig 2023
Manchester Animation Festival 2023
Camarthen Bay 2022
Annecy 2020
Raindance Film Festival 2020
Palm Springs Shortfest 2020
Animator 2020
Rhode Island International Film Festival 2020
Encounters 2020 & 2018
Guanajuato International Film Festival 2020
Uppsala Short Film Festival 2020
Monstra Animation Festival 2024, 2020 & 2019
Leeds International Film Festival 2020
New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival 2020
International Short Film Festival Berlin 2020
Tricky Women 2019
London International Animation Festival 2020 - 2016
Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2016
FILMOGRAPHY
Run (2025)
Je Pars (2023)
Any Instant Whatever (2020)
Synchronicity (2018)
Not The Same River. Not The Same Man. (2017)
The Journey Never Starts. The Journey Never Ends. (2016)
A Small Voice (2016)
FESTIVAL JUDGE
'Best Animation' Jude // Sehsuechte Stunden Film Festival 2024
'Frame-by-Frame' Animation Judge // Florida Animation Festival 2022
'Experimental Animation' Judge // London International Animation Festival 2021
PUBLICATIONS
ASIFA Academic Magazine 2024 Volume1 Issue 1 - Becoming and Being in Animation
PRESS
Je Pars - Zippy Frames
Je Pars - Directors Notes
Any Instant Whatever - Directors Notes
Any Instant Whatever - Motionographer
Any Instant Whatever - Zippy Frames
Any Instant Whatever - Quickdraw Animation
Any Instant Whatever - Artribune
CV & THINGS
Here's a CV that keeps outdating, or better check out LinkedIn!
VAT ID DE336094092
BBC & BBC News, The New York Times, WHO, Chanel,
Royal Academy, National Gallery, Tate, Imperial College,
Sony, Netflix, Strange Beast, Submarine, BBC Rural Media
and a bunch of super talented artists and directors across the world!
Awards
Finalist - Shiny Awards 2025
Jury Award Best Music Video - Anifilm 2024
Shortlist Best Craft Animation - Berlin Commercial Awards 2024
Finalist Best Music Video - AEAF Awards 2024
Best Music Video - London International Animation Festival 2024
Best International Video - Animix 2024
Jury Award Best Music Video - Paris International Animation Festival 2024
Best Experimental - Short to the Point 2023
Best Music Video - Animakom 2023
Norman McLaren Award 2023
Longlisted for an Academy Award 2022
Camarthen Bay Film Festival - Best Animation 2022
Winner Motion Awards 2021
Supertoon Festival - Best Student Film 2021
Florida Animation Festival - Best Frame-by-Frame Animation 2021
PIAFF Paris International Animation Film Festival - Coup De Coeur Prize 2021
Lisbon Animation Festival - Best Short Film 2021
Vimeo Staff Pick 2020
Raindance Film Festival - Best Animation 2020
Rhode Island Film Festival - Best Animation 2020
Rhode Island Film Festival - Best Experimental 2020
GIRAF Festival of Independent Animation - Best Sound Design 2020
Short to the Point – Best Animation 2020
Australian Effects and Animation Awards - Best Student Film 2020
Animation Block Party - Best Student Film 2020
International Exhibition of Animation Art, Phenakistoscope - Best Experimental 2019
German Multimedia Award 2012 & 2016
SOME SELECTED SCREENINGS
Dresden International Filmfestival 2024
Guarimba Animation Festival 2024
Fest Anca 2024
Ottawa Animation Festival 2024
Anima 2024
Dresden Filmfest 2024
Anifilm 2020 & 2024
DokLeipzig 2023
Manchester Animation Festival 2023
Camarthen Bay 2022
Annecy 2020
Raindance Film Festival 2020
Palm Springs Shortfest 2020
Animator 2020
Rhode Island International Film Festival 2020
Encounters 2020 & 2018
Guanajuato International Film Festival 2020
Uppsala Short Film Festival 2020
Monstra Animation Festival 2024, 2020 & 2019
Leeds International Film Festival 2020
New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival 2020
International Short Film Festival Berlin 2020
Tricky Women 2019
London International Animation Festival 2020 - 2016
Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2016
FILMOGRAPHY
Run (2025)
Je Pars (2023)
Any Instant Whatever (2020)
Synchronicity (2018)
Not The Same River. Not The Same Man. (2017)
The Journey Never Starts. The Journey Never Ends. (2016)
A Small Voice (2016)
FESTIVAL JUDGE
'Best Animation' Jude // Sehsuechte Stunden Film Festival 2024
'Frame-by-Frame' Animation Judge // Florida Animation Festival 2022
'Experimental Animation' Judge // London International Animation Festival 2021
PUBLICATIONS
ASIFA Academic Magazine 2024 Volume1 Issue 1 - Becoming and Being in Animation
PRESS
Je Pars - Zippy Frames
Je Pars - Directors Notes
Any Instant Whatever - Directors Notes
Any Instant Whatever - Motionographer
Any Instant Whatever - Zippy Frames
Any Instant Whatever - Quickdraw Animation
Any Instant Whatever - Artribune
CV & THINGS
Here's a CV that keeps outdating, or better check out LinkedIn!
VAT ID DE336094092
Let's start a conversation....
Thank you!
DISCLAIMER
1. CONTENT
The author reserves the right not to be responsible for the topicality, correctness, completeness or quality of the information provided. Liability claims regarding damage caused by the use of any information provided, including any kind of information which is incomplete or incorrect, will therefore be rejected. All offers are not-binding and without obligation. Parts of the pages or the complete publication including all offers and information might be extended, changed or partly or completely deleted by the author without separate announcement.
The author reserves the right not to be responsible for the topicality, correctness, completeness or quality of the information provided. Liability claims regarding damage caused by the use of any information provided, including any kind of information which is incomplete or incorrect, will therefore be rejected. All offers are not-binding and without obligation. Parts of the pages or the complete publication including all offers and information might be extended, changed or partly or completely deleted by the author without separate announcement.
2. REFERRALS AND LINKS
The author is not responsible for any contents linked or referred to from his pages - unless he has full knowledge of illegal contents and would be able to prevent the visitors of his site fromviewing those pages. If any damage occurs by the use of information presented there, only the author of the respective pages might be liable, not the one who has linked to these pages. Furthermore the author is not liable for any postings or messages published by users of discussion boards, guestbooks or mailinglists provided on his page.
3. COPYRIGHT
The author intended not to use any copyrighted material for the publication or, if not possible, to indicate the copyright of the respective object. The copyright for any material created by the author is reserved. Any duplication or use of objects such as images, diagrams, sounds or texts in other electronic or printed publications is not permitted without the author’s agreement.
Responsible for content
The author is not responsible for any contents linked or referred to from his pages - unless he has full knowledge of illegal contents and would be able to prevent the visitors of his site fromviewing those pages. If any damage occurs by the use of information presented there, only the author of the respective pages might be liable, not the one who has linked to these pages. Furthermore the author is not liable for any postings or messages published by users of discussion boards, guestbooks or mailinglists provided on his page.
3. COPYRIGHT
The author intended not to use any copyrighted material for the publication or, if not possible, to indicate the copyright of the respective object. The copyright for any material created by the author is reserved. Any duplication or use of objects such as images, diagrams, sounds or texts in other electronic or printed publications is not permitted without the author’s agreement.
Responsible for content
Michelle Brand
Wilhelminenhofstraße 92, 12459 Berlin
Wilhelminenhofstraße 92, 12459 Berlin