From student to showstopper, Dennis brings Animex mascot to life

From Teesside student to concept artist, Dennis Van Kessel’s red panda mascot bursts onto the Animex stage with colour, charm, and creative flair

Teesside University is proud to announce that the Animex Festival will take place from 16-21 November, hosted in the newly opened Digital Life Building at our Middlesbrough Campus. This internationally renowned celebration of animation, games, and VFX welcomes creatives from across the globe to network, collaborate, and share their passion.

One of this year’s highlights comes from Teesside University BA Concept Art graduate Dennis Van Kessel, whose journey with Animex has come full circle. Reflecting on his long-standing involvement, Dennis shared “from sitting in the audience at Animex as a student to running workshops and offering portfolio reviews as an industry professional, I’ve participated in Animex in multiple ways over the years.” This year, Dennis was entrusted with designing the official Animex mascot, a role he embraced with enthusiasm “It was an honour to be asked to design a mascot to represent the festival. I wanted to create something that embodied the creative energy and fun of the event.”

Animex Producer, Franck Dhotel praised the new mascot, “We’re delighted with the vision behind this year’s Animex mascot. A funny, charming red panda, full of personality and sparkling eyes, has been brought to life by the incredibly talented Dennis Van Kessel. His design perfectly captures the imaginative, bold, and playful spirit of Animex. Dennis is now a Senior Concept Artist at Atomhawk, which exemplifies the creative journey Teesside champions. His work on the mascot blends professional excellence with a deeply personal connection to the festival.”

At Teesside University, we value staying connected with our alumni and celebrating their impact on the creative industries. We’re incredibly proud of Dennis, and eager to see what he creates next. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from the Animex team in the coming months.

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