Like every year, Ars Electronica Animation Festival On Tour showcases recent artistic trends in the field of digital animation. The selection, compiled of the submissions at Prix Ars Electronica 2024 in its recently renewed category New Animation Art demonstrates the transformations and dynamics occurring within the field of animation. Even more strongly than previous years, one could observe the tendency of many creators to utilize specific tools (such as Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, DALL-E, Sora, Runway, or ChatGPT) in a self-reflexive manner enabling critical commentary on the socio-technical nature of these systems and their impact on our society. Moreover, we noticed that a remarkable one-third of the submissions were projects created using AI tools or centered around AI as a theme—the highest number to date.

This Prix Ars Electronica Best-Of program includes 8 animations, 6 of which were awarded prizes in this year’s competition. The two Golden Nica winners, one Award of Distinction and three Honorary Mentions provide an excellent snapshot of the current landscape of animation art. Most of these works use novel technologies to deliver compelling socio-political commentary and make incisive reflections on pressing issues of our time: climate emergency, data surveillance, the invisible human labor that goes into training AI systems, the erosion of image credibility, the commodification of transnational education, as well as the need for fresh visions of culture, nature, and space. Two additional works enrich the program of award-winning projects, one delving into the quantum realities of our multidimensional universe, and the other unfolding a poignant tale of friendship and transformation.

Full programme of AEA Festival 2024

Images from AEA Festival 2024

Like every year, Ars Electronica Animation Festival On Tour showcases recent artistic trends in the field of digital animation. The selection, compiled of the submissions at Prix Ars Electronica 2024 in its recently renewed category New Animation Art demonstrates the transformations and dynamics occurring within the field of animation. Even more strongly than previous years, one could observe the tendency of many creators to utilize specific tools (such as Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, DALL-E, Sora, Runway, or ChatGPT) in a self-reflexive manner enabling critical commentary on the socio-technical nature of these systems and their impact on our society. Moreover, we noticed that a remarkable one-third of the submissions were projects created using AI tools or centered around AI as a theme—the highest number to date.

Through animation, scientific concepts become more than just data—they become stories that resonate and inspire. Animation can turn complex scientific concepts into visually comprehensible narratives, making them accessible to a broad audience. From exploring the Milky Way’s center and the dynamics of stars orbiting a supermassive black hole to depicting DNA replication or the planet’s warming trends throughout time, the selected animations break down intricate scientific phenomena into coherent segments. Such graphical representations of data often unveil ‘hidden’ insights about our world, in other words, they make us aware of phenomena that develop either too slowly (climate change) or too fast (DNA replication) to be noticeable through direct experience or observation technology. Some of the selected animations take a factual, informative approach to make complex scientific concepts tangible and engaging, while others, like Golden Nica winner Smoke and Mirrors, weave scientific data into emotional narratives.

Full programme of AEA Festival 2024

Images from AEA Festival 2024

heARTmonitor is a media-based research and design experiment at the interface of technology, music and human physiology. It investigates how music influences our heart rate - and whether these reactions synchronise across multiple listeners. Using a state-of-the-art heart rate bracelet with an optical sensor array that transmits data to a central computer via Bluetooth and ANT+, heart activity is recorded, analysed and visually interpreted in real time. The project pursues not only an analytical, but also a creative question: what visual forms of expression can be developed from physiological data - and what immersive experience is created when you relate your own heartbeat to the music and the group?

A project realised in partnership by maplab, Springfestival, Klanglicht and AVL Cultural Foundation.

David Kulenkampff aka DKAY is a music producer, manager and social media coach for artists - but also for individual and small businesses. As a creative mind, he has produced countless tracks, designed audio logos, written brand songs and remixed pop icons. He has travelled the world as a DJ for over a decade and has (almost) played through the music industry as an indie label manager and radio producer.

He began his journey in 1999 with his first vinyl release in England - and the world has changed a little since then. Technologically, in particular, nothing is the same as it used to be. And that happened very quickly.

From the financial crisis to MP3 piracy, the rise of social media and AI - looking back, these leaps are breathtaking. But how do we deal with these challenges today? And what do they mean for us as artists? Many feel overwhelmed. And rightly so. New technologies give us incredible new opportunities, but this also has consequences. The world is more complicated and complex than ever before. There is a lack of orientation and, above all, communication; we are both empowered and restricted at the same time.

"I want to counter the modern overload with the oldest human tool: communication. Honest, constructive and productive communication, with the aim of better recognising the world and ourselves. Although we have access to all of humanity's knowledge, we can hardly ever access the experiences of an individual. But it is precisely through direct exchange that awareness can arise. I often observe that young people naturally (can) use online exchange, but I rarely see anyone engaging with them directly and personally. It seems as if the gap between generations has never been wider, and in my view this is a huge disadvantage for everyone involved and prevents us from making progress. I therefore invite anyone who is interested to address their questions to me, exchange knowledge and experiences and perhaps grow a little bit from each other."

A DJ workshop for beginners and vinyl enthusiasts. Immerse yourself in the world of analogue DJing! This two-hour workshop will give you an insight into the basics of DJing with turntables and mixers. Our professional hosts will guide you through the process, from the setup of a DJ set to beat matching and basic mixing techniques. After a compact theoretical part, you'll get straight into practical mixing - hands-on!

• Duration: 2 hours
• Content: Turntables, mixers, beat matching, transitions, first mini sets
• Level: Beginners & anyone who wants to get the real DJ feel
• Focus: Analogue DJing techniques with turntables & mixer

Register for the workshop

Schallware Collective

Inandout Records