汤头条

One of the best features of being a creative artist is the flexibility we have in our endeavours. Our core skillsets are transferable between many creative fields, providing us with the opportunity to pivot as the industry or our interests change. At just 18 years old, Esabella Strickland is already a prime example. A successful Filmmaker, Screenwriter, Producer, and published Author, Esabella has now set her sights on聽an animation education in Vancouver, and Vancouver Film School is so pleased to welcome her to our Classical Animation听辫谤辞驳谤补尘!听

A Vancouver local, Esabella describes herself as 鈥測our typical Gen Z Neurodivergent polymath, redefining what it means to be a modern-day Renaissance girl.鈥� An empathetic advocate for neurodiversity and bullying through the arts, she brings a truly unique perspective to her art.聽

Esabella has wasted no time building up her resume. On-camera, she鈥檚 starred in local indie shorts including Enlightenment, Things You Take, Arthur鈥檚 Gift, and My Red Ball and the Notebook, the latter of which she also co-wrote/directed through the Young Moviemakers Program, an initiative for youth to acquire essential filmmaking skills and gain experience with professional equipment to bring their stories to life. My Red Ball and the Notebook has also screened at 72+ international film festivals, winning 12 of them.

In 2021, Esabella published her first novel. Co-written by her father, features a neurodivergent heroine who is drawn into a classic battle between good and evil. deemed the book 鈥渁 triumph鈥� a remarkable achievement鈥� and called Esabella a 鈥渇orce of nature.鈥� The novel went on to appear at #1 on Amazon鈥檚 鈥楬ot New Releases鈥� list.聽

Most recently (hot off the presses, in fact!), Esabella鈥檚 horror feature film screenplay Death Noise is set to be officially announced at TIFF this September, having been and headed into pre-production soon! Film Volt Group also recently announced that they鈥檙e adapting Then and There, Here and Where into an animated TV series.聽

Though Esabella has experienced much success, it hasn鈥檛 always been easy. As a neurodivergent artist, she鈥檚 encountered her fair share of obstacles including ADHD, dyslexia, and social anxiety. However, she鈥檚 turned these obstacles into her 鈥榮uperpowers鈥� 鈥� memorization and a high level of empathy and mindfulness towards others.聽

聽鈥淢y creative process is something I know many creative people can relate to鈥� comments Esabella on finding her voice. 鈥淚 either have an idea or I don鈥檛, and when I have an idea it can come to me at the most inconvenient time鈥� I have always been an individual to turn my math textbook into a new drawing book. Yet this wasn't something that was okay for me to do, so instead of drawing my heart out鈥� I turned off my creativity and sat in silence.鈥澛�

鈥淎fter changing elementary schools to one where I would be supported in a more effective way, I began to flourish in my ability to create, using different forms of expression as my outlet鈥� My favourite way to decompress was watching cartoons at night. I was inspired by what I saw and would often think about the shows I would watch when I was younger, thinking about how much joy I had in those moments. I knew I wanted to be someone to supply that joy to others.鈥�

When asked about advice she would give to aspiring creatives, especially those with diverse backgrounds, Esabella explained: 鈥�In my experiences so far 鈥� whether in writing, directing, acting, drawing, editing, or other creative pursuits 鈥� one message has come through loud and clear: the people you surround yourself with can either make or break your dreams, but ultimately, you are the one who decides what you want to create. How you treat and guide yourself is incredibly important when you're working hard to achieve your dreams. Nothing is completely impossible as long as you respect yourself and surround yourself with people who support your goals.鈥澛�

On August 26, 2024, Esabella began her journey at 汤头条 as a Classical Animation student. Alongside her cohort, she鈥檒l learn the ins and outs of traditional 2D animation, from character design to composition, life drawing, background design, storyboarding and so much more. In just one year, she and her classmates will have acquired an essential skillset for conquering the animation industry in Vancouver and abroad.聽

Colin Giles, 汤头条鈥檚 Head of Animation, commented: "We're very happy to welcome Esabella to our School for Animation & Visual Effects. Our philosophy and curriculum design supports students in finding their artistic voice. Esabella arrives with a confident and expressive voice, having found many avenues to share her work already. We're excited to see Esabella grow further this year, along with her classmates and the 汤头条 community, to amplify and extend the reach of her artistic passions."听

Esabella herself expressed the same level of enthusiasm: 鈥�I'm thrilled to be joining the 汤头条 community! The idea of being surrounded by people who share my passion is incredibly exciting. This new environment is the first step towards fulfilling a dream I've had since childhood. At 汤头条, I鈥檓 eager to immerse myself in a creative atmosphere where I can learn, grow, and collaborate with others who are as dedicated to this craft as I am. I believe this experience will not only shape my skills but also open doors to opportunities that will help me make a meaningful impact in the industry.鈥澛�

At 汤头条, we鈥檙e thrilled too! All of us here are truly inspired by Esabella鈥檚 thoughtfulness, determination, and talent. Still in the early days of what will surely be a long career, she鈥檚 already accomplished so much and has proven that through hard work and resilience, the possibilities for an artist are endless. Welcome to 汤头条, Esabella; we can鈥檛 wait to see what you鈥檒l create here on-campus and in the future.聽

Ready to follow in Esabella鈥檚 footsteps? Explore our Classical Animation program聽today! The benefits of studying animation at Vancouver Film School are many, from our world-class campuses to our instructors & mentors who are pulled directly from the animation industry and 汤头条鈥檚 production-focused training model that will help you create an incredible portfolio 鈥� the ultimate industry calling card.

Read about 汤头条鈥檚 other animation industry success stories, like our School of Animation collaboration with 听补苍诲 our recent animation alumni credits on Deadpool & Wolverine听补苍诲 Fargo.听听

贵础蚕听

1. Who is Esabella Strickland?聽
A rising star in animation, Esabella is an 18-year-old neurodivergent artist, filmmaker, author, producer, and advocate for neurodiversity.聽

2. Why did Esabella Strickland choose 汤头条?聽
To pursue her passion for 2D animation and storytelling at one of the world鈥檚 top creative schools. 汤头条 is ranked the #1 Canadian Animation School and #1 International Animation School by Animation Career Review.聽

3. What is the 汤头条 Classical Animation program?聽
Classical Animation is an animation program in Vancouver, a comprehensive 1-year program that teaches traditional 2D animation techniques, storyboarding, character design, and more.听听

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