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Faculty of Art

Experimental Animation

Meet the Artist

Emi

Vantyghem

Animation

““Kevin” follows an undercover housecat navigating a monotonous corporate jungle, braving the average business man’s biggest fear… his boss. While the film plays with the mundane struggles of the workplace, at its heart, it’s a comedy, because humor is the core of everything I create. I know how heavy life can get, and I’ve had moments where I didn't know how to keep going. But, I’ve learned that even a brief moment of laughter can break through that weight. That’s why I make work like “Kevin”. Not only to tell a story, but to create something for people who might need it. Because even if it’s just for a few seconds, laughter takes up all the space in your mind, leaving no room for anything else. Whether you see Kevin as a silly office comedy or something deeper, I hope it brings you a little joy. If it makes you laugh for seven minutes straight—great. If it’s just one chuckle— it’s still worth it in my eyes.”

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EmiVantyghem
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Emi Vantyghem (Emily McDonald) is an animator and visual storyteller specializing in 2D animation, with a deep passion for 3D as well. With a strong foundation in character design, background art, and concept development, she brings worlds to life through expressive motion and rich visual narratives.Her work has been recognized internationally, with her third year short film selected for seven film festivals, earning awards such as Best Student Short Film, Best Story, and Audience Choice. Most recently, she contributed to a healthcare worker campaign with Embreate, using animation to create meaningful and impactful storytelling.Emi’s approach to animation is rooted in thoughtful design, emotional depth, and technical precision. Proficient in Toon Boom, Adobe Suite, Maya, and Photoshop, she navigates both traditional and digital animation pipelines with ease. Whether developing independent projects or collaborating within a team, Emi is dedicated to crafting visuals that resonate with audiences and bring stories to life.
OCAD U - Faculty of Art
Experimental Animation
Major Completed, 2025
Fanshawe Collage
Animation
Major Transferred, 2021

Animation Illustration Character Design Storyboarding Concept Development

2025, Los Angeles Student Film Festival
Los Angeles, CA
2025, OCADU Mid-way Animation Fair 2025
Toronto, ON
2025, Wild Sound Film Festival
Toronto,ON
2024, OCADU EXAN Year-End Screening
Toronto, ON
2024, FEEDBACK Under 5 Minute Film Festival
Online
2024, Arpa International Film Festival (Arpa IFF)
Los Angeles, CA
2024, Mobile Animation Film Festival (MAFF)
Mobile, AL
2024, New York Animation Film Awards (NYAFA) - Finalist
New York, NY
2024, Toronto Independent Film Festival
Toronto, ON
2024, Iowa Independent Film Festival
Mason City, IA
2025, Best Student Film
Wild Sound
2025, Best Work in Progress
OCADU
2024, Best Story
FEEDBACK Under 5 Minute Film Festival
2024, Audience Choice
OCADU
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