Call for Papers: Animation: Techniques, Aesthetics, Memory, and the Interdisciplinarity of Moving Images in Contemporary Times
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Roberto Tietzmann (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, PUCRS) and Prof. Dr. Augusto Ramos Bozzetti (Universidade Feevale)
Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Dr. Vanessa Amalia Dalpizol Valiati
The field of animation, established as an audiovisual language throughout the twentieth century, is currently undergoing a profound process of transformation. Over the past four decades, the development of digital technologies has fostered the emergence of new production tools, diversified distribution and exhibition platforms, continuously reshaped production models, and blurred the once well-defined boundaries between animation and other audiovisual forms, particularly in works heavily reliant on visual effects and advanced post-production techniques. These changes extend far beyond the technical sphere, influencing aesthetic, economic, cultural, and social dimensions while expanding the scope of animation and its dialogue with diverse media, languages, and formats.
More than simply a technique for producing moving images, animation has become an interdisciplinary field of knowledge in which artistic practices, technological processes, scientific inquiry, and critical reflection converge. Its presence now extends well beyond cinema and television, encompassing digital games, interactive media, immersive experiences, and numerous other forms of contemporary audiovisual expression. Understanding animation today therefore requires acknowledging both the complexity of its applications and the diversity of theoretical and methodological approaches through which it may be investigated.
In Brazil, the expansion of the audiovisual industry gained momentum at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Public policies promoting the sector, funding mechanisms, and regulations supporting national production have significantly contributed to the growth of animation as both an economic activity and a creative industry. At the same time, the expansion of undergraduate and graduate programs, the emergence of research groups, and the consolidation of specialized festivals and academic events have strengthened animation as both a field of scholarly inquiry and professional education. This transformation of the national landscape, combined with broader global shifts in technology, business models, and patterns of media consumption, underscores the need for research capable of addressing the interdisciplinary nature and ongoing reconfiguration of animation.
Within this context of continuous transformation, this special issue seeks to provide a forum for critical reflection on animation in its multiple manifestations. We invite contributions that critically examine the relationships among techniques, technologies, creative processes, education, research, industry, public policy, preservation, memory, circulation, reception, and other dimensions currently reshaping the field of animation. By fostering dialogue across disciplines and encouraging diverse research perspectives, this dossier aims to strengthen animation scholarship and deepen the understanding of its role within the contemporary audiovisual landscape.
Suggested topics for submission include, but are not limited to:
- History and memory of animation as an aesthetic practice and industry;
- Aesthetics and poetics of contemporary animation and their market implications;
- Digital technologies, Artificial Intelligence, and emerging production workflows;
- Public policies, regulation, and funding mechanisms;
- Animation and transmedia practices (games, virtual reality, augmented reality);
- Animation education, teaching, and research;
- Industry, distribution strategies, and exhibition practices;
- Expanded animation: visual effects (VFX), live action, and post-production;
- Preservation, restoration, and curation of animation archives;
- Documentary animation and narratives of realism;
- Social, political, and ideological dimensions of animation;
- Audience studies and reception analysis;
- Experimental animation and the circulation of artistic practices;
- Business models and the sustainability of the animation sector;
- Representations of gender, race, and diversity in animation.
- Original, unpublished manuscripts in Portuguese, Spanish, or English are welcome.
- Submissions are accepted from authors holding a doctoral degree, as well as co-authored manuscripts involving master's students, master's degree holders, and doctoral candidates, provided that at least one co-author holds a doctoral degree.
- Manuscripts must comply with the journal's submission guidelines.
- All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer review process.
- Submission deadline: January 10, 2027.
- Expected publication: First semester of 2027.
