Brown Blog Films

Back in 1993, I ahem…. ‘left’ Ballyfermot Animation College ready to join the analogue world of animation. I learned life long skills such as how to edit on a Steinbeck, shoot animation under a 35mm rostrum camera, hand paint ‘Cels’ and how computers were a strange thing of the future.

So last Wednesday, Ballyfermot College had a reunion of past pupils and teachers. People we hadn’t seen in 16 years appeared as if Facebook had suddenly come to life.

Elaine Roche, John Rice & Cathal Gaffney

I have some great memories from Ballyfermot (now called the European School of Animation) and still have some great friends from my time there. It is after all where Darragh and myself first met and started making short films in our spare time.

There was a video message from Don Bluth and Gary Goldman sharing their memories and former principal Jerome Morrissey gave a complete history of how the course evolved over the years. It’s quite remarkable that the majority of Irish animation studios are all ex-Ballyfermot students.

Gerald Murphy and Darragh O'Connell

Andrew Kavanagh, Paul Joyce, Cathal and Joanna Hayden

The reunion was a great night, and there were 15 Brown Baggers there who arrived and strategically positioned themselves close to the bar. The night ended with a nostalgic drink in the notorious ‘Chasers’ which seemed like a better idea at the time than it was.

The ex-Ballyfermot Brown Bag gang

Alan, Seamus, Kelly and Nicky

It was great to see so many people still working in animation. Doc, myself and the rest of the Brown Baggers had a great laugh and are already planning to attend the next one in 16 years time.