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Tom Jordan
Freelance
Writer

Tom is a freelance writer and editor based in Sheffield. He has over a decade of experience in travel publishing, writing for National Geographic Traveller, Sunday Times Travel Magazine and CNN, among others, and editing for travel guide books. His recent focus has also been as a development editor in the education sector, and writing for the children’s market. As a father of two young kids, he finds himself immersed in the world of children’s media on a daily basis.
Tom's Sessions
Manimation '15 Report – Masterclass: Thunderbirds Are Go!
Takeaway: The new Thunderbirds aimed to retain the DNA of the original, but combine it with more modern production techniques: CGI characters and handmade sets and vehicles Working with a partner (New Zealand’s Weta) who understood what audiences loved about the original was essential High value was placed on sound,…
Manimation '15 Report – LEGO Jurassic World
Speakers: Ian Liddell (Studio Liddell); David Brown (Traveller’s Tales) Producer: Simon Smith (thumbfood) Collaborating on a gaming blockbuster: how two local studios (TT Games and Studio Liddell) animated one of the year’s biggest video games. Takeaway: Collaborating can bring extra layers to a production and help the creative process Choosing…
Manimation '15 Report – Cubic Motion: Facial Capture
Speaker: David Barton (Cubic Motion) Takeaway: Cubic Motion, based in Manchester, worked with Cloud Imperium Games and 3lateral to create the Admiral Bishop character, played by Gary Oldman, for the forthcoming Star Citizen/Squadron 42 game. Detail: David Barton, producer for Cubic Motion, guided delegates through the intricate, laborious and highly…
Manimation '15 Report – Made in Manchester
Speaker: Jonathan Ashworth (Mighty Giant) Takeaway: Motion North, the collective gathering for designers, animators, filmmakers and vfx artists presented the ‘Manimation Showreel’ – the very best of Manchester animation and motion design. Motion North: The Best Bits from Mighty Giant on Vimeo. Detail: Jonny Ashworth introduced Motion North, a collective…
Manimation '15 Report – Research: Play, Apps, Habits and Stats
Speaker: Jackie Marsh (University of Sheffield) Producer: Helen Brunsdon (Producer/Consultant) Takeaway: Up-to-date academic research on the viewing habits of young people from Professor Jackie Marsh, expert in children and digital literacy. Age range of study is 0-5. Research took the form of a survey of 2000 parents and carers, case…
Manimation '15 Report – Innovation in Tech, Process and Workflow
Speakers: Gareth Williams (YellowDog) Wes Wood (ITV) Sarah Worcester (Motion Graphics) Tony Churnside (Knowledge Transfer Network) Moderator/producer: Steve Sharman (Hackthorn Innovation) Takeaway: Discussion on how technology does – and doesn’t – support the work of storytellers Creatives discussed how the ever-increasing raft of technology is hard to keep track of,…
Manimation ‘15 Report – Beyond Flesh and Blood
Speakers: John Kavanagh and Seb McBride (Pixelbomb Games) Producer: Simon Smith (thumbfood) Takeaway: Pixelbomb Games is a full video games studio based in Manchester. The company is currently creating ‘Beyond Flesh and Blood’, an agile mech shooter for PC, VR and Console game set entirely in the city, 200 years…