WeAnimate 2025-11-19 | wam#0067

Head of R&D at The Animation Workshop on why community, curiosity, and cross-disciplinarity will shape the next decade of animation

WeAnimate Day guest speaker Jakob Borrits Skov Sabra heads the Research and Development Department at The Animation Workshop/VIA University College in Viborg. At this year’s WeAnimate Day, he joined a panel on education and the future of animation — and later sat down for a deeper talk about the changing landscape of Danish and European animation.

“I think stories can put spells on people,” Jakob begins. “It’s the ability to actually move an individual — to move attitudes, knowledge, and even identities — through these intricate story worlds that are being built. Whether it’s a game world, a short film, or a feature, that emotional movement is the real magic of animation.”

 

– Jakob Borrits Skov Sabra

Animation as a force for impact

For Jakob, animation is not just an art form — it’s a tool for transformation. He has seen firsthand how animation extends far beyond entertainment: engaging schoolchildren in complex subjects, giving minorities a voice, and even bringing comfort to families living in conflict zones.

“Those are the moments where I realize animation isn’t just about creating commercial products or entertainment,” he says. “It also has an ability to make a social impact — and that’s something that I’m deeply passionate about.”

At The Animation Workshop, that belief translates into a growing focus on how visual storytelling can serve new purposes and industries. The department’s projects reach across animation, games, XR, graphic storytelling, and production technologies — all under one mission: to explore what animation can become.

“Animation is becoming relevant far beyond entertainment — in health, architecture, and climate transformation. There’s so much to be gained for visual storytellers.”

 

– Jakob Borrits Skov Sabra

Beyond entertainment: the expanding field of animation

“Besides being an art form, animation is also an expanding field,” Jakob notes. “We see how animation is becoming relevant in the health sector, in architecture, in the built environment, and in climate transformation. That means a lot of new job possibilities for visual storytellers in these sectors.”

This growing relevance calls for a redefinition of what it means to be an animator. The future, he argues, belongs to those who can move fluidly across media and industries — from VR experiences to science visualization and beyond. That’s why The Animation Workshop’s R&D department works closely with both educators and industry professionals to “futureproof” the next generation of animation talent.

“We have artificial intelligence, game engines, and other technologies transforming our industry,” he says. “If we’re able to build bridges to the industry and figure out how to futureproof the animator of tomorrow, then we can instigate both security and the right skills in our young students.”

Building a resilient, connected community

“The prospects for Danish animation are getting way better now,” he says. “With new tax incentives coming in 2026, we’re becoming more competitive internationally. Broadcasters are investing in animated TV series, and the Nordic countries are moving towards their own streaming platforms — that’s a real sign of maturity.”

But opportunities also come with challenges. Generative AI, shifting global markets, and studio layoffs are changing the creative landscape faster than ever. Jakob’s answer is simple — and deeply Danish:

“The most important thing for Danish animation in the coming years is to stay a community. To face challenges together — AI, layoffs, all of it — as a friendly, collaborative community. Of course, we’re competitors, but we always intermingle in co-productions. That’s our strength. It’s important that we harness and strengthen the transformative powers of community.”

“The most important thing for Danish animation is to stay a community — to face challenges together and strengthen our relational bonds.”

 

– Jakob Borrits Skov Sabra

Education and Europe: connecting the ecosystems

One of Jakob’s central focus areas is skills development — not just in Denmark, but across Europe. He points to major European initiatives that The Animation Workshop is leading.

“We’re heading one of the first European Centres for Vocational Excellence in animation, called AVENUE,” he explains. “It combines ecosystems: animation in Denmark, games in France, XR technologies in Italy, virtual production and VFX in the Netherlands, and visual storytelling in Ireland. Together, we’re building a European ecosystem drawing on the strengths of all five areas.”

In parallel, the school leads Paneurama, an innovation alliance that brings together educators and industry leaders to address the growing gap between what schools teach and what the digital visual industries need.

“We’re keen to ensure that what we teach — both hard skills and soft skills — is aligned with the ambitions and insights from the Danish and European animation industries,” Jakob says. “That goes for animation, but also for those cross-disciplinary creative media fields. We want to make the best possible education for the industry — and make sure it comes from Denmark.”

Animation with purpose

Whether the topic is education, AI, or community, one theme runs through Jakob’s reflections: the idea that animation’s power lies in its humanity. It’s a field built on collaboration, curiosity, and care — values that, in his view, will be crucial in navigating the decade ahead.

“Animation is close to my heart,” he says. “Because when it works, it moves people. It helps us see the world — and each other — a little differently.”