XPPen Collaborates with the Ottawa International Animation Festival to Celebrate Artistic Innovation

XPPen, the leading digital art innovation brand, is proud to continue its partnership with the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) by sponsoring the 2025 XPPen Craft Award for Best Animation Technique — a distinction recognizing exceptional craftsmanship and technical innovation in animation. On September 27, 2025, the award was presented to Fusion, directed by Richard Reeves, at this year’s OIAF.

Founded in 1975 and first held in 1976 in Ottawa, Ontario, the Ottawa International Animation Festival has grown into North America’s largest and longest-running animation festival, and one of the world’s four premier animation events. Each year, it attracts over 25,000 attendees from around the globe and features a vibrant program of screenings, exhibitions, and industry events — including the Animation Conference (TAC), which gathers more than 300 professionals — alongside youth initiatives that nurture the next generation of animators.

“We are honored to collaborate once again with OIAF, one of the world’s most respected animation festivals that continues to inspire and shape the future of the art form,” said Amy Yuan, Brand Director at XPPen. “At XPPen, we believe that technology should serve creativity — helping artists refine their techniques, explore new ideas, and bring imagination to life with precision and passion.”

Recognizing Creative Mastery in Animation

This year’s XPPen Craft Award for Best Animation Technique went to Fusion, directed by Richard Reeves, an experimental film distinguished by its masterful integration of visual rhythm and sound. The jury praised Reeves’ work, stating: “For the XPPen Craft Award Prize for Best Animation Technique, the jury selected a film with a perfect assemblage of sound, movement, and colour activating the imagination.”

Fusion (dir. Richard Reeves)

To recognize this achievement, XPPen presented Reeves with the Artist Pro 22 (Gen 2) — a professional-grade drawing display that embodies precision and artistry. Equipped with industry-first 16K pressure levels and Calman Verified color accuracy, the device delivers unmatched sensitivity and true-to-life color fidelity, empowering animators to bring their visions to life with depth and nuance. XPPen congratulates Richard Reeves on his outstanding accomplishment and looks forward to his continued innovation and artistic exploration.

Empowering the Future of Animation

Through its continued partnership with OIAF, XPPen reaffirms its mission to empower artistic expression by providing accessible, high-performance digital tools that support both emerging and established artists. OIAF remains a vital platform for creative exchange, experimentation, and discovery — values that align with XPPen’s dedication to fostering creativity and pushing the boundaries of digital artistry.

Looking ahead, XPPen will continue to celebrate and support animators worldwide, empowering them through cutting-edge creative tools and meaningful collaborations to transform imagination into motion and craft into excellence.

For more about XPPen’s creative tools and initiatives, visit: https://www.xp-pen.com/