Animex will welcome its first physical stop-motion mascot when Teesside University’s international animation, visual effects and games festival returns to Middlesbrough from 16 to 21 November.
Tyler the Tardigrade is a handmade 3D character created by animator and director Virpi Kettu. Unlike the festival’s previous two-dimensional mascots, Tyler can be posed and filmed, giving students a character they can use in their own stop-motion work.
A mascot built for animation
Kettu runs Kettu Studios and has worked in animation and immersive media for almost three decades, according to the university. Her credits include work connected with Aardman Animations, DreamWorks and Universal Pictures, as well as music videos for Radiohead, Katy Perry and Father John Misty.
The idea began in Animex’s green room last year. Kettu had brought a puppet made for a Katy Perry video, prompting a conversation with festival organisers about moving from a drawn mascot to a physical . She proposed several characters, but the tardigrade was selected.
The choice gives the model a useful link to working life in animation. Tardigrades, also called water bears, are microscopic eight-legged animals found in environments around the world. The Natural History Museum says they can enter a dormant state called a tun when water is scarce, while NASA has studied the genes that help them tolerate extreme environmental stress.
Kettu connected that with the problem-solving demanded by animation. Tyler’s several arms also reflect the range of skills used across the craft. The mascot is an artistic character rather than a scientific model, and the image accompanying this article shows a real tardigrade under a microscope, not Tyler.
What visitors can expect
During the festival, Kettu is due to present a retrospective of her work, bringing together puppets and stop-motion projects that are being gathered from different locations. Teesside University also says students will be able to explore ideas for short animations featuring Tyler.
The official Animex programme lists talks covering games, concept art, animation and visual effects, alongside professional workshops, portfolio reviews, an industry marketplace, networking sessions and an exhibition. Schools and colleges are included through Animex Academy, college sessions and Animexperience workshops.
The university says Animex attracts hundreds of fans, future professionals and people already working in the . Some seminars are free, while portfolio reviews give students a chance to receive direct feedback from industry professionals. The marketplace is intended to connect visitors with studios and recruiters, as well as new games and technology.
Animex has been hosted by Teesside University for more than 27 years. It brings working professionals, students and enthusiasts into the same programme, with industry-led sessions intended to provide practical advice as well as a view of current creative work.
Planning a visit
The festival runs from Monday 16 to Saturday 21 November 2026. The Animex website has links to the developing programme and ticket page, but individual sessions may have different booking arrangements, prices or capacity. Visitors should check the official listing before travelling, particularly as the university announcement does not provide a complete daily schedule, speaker list or venue details for every activity.