NORTHAMPTON, Pa. — As the credits rolled for “Hidari,” a Japanese stop-motion short, the audience at Roxy Theatre erupted in applause.
The film was among 14 animated gems featured on the opening night of the Open World Animation Festival, each exploring powerful themes such as maternal love, the forces of nature, time travel, human rights and self-discovery.
On Thursday, the festival, now in its seventh year, kicked off with a celebration of imagination and artistry from around the globe.
It will continue through Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Roxy, 2004 Main St.
Tickets, at $5 per screening, are available at the theater's box office only. Day passes cost $10, and an all-access pass is $30.
Passion for art
When Allentown-based filmmaker Brandon Wunder co-founded the Open World Animation Festival, it wasn’t with grand ambitions — it was simply about sharing a love of animation, he said.
“In the beginning, it was just me and my friends wanting to see more animated films on the big screen,” Wunder said.
He and his creative pals first held the festival in 2016 as part of the non-profit Alternative Gallery, located inside a former cigar factory on North Fourth Street in Allentown.
For several years, the Alternative Gallery held an arts festival at Allentown's Cedar Creek Park. Wunder said they hope to bring it back someday.
“We’re filmmakers, not animators, but we’ve always had a passion for the art form," he said.
"Back then, if you wanted to see independent animation, your best bet was catching the Oscar-nominated shorts at the Civic Theatre on New Year’s Day.”
“We’re building something authentic — something that puts the artists first.”Brandon Wunder, Open World Animation Festival
The movie magic celebration has grown from a small local celebration to filmmaker submissions, prize money and curated showcases.
This year's prizes will be handed out in categories such as best animated short, best music video and best student film.
“Now, animators from around the world are finding out about us,” he said. “We’re building something authentic — something that puts the artists first.”
'Waiting for the world to catch up'
Thursday’s 90-minute screening showcased a mix of animated films from the United States, Canada, France, Germany, China and Belgium — each brimming with creativity.
They were as diverse as Amy Hewett’s delightfully absurd “Yasss: Two Girls, One Rapture” and the visually stunning “PINA” (2023).
“PINA,” a 20-minute animated short directed by Giuseppe Accardo and Jérémy Depuydt, is a story told in Italian about a young woman blessed with the power to restore the land, but who faces adversity when her town is threatened by the mafia (spoiler alert: she marries the don).
Wunder said one of the biggest changes he’s seen isn’t just in the festival, but in how people view animation.
“Society’s become more accepting of animation as a legitimate art form,” he said.
“Artists usually know what’s cool before everyone else — we’ve just been waiting for the world to catch up.”
'Artists can get it right'
This year’s festival features a packed three-day lineup, from the fan-favorite Saturday Morning Cartoons to the spooky Horror, Sci-Fi & Beyond block, and even a special Iranian Independent Animation showcase at 4 p.m. Sunday.
That last offering, Wunder, takes on a special meaning.
“Every year, Iranian animators reach out for fee waivers because sanctions prevent them from paying submission fees.
Their films are raw, emotional and often about struggle and survival. We wanted to give them a voice — a space to be seen.”
For the festival organizers, Wunder said animation is more than entertainment — it’s a reflection of culture and a vehicle for empathy.
“Artists can get it right where politicians can’t,” he said.
“We shape culture. Art, music, film — these are what move society forward. That’s why festivals like this matter.”
The Open World Animation Festival schedule includes O!PLA Focus on Poland, Short Animated Documentaries curated by director Amy Lee Ketchum and the closing Best of OWAF 25 block celebrating standout films from around the world.
Ketchum, a professor at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, will discuss some of the films after the 5 p.m. Short Animated Documentaries 90-minute screening on Saturday.
New this year: Organizers added nine virtual reality animated films, accessible via headsets in the theatre's lobby, which festival-goers can watch between screenings.
Friday's lineup
- Animation Grab Bag #1 (90 minutes) at 7 p.m.
- Horror, Sci-Fi and Beyond (90 minutes) at 9 p.m.
Tickets start at $5 per block or showing.
Cartoons, Polish shorts
Saturday's schedule:
- Saturday Morning Cartoons: 90 minutes, at 11 a.m.
- Animation Grab Bag #2, 90 minutes, 1 p.m.
- O!PLa Focus on Poland, 90 minutes (13 short films) at 3 p.m.
- Short Animated Documentaries: 90 minutes, 5 p.m.
- Animation Grab Bag #3, 90 minutes at 7 p m.
- Beyond the Beyond, 90 minutes at 9 p.m.
Student films, Iranian Animation
Sunday's lineup:
- Lazy Toons Sunday, 90 minutes at noon
- Student Film Showcase, 90 minutes at 2 p.m.
- Iranian Independent Animation, 90 minutes at 4 p.m.
- Best of Open World Animation 2025, 60 minutes at 6 p.m.
For more information on the Open World Animation Festival, visit its website.
