WWI x IED Masterclass Series – 6 March 2026
On 6 March 2026, Whistling Woods International hosted the first session of a collaborative masterclass series with the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED), Rome, for students of the Animation programme. The session, titled “European and Italian Folklore,” explored how traditional myths and legends can inspire contemporary digital creature design and storytelling in animation.
Led by international industry professional Andrea Salvatori, a Creature and Character Artist who has worked with studios such as Untold, Pixomondo, Axis Studios and Goodbye Kansas, the masterclass introduced students to the process of reinterpreting folklore through modern 3D sculpting and character creation techniques. Salvatori has contributed to globally recognised productions including House of the Dragon, Captain America, and Love, Death + Robots.
Approximately 60 Animation students from WWI attended the online session, engaging with the speaker and gaining insights into the creative and technical processes involved in bringing mythological creatures to life for film and television. The session marked the beginning of a growing academic collaboration between WWI and IED, aimed at fostering international learning opportunities, knowledge exchange, and future joint initiatives such as workshops and student exchanges. Included are some screenshots from the session.
