5x Must-sees The Art Department

Curious about the design process behind films, animations, and games? Then you can’t miss The Art Department! On March 20 & 21, Playgrounds brings this international festival to the Klokgebouw in Eindhoven, where emerging talents, industry pros, students, experts, and fans come together. Want to know the must-see highlights? We've got you covered!

Fortiche

Say Arcane, and you say Fortiche. With this Netflix hit from 2021, they redefined animated storytelling. Do they create everything in-house? Absolutely! At Fortiche, producers, directors, storyboard artists, and animators work as one. At TAD 2025, development artist, matte painter, and art supervisor Anne-Laure To takes the stage. Her magic touch shaped Arcane episodes and the League of Legends music video.

Nomada Studio

For gamers, GRIS and NEVA need no introduction. The masterminds behind them, Nomada Studio, won multiple awards, including the Games for Impact Award. Ever wondered how to design a breathtaking game world? During their exclusive talk, Nomada dives into their creative process and design philosophy.

Kaho Yoshida

Art is a powerful way to express yourself—and that’s exactly how Kaho Yoshida started at just 15 years old. After studying visual arts in Toronto, her stop-motion and mixed-media animations went global. At TAD 2025, she shares her personal journey, in which humor has always been her creative anchor.

Playgrounds International Film Festival (March 17-23)

On the big screen at Natlab, dive into a mix of independent (and Oscar-nominated) short films, Hollywood blockbusters, and bold new voices. But there’s more! With a film course, masterclasses, talks, meet-and-greets, a special children’s program, and an expo, there’s something for every film lover. Get tickets and the full program here!

Free program!

Looking for a free creative experience? The Art Market lets you shop exclusive prints, books and apparel from top artists. Prefer to watch artists create in real-time? At the Artist Studios, catch live sculpting and animation sessions by talents like Aaron Blaise (known for The Lion King). And for the real fans—why not get a TAD tattoo?

Practical information

Before you start running around like a headless chicken, let us tell you where to find the full program, and—of course—how to get your hands on a ticket. Because on top of everything we just mentioned, The Art Department also offers sketch sessions, portfolio reviews, panel discussions, light art installations, and workshops. Okay, is that all? Nope, not even close! Check out their website for the full schedule and to score one of the last remaining tickets (it’s almost sold out). And don’t forget to bookmark the timetable—so you know exactly when and where to be.