Students of the Barbados Community College’s Game Art and Animation programme stepped beyond the classroom and into the spotlight at AnimeKon 2026, where they had the opportunity to showcase their creativity, skills and original ideas to thousands of patrons.
Held on August 29 and 30 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, the popular culture expo marked an important milestone for BCC’s first- and second-year Game Art and Animation students, as they presented their professional project concept pitches publicly for the first time.
For the students, the experience was about much more than displaying their work. It gave them an opportunity to engage directly with an audience interested in gaming, animation, comics and digital art, while developing the confidence and communication skills needed to present their creative ideas in a professional setting.
Bringing Student Ideas to Life
A total of 16 students participated in the exhibition, with projects demonstrating the range of creative and technical skills being developed through the programme.
As part of their Professional Project Course, students developed concept pitches featuring animated and game-based solutions for the Barbados Sea Turtle Project, interpretations of Anansi stories for the National Cultural Foundation, as well as their own original animation and game concepts.
Among the work showcased was first-year student Brigita Baker’s Anansi and the Sky Kingdom, a side-scrolling platform game concept inspired by the Anansi story of the same name. The project was one example of how students are combining Caribbean storytelling with contemporary approaches to game design and digital creativity.
Building Skills Beyond the Classroom
Throughout the weekend, students interacted with members of the public, explained their artistic and technical processes and presented their work to visitors.
These interactions provided valuable practical experience. Students learned how to set up and maintain an exhibition space, present their work, communicate with an audience, work as a team, manage artwork and equipment, and professionally represent themselves and the College.
They were also able to observe how creative professionals market their work, connect with audiences and build networks that can lead to future opportunities.
Instructor Michael Watkins also added to the interactive experience by delivering a public demonstration of stop-motion animation techniques, giving visitors another glimpse into the technical and creative processes explored within the field.
Connecting with Barbados’ Creative Community
With approximately 4,500 patrons attending AnimeKon 2026 over the two-day weekend, students had the opportunity to showcase their abilities before a substantial audience with a natural interest in the industries they are preparing to enter.
The BCC exhibition also attracted young people interested in pursuing game art and animation themselves, creating opportunities for students to share their experiences while introducing prospective applicants to the programme. Interested visitors also left their contact information for potential interviews.
For BCC’s Game Art and Animation students, AnimeKon 2026 provided a valuable opportunity to create, present, connect and learn. Most importantly, it allowed them to see their classroom skills in action within the very creative community they are preparing to join.
Their participation demonstrated the potential of Barbados’ emerging generation of digital creatives and the growing opportunities for young people to turn their passion for art, animation, storytelling and gaming into professional skills and future careers.