The landscape of Canadian animation is undergoing a deliberate and impactful transformation as ACE Canada, in collaboration with premiere sponsor Netflix Canada, officially announced the ninth cohort of the Animation Career Excel-erator (ACE) program. Revealed during the landmark golden jubilee celebrations of the Ottawa International Animation Festival—marking its 50th anniversary this year—the announcement highlights a pivotal step forward for inclusivity, leadership development, and intellectual property creation within the country’s thriving entertainment sector.
Selected from a highly competitive pool of more than 150 applicants from across the country, the nine mid- to senior-level animation professionals chosen for the ACE 5 cohort represent the next wave of visionary creative leaders. Designed specifically to support artists who identify as women, non-binary, and Two-Spirit, the prestigious training initiative addresses long-standing systemic barriers in the animation industry. By fostering leadership potential and providing hands-on experience, the program aims to shatter the glass ceiling that frequently restricts underrepresented demographics from advancing into key creative, supervisory, and executive roles.
The Announcement and Selection Process
The grand reveal at the Ottawa International Animation Festival brought national attention to nine exceptional talents who survived a rigorous, multi-stage selection process. Out of the initial field of more than 150 applicants submitted earlier this spring, 45 candidates were advanced to an intensive shortlist phase.
These top candidates underwent a series of rigorous workshops and specialized pitch-coaching sessions directed by renowned industry pitch coach Jan Miller. The final selection was entrusted to a distinguished panel of more than 35 creative and studio professionals hailing from various sectors of the Canadian animation landscape.
ACE Canada program founder and executive producer Rose-Ann Tisserand emphasized the extraordinary caliber of this year’s candidates, noting the profound difficulty the juries faced in narrowing down the selection. "The caliber and volume of talent in this year’s ACE 5 applications was truly extraordinary," Tisserand stated. "Each finalist participated in workshops and pitch-coaching sessions with renowned pitch coach Jan Miller, making the final selection of just nine participants an incredibly difficult task for our juries. The talent, ambition, and fresh perspectives were remarkable."
Meet the ACE 5 Cohort
The nine accomplished artists selected for the fifth iteration of the ACE program bring a wealth of diverse experiences, distinct artistic visions, and technical expertise from various corners of the industry. The cohort features a top row comprising Goun Lee, Alice Manieri, Meeka Stuart, Sara Mota, and Helen Lysenko, complemented by the bottom row consisting of Sujin Kim, Jade Laflamme, Sarah Fricker, and Chihiro Nagamatsu.
Each of these artists enters the program with an established foundation in mid- to senior-level production, positioning them to absorb high-level mentorship and immediately apply advanced strategic insights to their upcoming collaborative endeavors.
Program Structure and Collaborative Mandate
Over the course of the upcoming year, the nine participants will embark on a comprehensive, multifaceted journey designed to bridge the gap between senior artistry and executive leadership. At the core of the ACE program model is a collaborative production mandate: the cohort will work collectively to produce a brand-new animated short film.
Unlike traditional training programs that focus solely on theoretical instruction, ACE ensures that every participant secures a key creative credit reflecting their specific leadership role on the production. This hands-on creation process is paired with targeted mentorship from seasoned industry veterans who provide real-time guidance, technical feedback, and career navigation strategies.
In addition to the physical production of the short film, the curriculum incorporates a robust series of soft skills workshops. These specialized sessions are meticulously crafted to prepare artists for high-level management, administrative, and senior decision-making positions. Topics range from effective team leadership and conflict resolution to advanced budgeting, pipeline management, and executive pitching. By combining artistic output with leadership training, ACE Canada ensures that graduates are not only technically proficient creators but also confident leaders capable of steering major studio projects.
Historical Context and Proven Track Record
The urgency and effectiveness of the Animation Career Excel-erator are underscored by the documented success of its preceding cohorts. Since its inception, the program has systematically closed the representation gap in executive and senior-level animation suites across Canada.
To date, 29 past participants of the ACE program have ascended to senior roles within the domestic and international animation industry, directly influencing the creative direction of major studios and streaming platforms. Furthermore, the tangible outputs of the program have consistently garnered critical acclaim and massive public engagement on global digital stages.
For instance, the short film produced by the ACE 4 cohort, titled Rocketship Mai’s, achieved significant industry validation as an official selection at SIGGRAPH 2026. The achievements of previous cohorts extend even further: ACE 3’s collaborative short, Ostinato, secured distribution and currently streams to global audiences on Netflix, providing millions of viewers with access to authentic Canadian storytelling. Meanwhile, ACE 2’s production, Pivot, captured viral attention, drawing more than 1.4 million organic views on TikTok and proving that specialized training models can yield commercially viable, highly engaging digital content.
Industry Implications and the Push for Authentic Canadian IP
The partnership between ACE Canada and Netflix Canada reflects a broader, strategic industry shift toward decentralizing traditional gatekeeping and investing heavily in domestic intellectual property. For decades, the global animation pipeline has struggled with demographic imbalances in supervisory roles, particularly regarding women, non-binary, and Two-Spirit creators. Programs like ACE serve as a direct structural intervention, cultivating a pipeline of diverse talent equipped to helm major studio productions from inception to delivery.
By prioritizing the creation of authentic Canadian intellectual property, the initiative strengthens the national cultural footprint on the global stage. Authentic storytelling requires diverse lenses behind the camera and in the writer’s room; by empowering artists from varied backgrounds to take on key creative credits, the program ensures that future animated works reflect the multifaceted realities of modern society.
Furthermore, the involvement of Netflix Canada as a premiere sponsor highlights the growing symbiotic relationship between streaming giants and specialized regional training incubators. As major platforms increasingly seek out unique, high-quality animated content to satisfy global subscription bases, investing in early-stage leadership development guarantees a steady stream of innovative, market-ready concepts.
Future Outlook for the ACE 5 Cohort
As the nine members of the ACE 5 cohort officially begin their journey following their introduction at the Ottawa International Animation Festival, expectations within the Canadian creative community remain exceptionally high. Over the next twelve months, these artists will transition from conceptual development to full-scale production, culminating in the completion of their collaborative animated short.
The long-term implications for Goun Lee, Alice Manieri, Meeka Stuart, Sara Mota, Helen Lysenko, Sujin Kim, Jade Laflamme, Sarah Fricker, and Chihiro Nagamatsu extend far beyond a single film credit. Armed with advanced leadership training, elite mentorship, and a powerful professional network forged through the ACE program, these nine professionals are poised to assume influential positions across studios, networks, and independent production houses.
Ultimately, the Animation Career Excel-erator continues to redefine the trajectory of Canadian animation. By dismantling structural barriers and providing concrete pathways to leadership, ACE Canada and Netflix Canada are not merely supporting individual artists—they are actively future-proofing an entire industry, ensuring that the next generation of animated storytelling is richer, more inclusive, and structurally equipped for enduring success.
