Suzanne Buchan

Suzanne Buchan is a Professor in the School of Communication at the Royal College of Art (RCA), specializing in animation aesthetics, visual culture, and pervasive animation. She previously held roles as Professor of Animation Aesthetics at Middlesex University and Director of the Art and Design Research Institute (ADRI). Her academic career includes founding the Animation Research Centre at the University for the Creative Arts. She holds a PhD in Film Studies and Lizenziat in English Literature from the University of Zurich.

Her research explores animation's role in digital culture, curatorial practices, and its infiltration into media platforms. Key projects include the Animierte Wunderwelten/Animated Wonderworlds exhibition (2015) and editing Pervasive Animation (2013). She has curated international festivals like Fantoche and served on juries for ARS Electronica and Leipzig IFA.

Buchan's academic networks include initiating the Animated Media Scholarly Interest Group (SCMS) and NECS Work Group for Animation. Her work bridges film theory, architectural space, and cultural critique, with publications analyzing the Quay Brothers, Stan VanDerBeek, and Indigenous animation histories. She advises postgraduate students in animation theory and has secured grants for exhibitions and research.

Her exhibitions and publications critically examine animation's socio-cultural impact, spatial politics, and materiality. She collaborates globally, holding guest professorships in Tokyo, Portland, Krakow, Stuttgart, and Vancouver.