Sydney Padua

Sydney Padua is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for MA Advanced 3D Animation at Buckinghamshire New University, joining in 2024 after a 25-year career in the animation industry. She is affiliated with the School of Film, Media and Performing Arts and contributes to programs including BA (Hons) 3D Game Art, BA (Hons) Animation, and BA (Hons) Visual Effects, all offered online and full-time.

Her research and creative interests center on visual storytelling and hybrid animation techniques that merge traditional hand-drawn art with computer-generated imagery. She is deeply engaged in stylized animation, storyboarding, and previsualization, drawing from decades of experience in major studio productions. Her interdisciplinary work extends into graphic novels and the history of computing, particularly through her exploration of Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine.

Sydney’s creative output has been widely recognized: her short film Agricultural Report was nominated for an Annie Award and screened at over 200 festivals, while her graphic novel The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage earned Eisner Award nominations and was named a Guardian Paperback of the Year in 2017. The project also led to academic and public engagements at institutions like MIT, Microsoft, and Google.

Her achievements include:

• Annie Award Nomination - Best Short Film
• Eisner Award Nomination - Best Writer/Artist
• Eisner Award Nomination - Best New Work
• Guardian Paperback of the Year (2017)

Sydney Padua advises on creative projects and course development but there is no indication of formal PhD or Master’s student supervision. She has not been mentioned in connection with research grants, though her work has led to high-profile collaborations and public lectures. Her creative practice functions as a bridge between industry and academia.

She leads and contributes to academic teams focused on digital animation and games education, particularly in online and hybrid learning environments. Her current creative projects explore innovative forms of animated expression that integrate drawing and digital techniques.