Exploring Myth, Culture and 3D Animation through two international masterclasses
IED X Whistling Woods International
Date
03 April 2026
Whistling Woods International (WWI), one of India’s leading film and animation schools, recently hosted two masterclasses in collaboration with IED Rome. The initiative reflects a growing academic connection between the two institutions and, for now, IED has been invited to contribute with two masterclasses supported by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, aimed at fostering cross‑cultural learning, shared expertise, and international exposure for students.
The first session titled “European and Italian Folklore” was led by Andrea Salvatori, an internationally recognized Creature and Character Artist whose credits include House of the Dragon, Captain America, and Love, Death + Robots. Around 60 Animation students from WWI participated in the online session, exploring how European myths and legends can inspire contemporary creature design. Through demonstrations of digital 3D sculpting and character development techniques, Salvatori guided students in reinterpreting traditional folklore for modern film and television production.
The second masterclass, “Flight School – Analysing the Dragon’s Cultural Influence in Media”, was conducted by Yuri Perrini, 3D Animation Director and Course Leader for CG Animation at IED Rome. Students examined how dragons and other fantasy creatures have been portrayed across cultures and entertainment media, while also delving into the animation mechanics of flight. Through an in‑depth breakdown of wing dynamics, weight distribution, and aerial physics, the session provided essential tools for creating believable flight cycles and enhancing 3D storytelling.
These two masterclasses offered students a valuable opportunity to engage with industry professionals, deepen their technical skills, and reflect on the cultural significance of mythological creatures in contemporary visual narratives.
This collaboration marks an important step in building a global learning ecosystem grounded in international exposure, knowledge exchange, and collaborative creative practice.
In the photo, a project by Lorenzo Amendola
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