After a short but dynamic experience in psychiatric nursing and art therapy, Erik van Drunen took a second chance and studied animation and photography at the Academy of Fine Arts and Education in Tilburg. Since graduating in 1992 the path has led him through a wide range of activities in the field of animation and film education. He has organised workshops and master classes, lectured about animation and served on selection committees. He has been a member of the advisory board of the Dutch Film Fund, which gave him the opportunity to read piles and piles of plans and scripts and see films in all stages of production. He has been a writer for and the editor of the newsletter of the Holland Animation Association. Starting as a volunteer for the Holland Animation Film Festival in 1992, he has become a programmer and staff member. Thereby he can see a lot of films in their final glory today. He also lectures on the theory of animation in Rotterdam and Brussels. The noisy but inspirational contact with the rising troops of new animation directors prevents him to forget how it all begins and means a close contact with the future.