Karl Doran is an award-winning Creative Director and Animation Director based in Manchester, with more than 20 years' experience helping organisations communicate through branding, storytelling and motion. Known for making complex ideas accessible, Karl combines strategic thinking, commercial awareness and creativity to make work that connects emotionally and delivers real impact.
Over the past decade, Karl has led multidisciplinary creative teams, partnering with clients across the UK and internationally to direct films and deliver brands, create campaigns and motion identities from strategy and concept through to delivery. He also founded Oh Nice, a brand and communications studio focused on building distinctive brands and creative campaigns for organisations making a positive impact.
Before founding Flow, Karl spent eight years running a successful marketing agency before retraining as an animator and specialising in motion design. That unusual blend of marketing, branding and animation gives him a broad creative perspective and a collaborative approach that clients value – balancing strategic thinking with imaginative ideas, thoughtful leadership and meticulous craft.
An experienced creative leader, Karl thrives on bringing talented people together to produce original, beautifully crafted work that connects with people and delivers lasting impact.
Award wins
Prolific North Creative Awards – Excellence in Creative Craft 2026
LA Film & Documentary Awards – Best Animation Direction 2026
LA Short Film Awards – Best Direction Fantasy Film 2026
Tokyo Film & Screenplay Awards – Best Direction Horror Film 2026
New York Short Animation Festival - Best 2D Animation 2026
Cannes Film Festival Awards – Best Animation Direction 2026
Manchester Publicity Association Awards – Best Animation 2025
Prolific North Creative Awards – Best Animation 2025
Manchester Publicity Association Awards – Best Animation 2023
The Drum Roses Awards – Best TV and Cinema Commercial 2022
MPA Awards – Creative Agency of the Year 2021
MPA Awards – Best Animation 2021
MPA Awards – Creative Agency of the Year 2020
The Drum Creative awards – Agency of the Year 2019
Big Chip Awards – Creative Impact Award 2018
The Drum DADI Awards – Online film campaign of the Year 2018
The Drum DADI Awards – Agency of the Year 2018
Greater Manchester Business Awards - Startup of the Year 2018
Vega Digital Awards – Best Animated TVC 2017
Vega Digital Awards – Online Film Campaign 2017
Vega Digital Awards – Best Integrated Campaign 2017
Big Chip Awards – Grand Prix Award 2017
Big Chip Awards – Best Public Sector Project 2017
Big Chip Awards – Best Use of Animation 2017
Big Chip Awards – Best Use of Illustration 2017
Big Chip Awards – Best Use of Digital Design 2017
Talks and Lectures
Motion North Festival Speaker – 2026
UCEN Manchester Graduation Special Guest – 2025
The Manchester College Guest Speaker – 2025
Pictoplasma Film Makers Presentation – 2025
Manchester Met University Guest Speaker – 2025
Bolton Film Festival Guest Speaker – 2025
Shillington College Guest Speaker – 2024
The Manchester College Industry Speaker – 2023
Birmingham Design Festival Speaker – 2022
Bolton University Guest Lecturer – 2020
Salford University Guest Lecturer – 2019
Manchester Animation Festival Speaker – 2019
The Manchester College Guest Lecturer – 2018
Festival screenings
Pictoplasma – Berlin, Germany
British Animation Film Festival – London, UK
Manchester Animation Festival – Manchester, UK
Bolton Film festival – Bolton, UK
Pulse of Animation Festival – Sofia, Bulgaria
Short Stop International Film Festival – Iasi, Romania
Dark Scream International Film Festival – Mumbai, India
British Shorts Festival – Berlin, Germany
LA Film and Documentary Awards – Los Angeles, US
Cannes Film Festival – Cannes, France
New York Short Animation Festival, New York, US
LA Short Film Awards – Los Angeles, USA
Tokyo Film & Screenplay Awards – Tokyo, Japan
Los Angeles Movie & Music Video Awards, USA
Jury duty
Prolific North Creative Awards – 2026
Creative Circle Awards – 2026
Prolific North Creative Awards – 2025
Creative Circle Awards – 2025
Prolific North Creative Awards – 2024
