In the days before the current boom, when animation was still largely considered a marginal activity, Beaudet and the Cinémathèque provided a sense of validation for filmmakers and historians alike, and helped pave the way for the current widespread interest in animation. Thus, I was delighted when she agreed to write a story on the Cinémathèque, when I wanted to start a series on occasional pieces on archival resources for the Society of Animation Studies Newsletter.

Renzo Kinoshita was an accomplished filmmaker, but he is perhaps most widely thought of as being synonymous with ASIFA-Japan, an organization he help found and nurture. Along with his wife and collaborator, Sayoko, he also had more than a little to do with starting the Hiroshima International Animation Festival. As such, he became a vital cog in Japan's animation culture. And while Renzo and Louise were never part of my immediate animation family, as Al Eugster was, in a very real sense they were.

Harvey Deneroff
harvey@awn.com
Editor-In-Chief
Animation World Magazine