Wacfest was, true to its name, a celebration. The festival has been around for the last fifteen years, and it has had an extravaganza of some sort surrounding the film competition for the last seven of those. This year, with the vision of Terry Thoren and the blessing of Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, the World Animation Celebration has returned to its roots and home of Los Angeles, with a weeklong schedule of events that covered everything from the history of sex in animation to the archival footage of Disney's "unseen treasures."

A common observation among attendees was that, 'This isn't your normal trade show and recruitment expo.'

Bill Plympton's self-portrait. © Bill Plympton.

Truly L.A.
Walking poolside of the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel -- where, once upon a time, the likes of Marilyn Monroe used to live -- with a beer in one hand and a cell phone in the other, people were making deals, making calls, and generally watching as a new breed of celebrity emerges. Where else could one rub elbows, and forge relationships, with the president, CEO or executive producer of a major independent studio? Passing among the cabana booths, the beach balls and the bikini-clad girls promoting Eruptor.com, these "future mogels" of the entertainment industry came from as far and wide as Canada, India and South America. Courtesy of Wildbrain.com, this brave new world was Web cast for the amusement of a larger, on-line audience, and if you look closely enough, you might even spy as part of the surreal background and wonder: 'Hey, isn't that Bill Plympton?' -- or, from his balcony perch, an older gentleman patiently giving interviews to the media -- 'Hey, isn't that Stan Lee?'

Yes and yes.

Though the activity of Wacfest was spread among the different venues of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the L.A. Film School, and even, for one afternoon, the Paramount Studios lot, the whole festival was remarkably well coordinated and organized. In the future, there will be one facility (currently under construction) that will house the entire affair, but for now, most of the week's discussions and screenings took place at Hollywood Boulevard's newly restored Egyptian Theater, only a short jaunt away.