Wendy Jackson Hall.

This November, Animation World Network learned of the sad news of the passing of Wendy Jackson Hall. As a tribute to her, we have collected some thoughts of the animation community and honor her deep commitment to the art of animation.

Karl Cohen
ASIFA-San Francisco

I've known Wendy since the early 1990s when she programmed films at Rhode Island School of Design. We used to have long phone discussions about experimental works. She was a bright, cheerful student and it was a pleasure talking with her. After she graduated in 1995, she visited San Francisco and we met for the first time. She was on her way to Los Angeles where she found work with ASIFA-Hollywood as its general manager. She also found work as an animation teacher at Santa Monica College.

In 1996, she joined a young start up Internet firm called AWN.COM. She was involved with them as a writer, in sales, as an associate editor, etc. At the end of 1998 she left awn.com to become a freelance writer. Within a short period of time The Hollywood Reporter, Wired Magazine, Variety, AWN and others were publishing her.

The following year Wendy Jackson married Porter Hall. The couple moved to Seattle where she continued work as an animation teacher. She also started a community puppet project, ran ASIFA-NW, served as a consultant to Atom Films and Nicktoons, served on juries at Ottawa and Annecy and did dozens of other civic activities. We kept in touch by e-mail and exchanged monthly newsletters. Most of the animation news from the Seattle area that I've mentioned in recent years in the ASIFA-SF newsletter was thanks in some way to Wendy. She was only 32 when complications from clots silenced her on Nov. 14, 2005.

One of Wendy's accomplishments was starting Animated Adventures (www.animatedadventures.com), a firm that helped people of all ages express themselves though the art of animation. She blended media literacy, visual arts and technology in hands-on animation production workshops all over the world. She held programs in schools, ran summer camps and did special events that ranged from birthday parties to building giant puppets that marched in civic parades. She was a dynamo of energy.

In 2001 the Halls moved to Bainbridge Island near Seattle. An obituary by her husband, Porter, released by the funeral home on the island said in part, "Wendy shared her love of animation with the children of Bainbridge Island and other communities through her business, Animated Adventures. She taught workshops and served as artist in residence in schools throughout the Seattle area, enabling children to create their own animated films. On Bainbridge Island, Wendy also became known as the puppet lady, responsible for creating the Puppets on Parade workshops, at which she inspired community residents of all ages to create art for the 2004 and 2005 Fourth of July parades.

"In addition to her work as a teacher and artist, Wendy was the current president of the Pacific NW Chapter of ASIFA (International Animated Film Association), a board member of ASIFA International, and a member of the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce. More than anything else, Wendy loved children and sharing her love of animation with them. She also enjoyed spending time with her family, friends, and her dog Cinder."

On Nov. 19 Ron Diamond [Acme Filmworks and AWN president] dedicated the screening of the Animation Show of Shows in Portland to Wendy. He introduced the show as he did here and then invited people in the audience to share their recollections of Wendy.

Deanna Morse
ASIFA-Central (Midwest USA)

It was at the Ottawa International Animation Festival, sometime in the mid-1990s and I was waiting for that double-decker picnic bus. Wendy Jackson Hall bounded up to me, all smiles, hand extended to greet me. I remember being struck by her open friendliness and positive energy, a characteristic I saw every time we met.

Later, we found we shared a common interest in animation education. I casually gave her my Move Click Move DVD at a festival. She called me two days later and told me she had watched every frame, and would it be OK if she wrote a review of it? I was deeply honored. She was so matter-of-fact about her approach to this project, and her work in general. Positive, upbeat, straightforward and a real joy to work with.

Over the years Wendy became a dear festival friend. She was someone special — when we sat down together it only took a few moments to continue the conversation we started months ago. I will miss picking up those conversational threads with her.