British animator Joanna Quinn is obsessed with drawing. In an age where animation is dominated by slick computer-generated imagery, her films stand out because they are so evidently handdrawn: pencil and sparse colour on white paper, the constantly shifting lines expressing the huge vitality of her characters, whether it is the old crone and the knight in The WIFE OF BATH, the Toulouse-Lautrec-inspired off-duty prostitutes in ELLES or her signature character, Beryl, in any of the three films that feature her.

From November 15, 2009 to March 14, 2010, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) will present "Dreams Come True: Art of the Classic Fairy Tales from the Walt Disney Studio," a major exhibition featuring more than 600 original artworks that shaped legendary animated features including SNOW WHITE, CINDERELLA, SLEEPING BEAUTY, THE LITTLE MERMAID and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

The Sheila C. Johnson Design Center at Parsons The New School for Design presents The Storyteller, an exhibition exploring how contemporary artists use narrative as a way to understand the social and political events of our time. An opening reception will be held on Jan. 19 from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Curated by independent curators Claire Gilman and Margaret Sundell, The Storyteller features video, still photography, drawing, mixed media and installation works that engage the documentary capacity of art to bear witness to the rapid, sometimes violent, transformations of our time.

Anima 2010

The countdown has begun!

The next Anima, the Brussels International Animation Film Festival, will take place in Flagey from 10 to 20 February 2010

The D.I.C.E. Summit® 2010 is the home of the 13th annual Interactive Achievement Awards® ceremony on February 18th, where industry leaders and members pay tribute and recognize the individuals and products that contribute to the growth of the interactive entertainment software business. Comedian, actor and spirited game enthusiast, Jay Mohr will return for his fifth year as host. The Independent Film Channel will be streaming the Awards, as well as filming the show for a TV broadcast to follow.

Animation Block Party, NYC's premiere animation festival, will also be making it's first California appearance at the New Beverly Cinema on February 18th with two exclusive "best of ABP" screenings at 7:30 and 10:00pm.

http://animationblock.com/newbev/

Film highlights from February 18th include 2008 ABP Audience Award winner, "I Live In The Woods" from Max Winston, 2009 ABP Audience Award, "Chicken Cowboy" from Stephen Neary, 2009 Experimental Film winner, "Singles" from Rebecca Sugar and 2009 Documentary Short favorite, "Southern Exposure" from Susan Chien.