ANIMATION CLUB!!! presents 'Secret Handshake', a monthly animation night at Loop Bar in Melbourne. Each month, animators from all around the world create a short animation upon a given topic which is then screened and voted upon by the audience. The winner receives fame and glory... and gets to choose the next month's topic. All animation styles are welcome - from hand-drawn, flash, claymation, stop motion, pixellation - or any combination of these. However - it MUST be animated! No live action allowed! The topic for July is CIRCUS and all films submitted will be show on the 28th July. See you there! For more info, check out our website at http://www.theanimationclub.com Secret Handshake Last Tuesday of every month Starts at 7.30pm & all submissions must be handed in by 7.15pm. Loop - 23 Meyers Place, Melbourne, Vic, 3000

AnimationMentor.com and Don Hahn of The Walt Disney Studios announced an inspiring panel discussion at Comic-Con International with acclaimed animators about the life and influence of Disney mentor, teacher, and artist Walt Stanchfield. Open to animators and animation enthusiasts alike, the panel discussion celebrates the launch of the new book, DRAWN TO LIFE: 20 GOLDEN YEARS OF DISNEY MASTER CLASSES, the complete series of animation lectures by Walt Stanchfield. "Walt Stanchfield has contributed so much to the animation industry through his incredible body of work and the mentorship of a generation of phenomenal animators," said Bobby Beck, chief executive officer and cofounder of Animation Mentor. "This panel is an amazing opportunity to hear the best animators of our time talk about the influence Walt had on their life and work as well as share insightful lessons that are highlighted in the book, DRAWN TO LIFE." About the Comic-Con International Panel Date: Thursday, July 23 NEW Time: 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Location: Room 32AB, San Diego Convention Center For more information about Comic-Con International, visit http://www.comic-con.org/cci/ Moderator Don Hahn, The Walt Disney Studios Don Hahn is a two-time Academy Award nominee and film producer responsible for producing some of the most successful Walt Disney Animated films of the past 20 years, including BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and THE LION KING. Panelists Glen Keane, Walt Disney Animation Studios Glen Keane is an animator, author, illustrator and director. He is currently executive producer and animation director for Disney's Rapunzel. Keane is best known for his character animation in Disney classics, including THE LITTLE MERMAID, ALADDIN, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and TARZAN. Eric Goldberg, Walt Disney Animation Studios Eric Goldberg is an animator and film director who is currently supervising animator for Disney's upcoming 2D feature THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG. Creator of ALADDIN's Genie, he was the supervising animator for Phil in HERCULES and co-director of POCAHONTAS. Goldberg is also the author of the book CHARACTER ANIMATION CRASH COURSE. Tom Sito, Professor and Animator Tom Sito is a 30-year veteran of animated film production. He divides his time as a professional animator and adjunct professor of animation at University of California Los Angeles and University of Southern California and lecturing on animation. Ruben Procopio, Masked Avenger Studios Ruben Procopio began his animation career at Disney at age 18, where he trained under Eric Larson, one of Disney's legendary "Nine Old Men". His film credits include THE LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN and THE LION KING. In 2003, Procopio founded Masked Avenger Studios, which provides sculpture, design, comics and animation services. Published for the first time, DRAWN TO LIFE is a two-volume collection of the legendary lectures from longtime Disney animator Walt Stanchfield. For over 20 years, Walt helped breathe life into the new golden age of animation with these teachings at the Walt Disney Animation Studios and influenced such talented artists as Tim Burton, Brad Bird, Glen Keane, and John Lasseter. This book represents the quintessential refresher for fine artists and film professionals, and is a vital tutorial for students who are now poised to be part of another new generation in the art form. Animation Mentor is a state-of-the-art online animation program teaching students the skills needed to learn to animate like a professional animator in the studio environment. Focused 100% on character animation, the 18-month animation program is designed and taught by some of the industry's top professional animators from top studios. For more information, visit http://www.AnimationMentor.com.

The Cartoon Art Museum Bookstore welcomes Tim Maloney, author of GET ANIMATED! CREATING PROFESSIONAL CARTOON ANIMATION ON YOUR HOME COMPUTER for a booksigning on Sunday, July 19, 2009, from 1pm to 3pm. About GET ANIMATED! Never before have there been so many amazing tools with which to create high-quality professional animation. Thanks to today's computer programs - many freely available on the internet -- the computer sitting on your desk likely has all you need to produce theatrical-quality cartoons. GET ANIMATED! is the entertaining and informative guide to help budding animators unlock all this potential and create studio-grade results without spending a fortune on software and special equipment. Professional animator Tim Maloney offers expert advice on every step of the process -- from thinking of an idea, choosing and using software, and putting on the finishing touches. Hundreds of illustrations make even the most complicated notions fun. The step-by-step directions demystify: writing the script, storyboarding, designing the artwork, creating the characters, making characters move, animating sequences, lip-syncing preparing high-quality output, editing, and sound. Plus, there is a bonus Tutorial DVD included, packed with useful open-source software, links to animation sites, and -- best of all -- cartoon animation that explains concepts from the book. With a copy of GET ANIMATED! and the possibilities already available in their home computer, aspiring animators are fully empowered to create top-notch cartoons that will rival any mega studio creation. About the Author: Tim Maloney has been a professional animator for more than 15 years. Formerly the animation director for MRS. MUNGER'S CLASS and CENTERVILLE for Disney's ONE SATURDAY MORNING, he has lectured widely and is an assistant professor in the radio/television/film department at California State University at Fullerton. He lives in Los Angeles.

In celebration of the SpongeBob SquarePants' 10th Anniversary, Borders(R) and Waldenbooks(R) stores nationwide will host a "SpongeBob Day of Happiness" kids event July 18 beginning at 2 p.m. Kids of all ages won't want to miss this opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of free fun in honor of the quirky yellow sea sponge, his zany sidekicks Patrick and Squidward and all of the inhabitants of Bikini Bottom. Stores have a number of activities planned for kids, which may include the following: -- Storytime - Grab free samples of delicious beverages and treats from the Seattle's Best Coffee cafe located in most Borders superstores and then enjoy storytime featuring SpongeBob books as well as other entertaining stories. Treats to try include Peach FruitKula(R) and Peach Raspberry Cobbler Cake. -- Trivia - In SpongeBob world, what are snails like? What is the name of Bikini Bottom's resident ghost? Kids will be challenged to answer these questions and more during SpongeBob trivia. -- Games - Games will vary from store to store, but kids will have a great time engaging in a variety of SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward and Krusty Krab-inspired activities that are sure to get the arms and legs moving and the blood flowing! -- Puppet Project - Kids can create their own SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward or Jellyfish puppets and take them on their own adventures. -- "Day of Happiness" Parade - Pay tribute to SpongeBob and all of the smiles he's created by parading around the store with your special puppet in hand wishing everyone a happy day. In addition to enjoying a variety of entertaining activities, fans can also look forward to receiving fun prizes and giveaways including ponchos, magnets, temporary tattoos and balloons. (Prizes and giveaways will vary by store.) To find out if your local Borders or Waldenbooks store is hosting a "SpongeBob Day of Happiness" party, click the Store Locator tab on Borders.com and search for your favorite store, and then click on the store's page to view a list of upcoming events. Events may vary from store to store.

The Cartoon Art Museum proudly presents Once Upon a Dream: The Art of SLEEPING BEAUTY, celebrating 50 years since the original release of the classic animated feature from Walt Disney Studios. Once Upon A Dream explores the creation of one of Walt Disney Studios' most enduring films, from pencil art and model sheets to animation cels, color guides and behind-the-scenes photographs of the cast and crew. Almost ten years in the making, SLEEPING BEAUTY was designed to look like no other Disney film, drawing from both medieval illustrations and cutting-edge 1950s graphic design. Artist Eyvind Earle, who supervised the film's look and hand-painted most of the dozens of lavish backgrounds, gave the film its unique blend of lush detail and bold, stylized designs. Disney production designer Ken Anderson developed these elements into a visually arresting feature, much of it animated by members of the Nine Old Men, Walt Disney's most trusted cadre of animators. SLEEPING BEAUTY was the last Disney film to use fully hand-inked animation cels and one of only two ever filmed in 70mm widescreen. An box-office hit when it premiered in 1959, it's now renowned as one of the most beautiful and beloved animated films ever made. This exhibition also includes a spotlight on Disney artist/illustrator Ron Dias, whose first professional job in the animation industry was as an in-betweener to clean-up animator on SLEEPING BEAUTY. Dias went on to become one of the most highly-regarded and sought-after background artists and color stylists in the business. The Cartoon Art Museum will feature a selection of his background paintings and color concepts from THE SECRET OF NIMH, WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT, and THE LITTLE MERMAID. Join the Cartoon Art Museum for a reception celebrating our latest exhibition, Once Upon A Dream: The Art of SLEEPING BEAUTY on Saturday, August 15, 2009, from 7:00 to 9:00pm. Special guest Ron Dias will be present to discuss his career as an animation artist and illustrator, with a special focus on his role in the creation of the Walt Disney classic SLEEPING BEAUTY. This reception is free and open to the public. About Ron Dias: In 1956, Ron Dias, an 18-year-old kid fresh from Hawaii, came to Hollywood to work for the Walt Disney Animation Studios. After finishing his assignment in the Animation Department on SLEEPING BEAUTY, Ron worked throughout Hollywood as a scenic artist for 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Columbia Pictures and MGM Studios. He returned to the animation field to work with such studios as Hanna-Barbera (JONNY QUEST), Warner Brothers (DAFFY DUCK, BUGS BUNNY), Don Bluth (THE SECRET OF NIMH), and many others, ending with Disney's WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT and THE LITTLE MERMAID feature and television series. In recent years, Dias has created artwork for Disney Imagineering's "Disney Seas" murals in Tokyo, Japan, and has collaborated with noted marine life painter Wyland on a series of paintings featuring characters from THE LITTLE MERMAID. Dias now lives in central California and has gone full circle with his career, creating fine art as he was trained to do at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. He is still actively creating work for the Disney Studios, as well.

The Cartoon Art Museum hosts freelance artist and cartoonist Briana Miller on Saturday, July 18, 2009 from 1pm to 3pm as part of its ongoing Cartoonist-in-Residence program. Museum visitors will be offered the chance to talk to her about her comics and watch Miller at work. Briana Miller is a Berkeley-born, East Bay resident who has lived in almost every city that touches the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay. She created her first comic in 2000 and quickly discovered what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. She has produced at least one hand-drawn, hand-silk-screened comic a year ever since. Each of Miller's comics is a self-contained story with no recurring characters or story lines. Her stories are often a mixture of whimsy and loss that becomes magical realism in unexpected moments of comic-book maturity. When not creating her comics, Briana Miller is a full-time high school art teacher. She also works as a freelance illustrator and silk-screener, with a focus on posters, postcards, event invitations and shirts. In her spare time, Miller enjoys sewing and being a member of the National Puzzlers League. This event is free and open to the public. The Cartoon Art Museum regularly hosts professional cartoonist in its galleries as part of its Cartoonist-in-Residence program. Museum patrons see cartoonists at work on their latest projects and learn everything you ever wanted to know about cartoonists -- but were afraid to ask. Past featured Cartoonists-in-Residence include Paul Madonna (ALL OVER COFFEE), Keith Knight (K CHRONICLES, (TH)INK), Paige Braddock (JANE'S WORLD), Michael Jantze (THE NORM) and Jimmy Gownley (AMELIA RULES) among many others.

Storyopolis Fine Art in association with The 4th Wall Gallery are proud to announce the Art of Dr. Seuss National touring exhibition in honor of the 100th Seussentennial celebration. This exhibition chronicles a side of Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, that most readers have never seen. You'll discover Seussian imagery from every facet of his varied career, including rare early works & poetry, advertising works, WWII editorial cartoons, magazine covers from the 1920s and 1930s, his collection of unorthodox taxidermy, the Secret Art, and never-before-seen works from Seuss's personal archives. For more information on Storyopolis Fine Art please visit our websites: www.storyopolisfineart.com and www.the4thwallgallery.net. This touring exhibition will be on display for a limited but extremely special period of time. So please join us for a rare glimpse into the artistic life of this celebrated American icon. OPENING RECEPTION Friday, July 17, 2009 7PM - 9PM Exhibition Friday, July 17 - Sunday, August 9

Please join the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art - MoCCA for David Mazzucchelli and Dan Nadel in Conversation Thursday, July 16, 7 P.M. at MoCCA, 594 Broadway (between Houston and Prince), suite 401, New York, NY 10012 Mazzucchelli and Nadel will discuss Mazzucchelli's work, and the exhibition, SOUNDS AND PAUSES. Mazzucchelli will sign copies of Asterios Polyp and other books after the conversation. About David Mazzucchelli: David Mazzucchelli has been making comics his whole life. Known chiefly for his collaborations -- with Frank Miller on seminal Batman and Daredevil stories, and with Paul Karasik on an adaptation of Paul Auster's novel, CITY OF GLASS -- he began publishing his own stories in 1991 in his anthology magazine, RUBBER BLANKET. Since then his short comics have been published in books and magazines around the world. ASTERIOS POLYP is his first graphic novel. About Dan Nadel Dan Nadel is the owner of PictureBox, Inc., a Grammy Award-winning New York-based packaging and publishing company. Dan has authored two award-winning books: ART OUT OF TIME: UNKNOWN COMIC VISIONARIES 1900-1969 and GARY PANTER. As a curator, he has mounted exhibitions for numerous venues in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Athens, and Tokyo.

Registration is now open for this year's 25th Anniversary NFFC Disneyana Convention and All Disneyana Show and Sale July 14 thru July 19 at the Anaheim Crowne Plaza Resort, which is located in Garden Grove, CA. Our 25th Anniversary Convention is shaping up to be our biggest and best Disneyana bash yet, with such Disney favorites as Don Hahn (Disney producer extraordinaire), Paige O'Hara (the voice of Belle in Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST), and Jodi Benson (the voice of Princess Ariel in Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID) scheduled to be part of Celebration Banquet, A Royal Gathering. Rebecca Cline, manager of the Disney Archives, is scheduled to give a presentation of rarely seen film footage and items from the Mickey Mouse Club Circus. We may even have a few surprises from Disney's new official fan community D23, which Rebecca is a significant part of. Of course several of your favorite Imagineers and Disney artists, past and present, are planning on attending the 25th Anniversary NFFC Disneyana Convention and NFFC All Disneyana Show and Sale as well. Seminars, brunches, banquets, NFFC Disney Legends Luncheon, gigantic NFFC All Disneyana Show and Sale and of course sharing great times with good friends will all be part of this year's blowout 25th Anniversary event.

AnimationMentor.com will host a free webinar discussion between Animation Mentor chief executive officer and co-founder Bobby Beck and Don Hahn, acclaimed producer for The Walt Disney Studios, about the life and influence of Disney mentor, teacher, and artist Walt Stanchfield. Open to animators and animation enthusiasts alike, the webinar celebrates the launch of the new book, DRAWN TO LIFE: 20 GOLDEN YEARS OF DISNEY MASTER CLASSES, the complete series of animation lectures by Walt Stanchfield.

Webinar Details
Date: Thursday, July 14, 2009
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Pacific
Register: http://www.animationmentor.com/webinar/

About Don Hahn, The Walt Disney Studios
Don Hahn is a two-time Academy Award nominee and film producer responsible for producing some of the most successful Walt Disney Animated films of the past 20 years, including BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and THE LION KING.
To learn more about Hahn, visit http://www.donhahn.com/.

About DRAWN TO LIFE: 20 GOLDEN YEARS OF DISNEY MASTER CLASSES
Published for the first time, DRAWN TO LIFE is a two-volume collection of the legendary lectures from longtime Disney animator Walt Stanchfield. For over 20 years, Walt helped breathe life into the new golden age of animation with these teachings at the Walt Disney Animation Studios and influenced such talented artists as Tim Burton, Brad Bird, Glen Keane, and John Lasseter. This book represents the quintessential refresher for fine artists and film professionals, and is a vital tutorial for students who are now poised to be part of another new generation in the art form.