Books

WAG newsletter

Welsh Animation Group Launches Newsletter. The Welsh Animation Group, an association of Welsh animators created to develop an international animated film festival in Wales, has published the first issue of their newsletter, WAG Newsletter. This new group centered in Cardiff has emerged for a number of reasons. Siriol's Robin Lyons first discussed, "The need for a lobbying pressure group and, just as importantly a forum for animators," as stated in the publication's editorial written by Dave Berry. Wales has quite a concentration of successful animators and companies who, with the birth of the Welsh Assembly ushering in a new political era, thought it was time to discuss the possibilities of a new animation festival. (The International Animation Festival in Cardiff is unfortunately no longer going to be held and last year's Welsh International Film Festival did not feature many native, animated films.) The group will aid in growing the international presence of Wales as an animation nation, not only by working toward organizing another animation festival (either a re-launch or in conjunction with a current entity), but also by discussing animators' needs with the government, helping with training schemes, etc. The newsletter and organization promises to grow into a useful resource. For more information on the publication or to become involved contact Dave Berry at tel.: 01 222 333 308; fax: 01 222 333 320; or e-mail: dave@sgrinwales.demon.co.uk.

The Wales Film and Television Archive also helped to inspire the creation of WAG. Read about the Archive in Dave Berry's "A Welsh Transformation" in the March 1999 issue of Animation World Magazine.

Irene Kotlarz discussed the state of animation festivals, including Cardiff, in the January 1999 issue of Animation World Magazine in "Animation Festivals: A Year of Proliferaton and Change."

Remembering Walt Authors Do Disneyland Signing. Amy Boothe Green and her husband, Walt Disney Pictures publicist and vice president of studio communications, Howard Green, appeared in person to sign copies of their book, Remembering Walt: Favorite Memories Of Walt Disney, on Saturday, August 21 at The Disney Gallery in New Orleans Square at Disneyland in Anaheim, California from 1:30-3 pm. For the book, the authors interviewed more than 100 individuals about their experiences with Walt Disney, including Dick Van Dyke, Julie Andrews, animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, and family members Sharon Disney Brown and Diane Disney Miller. The book had to be purchased at The Disney Gallery in order to be signed. The event was open to all Disneyland guests with park admission. For Disneyland Park information call (714) 781-4565; or visit www.disneyland.com.

Walt Disney and Europe.

Another New Disney Book. John Libbey & Company Ltd. has published Walt Disney And Europe by Robin Allan. The work is a study of the way Europe and European culture influenced Walt Disney and his artists in the making of the Disney animated feature films from Snow White to The Jungle Book. The book is 368 pages, and lavishly illustrated in black and white and color with many illustrations that have never been published. Paperback: ISBN 1-86462-041-2; £22.50; Hardback: ISBN 1-86462-040-4; £40.00. Robin Allan will be doing signings on Thursday, September 2 at 7 pm at Waterstone's Bookshop at 91 Deansgate in Manchester, England, and the main book launch takes place on Wednesday, September 8 at 6:30 pm at The Animation Art Gallery at 13-14 Great Castle Street in London, England. For more information telephone Angie Needs, John Libbey & Co. Ltd., at 0181 947 2777; or e-mail johnlibbey@aol.com; or visit www.johnlibbey.com.

Robin Allan wrote about Disney for the April 1999 issue of Animation World Magazine in "Walt Disney's Make Mine Music: A Reassessment."