Last Month In Animation

The following is a list of events which took place since the last issue of Animation World Magazine was published. These listings are published weekly in the Animation Flash, a newsletter which is distributed be e-mail. Subscribe now! Are there animation events going on in your area? Share your regional event news with the international readers of the Animation Flash! Please send announcements to editor@awn.com, at least eight days in advance.

* Monday, November 1 - Wednesday, December 15, 1999. Orange, California, USA.
An exhibition of New Animation from Germany consisting of models, paintings, sketches and production shots from the works of eight young German animators was on display at Chapman University. For more information including a screening schedule call: (714) 997-6729.

*Saturday, November 13 - December 23, 1999. New York, New York, USA.
The Gifted Images Gallery, located in Rockville Centre, will host the exhibit, "The Art of Disney Storybooks," a collaboration between Walt Disney Art Classics and Disney Publishing. The exhibit features reproduced artwork from various storybook adaptations of Disney's most beloved films. Included in the exhibition is "An Enchanting Dress," from Cinderella, and "Magic Mirror on the Wall" from Snow White. For more information contact Gifted Images at (516) 536-6886.

* Wednesday, November 24 - Saturday, November 27, 1999. Valenciennes, France.
European Gathering of Young Digital Creation highlighted the technologies of the future and purposes a realistic look at the jobs of tomorrow. The four day gathering featured conferences, round table discussions, and screenings of the best digital work and three-dimensional films. The event was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Valenciennes in association with Supinfocom.

*Friday, December 3, 1999. New York, New York.
Cartoon Noir is a feature-length compilation of animated short films and features works from the American and European artists. Featured in Cartoon Noir is: Ape, Julie Zammarchi's darkly comic critique of monogamy, meat eating, and the daily pattern of human brutality; Altair, Lewis Klahr's collagist elegy on New York nightlife; Club Of The Discarded, Jiri Barta's tale of a family of discarded mannequins who enjoy a quiet life in an abandoned warehouse until a group of hipster mannequins move in and spoil the neighborhood; Gentle Spirit, Piotr Dumala's Dostoyevsky-inspired story of the psychological landscape between a young lady and an ominous male figure; Joy Street, Suzan Pitt's story of a woman who journeys from suicidal despair to personal renewal with the help of an unlikely spirit guide; and The Story Of The Cat And The Moon, Pedro Serrazina's mini-classic of the fatalistically unrequited love as a cat ceaselessly seeks the moon. The film played December 3 at Cinema Village. For more information, please contact Phil Hall at Open City Communications, (212) 714-3575 or Opencity@aol.com.

*Saturday, December 4, 1999. North Hollywood, California, USA.
Glenn Vilppu presented a free slide show at 4:15 pm at the Animation Union, 4729 Lankershim, North Hollywood. Glenn discussed his sketching tour to Scandinavia in July, 2000. For more information call (818) 994 2402.

*Thursday, December 9, 1999. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
The Association of Northern Animators presented "The Peg Bar" featuring screenings of new animation produced in the region, with music by DJs "Salad Butty." The event was held at the Bridge Hotel, Castle Garth at 8 pm. For more information, contact Alys at ++0191 232 8413; or E-mail: alyspalace@hotmail.com.

*Saturday, December 11, 1999. Tampa, Florida, USA.
The International Academy of Design hosted animator/educator Larry Lauria in an all day animation workshop. The workshops initiated the Academy's Animation Institute and are geared toward high school, college and young professionals. The workshop took place from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm at 5225 Memorial Highway, Tampa, Florida.

Larry's Toon Institute Web site can be found in the Student Corner of Animation World Network and is a part of AWN's commitment to assisting aspiring students and animators. Check out the lessons, character designs and animation. at: www.awn.com/tooninstitute/.

* Friday, December 12, 1999. London, England.
The Surrey Institute of Art & Design, University College highlighted the unique graduate work done in their film, video, and animation department since 1995. Visitors shared in the rare chance of seeing the cream of the crop from the school's library of productions. The reception started at 6 pm and was followed by themed screenings at 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm. Due to limited seating the college required a RSVP. For further information contact Princess Anne Theatre BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, London W1V 0LN; Tel. ++44 1252 892790; or Fax ++44 1252 892787.

* Tuesday, December 14, 1999. New York, New York.
Mr. Wonderbird, the 1953 animated feature directed by Paul Grimault,
held a rare screening as part of the weekly Light+Screen Film Festival. Mr. Wonderbird is a surreal adventure following a lively bird who rallies a group of imprisoned lions and a lamenting polar bear in the defense of two young lovers who are pursued by a mad king, a giant robot and a battalion of flying policemen. The film featured an English-language voice talent cast including Sir Peter Ustinov, Claire Bloom and Denholm Elliott. The event took place at 9 pm at the Siberia Bar, located at West 50th Street and Broadway. For more information call (212) 333-4141. Admission was free.

* Saturday, December 18, 1999. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
John Canemaker, animator/author/director of the animation program at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, was in Los Angeles last month to sign copies of his latest book on animation history: "Paper Dreams: The Art And Artists Of Disney Storyboards." Canemaker was present at 2 pm at the Howard Lowery Gallery, 3812 W. Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank, where he will sign "Paper Dreams" and copies of any and all of his many books on animation. For information phone Tel.: (818) 972-9080.

Read Mike Lyons' review of "Paper Dreams" in the December issue of Animation World Magazine.

* Sunday, December 19 - Monday, December 20, 1999. Turin, Italy.
ASIFA Italia, with the help of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the Regione Piemonte and the Comune di Torino, together with the support of Young Artists Circle and the British Council and Pro-Helvetia, organized a meeting with a series of films on the subject of "Art & Animation". The meeting aimed at heightening awareness of animation as an art form with a particular stress on independent short films of research, experimentation and artistic expression. The event was made of theoretical round-tables, talks, discussions on the subject, reports and conferences with film projections and meetings with artists. For more information contact ASIFA Italia, Torino at Tel.: ++39 11 8997339; Fax: ++39 11 8997169; or E-mail: asifaita@tin.it.