Classic Golden Age Cartoons Screen At MoMA Technicolor Exhibit

Here are several don’t-miss events for New York animation fans: The major Technicolor exhibition, Glorious Technicolor: From George Eastman House and Beyond, now underway at MoMA, is rolling into its final weeks with a full schedule of glorious vivid 35mm IB Tech screenings of Disney and other animation classics for cinephiles. The screening series, which kicked off in June, ends its run on August 5.
Ralph Eggleston, the production designer of Pixar's WALL-E and their new feature Inside Out, helped curate and make the standout selections for the exhibition, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of Technicolor. Eggleston will also will be on hand presenting several screenings, as will Disney Studios restoration guru Theo Gluck and animation historian John Canemaker.
It should be a wide-ranging homage: Eggleston and MoMA film curator Josh Siegel have selected a steady diet of eye-popping works by Chuck Jones, Hanna-Barbera, Friz Freleng, Walt Disney, Ub Iwerks, and more, as well as canonical Disney features like Snow White, Fantasia, and Bambi.
The selections are a potent dose of reverence and remembrance, whose packed slate possibly presents one the last times that this many Technicolor classics will be available to experience on film. Below is MoMA’s breakdown of animation events. Ticket info and directions to the Manhattan museum can be found on their website.
The schedule features a slew of outstanding programs including A Splash of Technicolor: Exploring Color in Cartoons, 1930–1954, Disney Technicolor Cartoons [Program 1 & 2] and Fleischer, UPA, and Looney Tunes Technicolor Cartoons, 1938–1955, which will each feature the following cartoon shorts:

A Splash of Technicolor: Exploring Color in Cartoons, 1930–1954
Wednesday, July 29, 2015, 1:30 p.m., Theater 3, mezzanine, Education and Research Building (Introduced by Academy Award-winning animation filmmaker, Ralph Eggleston)
Friday, July 31, 2015, 1:30 p.m., Theater 3, mezzanine, Education and Research Building
A program selected and introduced (on July 29) by Ralph Eggleston, a Pixar animator, art director (Toy Story, The Incredibles, Up), story developer (Monsters, Inc.), production designer (Inside Out, WALL-E) and Academy Award-winning director of the 2001 Pixar short For the Birds. Program includes:

• Fiddlesticks
  1930. USA. Directed by Ub Iwerks. 6 min.
• What Makes Us Tick
  1952. USA. Produced by John Sutherland. Directed by Carl Urbano. 12 min.
• The Aristo-Cat
  1943. USA. Directed by Chuck Jones. Animation by Rudy Larriva. 7 min.
• Wackiki Wabbit
  1943. USA. Directed by Chuck Jones. Animation by Ken Harris. 7 min.
• Trap Happy
  1946. USA. Directed by Joseph Barbera, William Hanna. 7 min.
• Bugs Bunny Rides Again
  1948. USA. Directed by Friz Freleng. Animation by Ken Champin, Gerry Chiniquy, Manuel Perez, Virgil Ross. 7 min.
• Texas Tom
  1950. USA. Directed by Joseph Barbera, William Hanna. 7 min. 
• Dripalong Daffy
  1951. USA. Directed by Chuck Jones. Animation by Ken Harris, Phil Monroe, Lloyd Vaughan, Ben Washam. 7 min.
• Claws for Alarm
  1954. USA. Directed by Chuck Jones. Animation by Ken Harris, Abe Levitow, Richard Thompson, Lloyd Vaughan, Ben Washam. 7 min.

All films courtesy Warner Bros. (Program 71 minutes)

Disney Technicolor Cartoons [Program 1]

Friday, July 31, 2015, 4:30 p.m., Theater 2, T2 (introduced by Theo Gluck, Director, Library Restoration and Preservation, The Walt Disney Studios)

Monday, August 3, 2015, 4:30 p.m., Theater 2, T2

• Mickey Mouse on Parade
  1932. USA. Directed by Walt Disney. Animation by Joe Grant. 2 min.
• Flowers and Trees

  1932. USA. Directed by Burt Gillett. 8 min.
• Lullaby Land

  1933. USA. Directed by Wilfred Jackson. 7 min.
• Goddess of Spring

  1934. USA. Directed by Wilfred Jackson. Animation by Wolfgang Reitherman. 10 min.
• The Band Concert

  1935. USA. Directed by Wilfred Jackson. Animation by Johnny Cannon, Les Clark, Ugo D'Orsi, Frenchy de Tremaudan, Clyde Geronimi, Wolfgang Reitherman, and others. 9 min.
• The Country Cousin

  1936. USA. Directed by Wilfred Jackson. 7 min.
• Music Land

  1935. USA. Directed by Wilfred Jackson. 10 min.
• The Old Mill

  1937. USA. Directed by Wilfred Jackson. 9 min.

All films courtesy The Walt Disney Studios. (Program 62 minutes)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

1937. USA. Directed by David Hand, William Cottrell, Wilfred Jackson, Larry Morey, Perce Pearce, Ben Sharpsteen. Animated by James Algar, Art Babbitt, Les Clark, Shamus Culhane, Norman Ferguson, Joe Grant, Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball, Hamilton Luske, Fred Moore, Eric Larson, Grim Natwick, Wolfgang Reitherman, Frank Thomas, Bill Tytla, and others.
Courtesy The Walt Disney Studios. 88 min.

Friday, July 31, 2015, 6:30 p.m., Theater 2, T2 (Introduced by Theo Gluck, Director, Library Restoration and Preservation, The Walt Disney Studios)
Sunday, August 2, 2015, 3:30 p.m., Theater 2, T2

Fleischer, UPA, and Looney Tunes Technicolor Cartoons, 1938–1955

Saturday, August 1, 2015, 1:30 p.m., Theater 2, T2 (Introduced by Academy Award-winning animation filmmaker Ralph Eggleston)
Wednesday, August 5, 2015, 1:30 p.m., Theater 3, mezzanine, Education and Research Building
A program selected and introduced (on August 1) by Ralph Eggleston, a Pixar animator, art director (Toy Story, The Incredibles, Up), story developer (Monsters, Inc.), production designer (Inside Out, WALL-E) and Academy Award-winning director of the 2001 Pixar short For the Birds. Program includes:

• Hunky and Spunky
  1938. USA. Directed by Dave Fleischer. 35mm print courtesy the Academy Film Archive; courtesy Paramount Pictures. 8 min.
• Terror on the Midway
  1942. USA. Directed by Dave Fleischer. Animation by Orestes Calpini, Jim Davis. 8 min.
• The Dover Boys
  1942. USA. Directed by Chuck Jones. Animation by Robert Cannon. 9 min.
• The Enchanted Square
  1947. USA. Directed by Seymour Kneitel. Animation by Orestes Calpini, Al Eugster. 35mm print courtesy Paramount Pictures. 10 min.
• Rooty Toot Toot
  1951. USA. Directed by John Hubley. Animation by Art Babbitt, Pat Matthews, Tom McDonald, Grim Natwick. 7 min.
• The Oompahs
  1952. USA. Directed by Robert Cannon. Animation by Roger Daley, Bill Melendez, Frank Smith. 7 min.
• Little Boy with a Big Horn
  1953. USA. Directed by Robert Cannon. Animation by Tom McDonald, Bill Melendez, Frank Smith. 7 min.
• Christopher Crumpet’s Playmate
  1955. USA. Directed by Robert Cannon. Animation by Barney Posner, Frank Smith, Alan Zaslove. 6 min.
• Hyde and Hare
  1955. USA. Directed by Friz Freleng. Animation by Ted Bonnicksen, Gerry Chiniquy, Arthur Davis, Virgil Ross. 7 min.
• Deduce You Say
  1955. USA. Directed by Chuck Jones. Animation by Ken Harris, Abe Levitow, Richard Thompson, Ben Washam. 7 min.

Program 83 min.

Bambi
1942. USA. Directed by James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, David Hand, Graham Heid, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield, Norman Wright. Screenplay by Perce Pearce, based on the story by Felix Salten. Animated by Ollie Johnson, Milt Kahl, Eric Larson, Don Lusk, Frank Thomas, Marc Davis, Preston Blair, Tyrus Wong, and others.
Courtesy The Academy Film Archive and The Walt Disney Studios. 70 min.

Saturday, August 1, 2015, 4:30 p.m., Theater 2, T2 (10-minute introduction by Academy Award-winning animation filmmaker Ralph Eggleston)
Tuesday, August 4, 2015, 4:30 p.m., Theater 2, T2

The Secrets of Walt Disney's Movie Magic: A John Canemaker Lecture and Screening of Fantasia
The dazzling special effects in Walt Disney’s early Technicolor features, most notably Fantasia (1940), have fascinated generations of viewers, though the secrets behind their creation were long forgotten, even within the studio. John Canemaker, author of The Lost Notebook: Herman Schultheis and the Secrets of Walt Disney's Movie Magic (Weldon Owen, 2014), explores the complex mechanical and optical processes that enabled Disney to delight the eye with dancing snowflakes, flying wraiths, erupting volcanoes, and other visual treats, as detailed in a recently discovered notebook, compiled by photographer and effects specialist Schultheis during his 1938-41 tenure at Disney. A Q&A and screening of Fantasia (1940) follows Canemaker's one-hour lecture. A book signing of The Lost Notebook precedes the lecture in the Titus 1 gallery at 5:45pm.

Fantasia
1940. USA. Directed by Norman Ferguson, and others. Screenplay by Joe Grant, Dick Huemer. Animated by Art Babbitt, Preston Blair, Les Clark, Ugo D’Orsi, Norman Ferguson, Eric Larson, Ward Kimball, Walt Kelly, Ollie Johnston, and others. With Leopold Stokowski, Deems Taylor, Corey Burton.
Courtesy The Walt Disney Studios. 125 min.

Saturday, August 1, 2015, 6:30 p.m., Theater 2, T2 (Introduced by John Canemaker)
Tuesday, August 4, 2015, 6:30 p.m., Theater 2, T2

Disney Technicolor Cartoons [Program 2]
Sunday, August 2, 2015, 1:00 p.m., Theater 2, T2
Wednesday, August 5, 2015, 4:30 p.m., Theater 2, T2

• Lullaby Land
  1933. USA. Directed by Wilfred Jackson. 7 min.
• Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
  1938. USA. Directed by Graham Heid. Animation by Art Palmer, Izzy Klein, George Rowley, Stan Quackenbush, and others. 8 min.
• Ferdinand the Bull
  1938. USA. Directed by Dick Rickard. Animation by Bernard Garbutt, Hamilton Luske, Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball, Don Lusk, and others. 8 min.
• The Brave Little Tailor
  1938. USA. Directed by Bill Roberts. Animation by Fred Moore, Bill Tytla, Don Patterson, Milt Schaffer, Les Clark, Ollie Johnson, Frank Thomas, and others. 9 min.
• The Ugly Duckling
  1939. USA. Directed by Jack Cutting. 9 min.
• Chicken Little
  1943. USA. Directed by Clyde Geronimi. Animation by Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball, John Lounsbery, Norman Tate. 8 min.
• The Brave Engineer
  1950. USA. Directed by Jack Kinney. Animation by Al Bertino, Milt Kahl, Fred Moore. 7 min.
• Adventures in Music: Toot, Whistle, Plunk, and Boom
  1953. USA. Directed by Ward Kimball, Charles A. Nichols. Animation by Ward Kimball, Julius Svendsen, Marc Davis, Henry Tanous, Art Stevens, Xavier “X” Atencio. 10 min.
• Pigs Is Pigs
  1954. USA. Directed by Jack Kinney. Animation by John Sibley. 10 min.

Courtesy The Walt Disney Studios. Program 76 min.

Melody Time

1948. USA. Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Jack Kinney, Hamilton Luske. Screenplay by Winston Hibler, Ted Sears, Homer Brightman, and others. Animated by Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball, Eric Larson, John Lounsbery, Robert Cannon, Mary Blair, and others. With Roy Rogers, Trigger, Dennis Day, The Andrews Sisters, Bobby Driscoll. Courtesy The Walt Disney Studios. 72 min.

Sunday, August 2, 2015, 6:00 p.m., Theater 2, T2

Monday, August 3, 2015, 6:30 p.m., Theater 2, T2

Hayao Miyazaki Is Canceling Retirement Again and Directing A CG-Animated Short

Hayao Miyazaki in his studio in Studio Ghibli documentary "The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness"

Hayao Miyazaki, the legendary Japanese retired/unretired anime/animation director, writer and manga-ka who is indelibly associated with hand-drawn filmmaking, revealed that he is putting his sixth attempt at retirement aside in order to take on directing his first wholly computer-animated short film project developed and created at his Studio Ghibli in Tokyo, according to reports by Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and other trades.
Celebrated for his hand-drawn approach to film such as Spirited Away, winner of the 2003 best animation Oscar and Japan’s highest-grossing movie of all time, Miyazaki also confirmed rumors that he has begun experimenting with CG animation.
"I have just begun work on a new anime," Miyazaki announced at a press conference held at the studio on Monday, THR reports. “It's a wonderful project. I’m working with some of my usual staff, as well as some staff from the computer graphics world.”
Miyazaki-san's new venture, Kemushi no Boro will be a roughly ten-minute computer-animated short, centered on the story of a caterpillar named Boro, displayed for screening exclusively at the Studio Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo. The director describes the film as "a story of a tiny, hairy caterpillar, so tiny that it may be easily squished between your fingers." He first noted his concept for the story nearly two decades ago, before Princess Mononoke was released. Miyazaki said his producer Toshio Suzuki has predicted the film will take about three years to make according to a report on Anime News Network, but the director added that he's working hard in hopes of completing it sooner. It is not clear what stage the film's production is at, or how much longer it will take to finish it.
Miyazaki, 74, has announced his retirement from feature film directing on several occasions, most recently after the completion of The Wind Rises. When asked about how he has been spending his time since "retirement," the globally acclaimed filmmaker said, "I'm still working very hard. The only difference is that I come to the studio 30 minutes later than I used to and go home 30 minutes earlier."
The director also used the opportunity to denounce Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's plans to expand the role of the Japanese military and urged the leader to make a clear and unambiguous apology for Japan's role in World War II.
"It must be made very clear that aggressive war was a complete mistake, and that we have deep regret for the great damage it caused the people of China," Miyazaki said. There are many people who want to forget this, but it is something that must never be forgotten."
“[Hayao] gets bored when his goal is maintaining [the Ghibli Museum], so he needs things to fiddle around with,” his son Goro Miyazaki said at an event last month as explanation for why his 74-year-old father was making a CG film.
Goro is also working with computer animation nowadays as he directs the Ghibli TV series Ronia The Robber’s Daughter. Last fall, when the elder Miyazaki was asked for his thoughts about his son switching from hand-drawn to CGI, he responded that the technique was beside the point.
“I think talent decides everything,” Miyazaki said. “More than the method, what’s important is the talent using it. There’s nothing inherently wrong or right about a method, whether it be pencil drawings or 3-D CG.”
In that same interview, Miyazaki said he felt lucky that he’d managed to avoid using a computer throughout his career. From the looks of it though, it’s never too late to teach an old dog some new tricks.
Previous exclusive shorts for the museum (nine to date) include the My Neighbor Totoro semi-sequel Mei and the Kittenbus, and a story similar to Boro‘s vibe: Monmon the Water Spider.

Aardman Animations Coming to The Academy and SIGGRAPH in August 2015

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences celebrates the work of acclaimed British stop-motion house Aardman Animations with three special programs featuring the studio's Oscar-winning and nominated Wallace and Gromit shorts on Friday, August 7th and Sunday, August 9th.

Wallace and Gromit Restored - The Marc Davis Celebration of Animation
[Friday, August 7, 7:30 p.m. | Samuel Goldwyn Theater - Beverly Hills]
As part of the Academy’s Marc Davis Celebration of Animation series, Aardman Animations co-founder David Sproxton and Wallace and Gromit cinematographer Dave Alex Riddett will discuss the making of the studio’s Oscar-winning shorts "The Wrong Trousers" and "A Close Shave," and the Oscar-nominated shorts "A Grand Day Out" and "A Matter of Loaf and Death." The program also will include the world premiere screening of the restorations of all four films, the result of a collaborative effort between the Academy Film Archive and Aardman Animations.

Cracking Animation: Behind the Scenes at Aardman
[Sunday, August 9, 9 a.m. | Los Angeles Convention Center - Downtown Los Angeles]
The Academy returns to SIGGRAPH Conference with a panel featuring filmmakers Sproxton and Riddett, who will trace the arc of Aardman’s voyage over the last three decades, present clips of the studio’s work, and discuss the evolving production techniques and future prospects of stop-motion animation.

A Grand Day Out: Wallace and Gromit Family Matinees
[Sunday, August 9, 1-5:30 p.m. | Linwood Dunn Theater - Hollywood]
The Academy presents matinee screenings of all four Wallace and Gromit shorts for families, as well as an animation workshop for children ages 8 to 13. The 90-minute hands-on workshop will offer a small group of participants the opportunity to learn some of Aardman Animations’ stop-motion techniques.

COMIC-CON 2015: A List of Animation Events I Am Most Excited About Plus One

San Diego International Comic-Con starts tomorrow and, as always, there is going to be a number of animation-related events happening. For the occasion of this annual pop-culture celebration, I have presented a list of recommended events similar to the one I did for this year's Annecy Animation Festival. Since there are so many events that you can't attend all of them, I went through the Comic-Con schedule program and cut it down to the fifteen animation events I am most excited about this year.
Preview night has ended, tomorrow is the official day Comic-Con opens. According to the list, some of the many things to witness include director Sanjay Patel revealing Pixar's new short Sanjay's Super Team; the impressive legacies of Looney Tunes legends Bob Clampett and Chuck Jones are told by their daughters; and a documentary-in-the works about influential Disney animator Floyd Norman, who just celebrated his 80th birthday. And these three are just for the first day.
The only event on here that isn't animation-related is a writer's session of CBS's sitcom The Big Bang Theory.
THURSDAY JULY 9

The Super Story Behind the Pixar Short Sanjay's Super Team
Director Sanjay Patel and producer Nicole Grindle present a peek behind the curtains at Pixar Animation Studio's latest short, Sanjay's Super Team. The filmmakers will discuss the production process as well as the unique inspiration for this incredibly personal film that features superheroes like you've never seen them before.
11:00am-12:00pm, Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

Looney Tunes Legacy: Linda Jones and Ruth Clampett on The Life and Art of Animation
Chuck Jones and Bob Clampett are two of the most important animators in cartoon history. Their daughters, Linda Jones (Emmy Award-winning producer, founder of Linda Jones Enterprises) and Ruth Clampett (founder of Clampett Studio Collections, former head of Warner Brothers art program) keep their dads' legacies alive. These powerful Hollywood businesswomen also made collecting the art of animation and film accepted and embraced around the world and own all rights to sell official Warner Brothers cartoon art, Vintage WB movie art, DC comics art, and the art of Harry Potter. They'll talk about growing up with two geniuses and how they built empires of their own making geek art cool. Moderated by Leslie Combemale (ArtInsights Animation and Film Art Gallery).
2:30pm – 3:30pm, Room 24ABC
Floyd Norman Documentary
Filmmakers Michael Fiore (producer of the upcoming feature Home Invasion) and Erik Sharkey (director of Drew: The Man Behind the Poster) will show clips from their original feature-length documentary and reunite Floyd Norman (legendary Disney and Hanna Barbera animator and story artist) with many animators and artists that he influenced and worked with over his 60-year career. Panelists will include notables featured in the documentary includingPaul Dini (animation writer/producer), Gary Trousdale (co-director of Disney's Beauty and the Beast), Leo Sullivan (animator, producer, publisher), Ken Mitchroney (writer, director, story artist), Adrienne Nichelle Brown-Norman (illustrator, Disney Publishing), and Tom Sito (animator, professor of animation, USC). The documentary also features interviews with such notables as actress Whoopi Goldberg, cartoonist Sergio Aragonés, Disney music composer Richard Sherman, producer Don Hahn, Maleficent), Ralph Guggenheim (former Pixar VP of animation), and film critic/historian Leonard Maltin. The documentary is supported by a musical score composed by Ryan Shore (composer, Disney's Penn Zero and WB's Scooby-Doo!). The filmmakers will moderate a Q&A session and celebrate Mr. Norman's 80th birthday.
9:00pm – 10:30pm, Room 9

FRIDAY JULY 10
Inside The Big Bang Theory Writer's Room (NOT ANIMATION-RELATED)
The Big Bang Theory writers once again open the curtain and take you behind the scenes of TV's #1 comedy. From huge guest stars to the shocking moments in the season finale (Was that a ring, my Precious? Will what happened in Vegas stay in Vegas?), find out what it takes to make the hit series each week. Join the show's executive producers and writers as they take you inside the writers' room for a lively discussion and special video presentation. From Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, The Big Bang Theory returns for Season 9 this fall, Monday nights at 8/7c on CBS. The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Eighth Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 15.
10:00am - 11:00am, Ballroom 20
Disney Animators: The Power of 2D
A luminary panel of former and current Disney animators spanning from Lady and the Tramp to Moana talk about the importance of 2D animation in the history of Disney, as well as the part it plays in guiding advancement of its future. Panelists are Willie Ito (Lady and the Tramp, Inkpot Award-winning animator), Dale Baer (Robin Hood to Moana), Randy Haycock (The Lion King to Moana), Tom Sito (The Little Mermaid, author of Moving Innovation), Adam Dykstra (Tangled, Tarzan), and Mike Polvani (Hercules, 2D Animation School founder). Changes in technology, artistic expression, and the value of cooperative interplay between 2D and 3D artists to create the best animation will be discussed. There will be a Q&A moderated by Leslie Combemale (Animation expert, ArtInsights Gallery).
1:30pm – 2:30pm, Room 24ABC
ILM 40th Anniversary
For forty years, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) has set the standard for visual effects, creating some of the most memorable images in the history of modern cinema. From advances in the photo chemical process, optical compositing, motion control, and models and miniatures to the company's pioneering efforts in computer graphics, digital compositing, film scanning and recording, morphing, digital environments, performance capture, character animation, and modern digital pipelines, ILM continues to break new ground in visual effects for film, television, themed attractions, and new forms of entertainment. The presenters will discuss the company's work from its earliest days and breakthroughs along the way.
2:00pm – 3:00pm, Room 7AB
Spotlight on Jerry Beck
Animation historian Jerry Beck (The 50 Greatest Cartoons, The Hanna Barbera Treasury, The Spongebob Squarepants Experience) discusses his career as a writer, researcher, animation producer, blogger (for Animation Scoop and Cartoon Research) and cartoon DVD curator (Looney Tunes Golden Collection). He will screen several rare animation clips and discuss the reasons some of your favorite animated films have never been released on home video. He'll also announce news of several exciting archival animation projects he's been working on. Join Jerry for this Q&A session moderated by Danny Fingeroth (author, Stan Lee Universe and Superman on the Couch).
6:00pm - 7:00pm, Room 4
Worst Cartoons Ever
For the thirteenth year, Jerry Beck (Cartoon Research) has once again compiled a new election of the most terribly written, ugliest drawn ,and unintentionally funniest animated films ever made. Cartoons include Mighty Mr. Titan (a physical fitness superhero) and Super President (a one-man weapon of mass destruction). Be sure to enjoy some of the worst there is out there in this hilarious salute.
8:15pm - 9:15pm, Room 6BCF

SATURDAY JULY 11
Are You Ready, Kids?: Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants
The cast of SpongeBob is back! All your Bikini Bottom favorites are on hand to perform Idiot Box at a live table read as chosen by the fans online. Featuring Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick Star), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), and Dee Bradley Baker (all other Biukini Bottomites.. Following the performance will be a Q&A with the cast and creative director, Vincent Waller. Plus, a sneak peek at a new episode and fan trivia with prizes. Hosted by Claudia Spinelli, VP of current series animation for Nickelodeon. All landlubbers welcome.
10:00am - 11:00am, Room 6A
The Simpsons
Going into its record-demolishing 27th season! Join this panel for a sneak peek behind "Treehouse of Horror XXVI" and much, much more with creator Matt Groening, executive producers Al Jean and Matt Selman, supervising director Mike Anderson, long-time director David Silverman and the woman behind Bart Simpson, Nelson Muntz, and Ralph Wiggum, Nancy Cartwright. Ay carumba indeed.
12:00pm - 12:45pm, Ballroom 20
Seth MacFarlane Animation Block
A Comic-Con first! The Renaissance man of entertainment will participate in a panel featuring sneak peeks at the upcoming seasons of fan favorites Family Guy and American Dad plus an exclusive look at his newest project, Bordertown! Joined by the casts and executive producers from each show, including Seth Green, Alex Borstein, Mike Henry, Scott Grimes, Dee Bradley Baker, Wendy Schaal, Rich Appel, Steve Callaghan, Matt Weitzman, Brian Boyle, and from Bordertown, Missi Pyle, Nicholas Gonzalez, and Mark Hentemann.
1:00pm - 2:45pm, Ballroom 20
Spotlight on Stan Lee
Comic-Con special guest Stan Lee discusses his past, present, and future projects, followed by a Q&A session.
1:45pm - 2:45pm, Room 6A
Wander Over Yonder: The Galactic Domination Tour
Join creator Craig McCracken along with the stars of the series for a special sneak peek at the epic new season of Disney XD's Wander Over Yonder. What happens when Wander (Jack McBrayer), the friendliest face in outer space, comes up against the vilest villain in the universe, the mysterious Lord Dominator? And what does this fearsome new foe have in store for a suddenly outmatched Lord Hater? And just who the heck is this Dominator guy anyway? So many questions! Find out some answers with exclusive clips from the upcoming season and an audience Q&A. The panel will also feature sneak peeks of Pickle and Peanut and Future-Worm!, two new animated shows coming to Disney XD.
2:30pm - 3:30pm, Room 5AB
Harvey Kurtzman: The Man Who Created MAD and Revolutionized Humor in America
Bill Schelly (author) talks to Gary Groth (publisher) about Harvey Kurtzman, editor, artist, and sole writer of the original MAD comic book and magazine-one of the greatest publishing successes of the 20th century. They will cover Harvey's cultural impact, legal battles with MAD publisher William M. Gaines, and much more.
3:30pm - 4:30pm, Room 26AB

An Inside Look at Google Spotlight Stories
Karen Dufilho-Rosen (executive producer, Google Spotlight Stories) moderates a panel featuring Jan Pinkava (director, Windy Day, creative director, Google Spotlight Stories), Glen Keane (director, duet), Shannon Tindle (director, On Ice), Patrick Osborne (director, Pearl), Felix Massie (director, Rain or Shine), Max Keane (production designer, duet), Lou Romano (art director, On Ice), Scot Stafford (creative director, sound and music, Google Spotlight Stories), and Rachid El Guerrab (technical project lead, Google Spotlight Stories), who share their insights and experiences regarding the creation of this new, narrative format for 360-degree, immersive, interactive stories made especially for mobile devices.
4:30pm – 5:30pm, Room 24ABC

SUNDAY JULY 12

The Last Day of Summer: TV Guide Magazine's Farewell to Phineas and Ferb
After more than 200 best days ever, the ride's over for Phineas and Ferb and their pals, not to mention Perry the Platypus and archnemesis Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz. For a final trip to the Tri-State Area, TV Guide Magazine chief content officer Michael Schneider gathers the creators/executive producers of Phineas and Ferb, Dan Povenmire (voice of Doofenshmirtz) and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh (Major Monogram), along with stars Vincent Martella (Phineas), Alyson Stoner (Isabella), and Dee Bradley Baker (Perry) to seize the day, one more time.
10:00am - 11:00am, Room 6BCF

Production Gets "Tangled" Up In Animated TV Series Return Set for Disney Channel in 2017

Disney's 2010 animated feature 'Tangled.'

Tangled, a new animated TV series for "kids, tween and families', based on Walt Disney Animation Studios' acclaimed hit feature film, has begun production with voice actors Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi reprising their roles as Rapunzel and Eugene (also known as Flynn Rider).  The series will premiere in 2017 on Disney Channels worldwide, it was announced by Gary Marsh, President and Chief Creative Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide. It will also reunite Disney Legend and Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater.
Produced by Disney Television Animation, the series was developed by two respected animation industry veterans Chris Sonnenburg (Disney's "Enchanted") and Shane Prigmore ("The Lego Movie"). Feature animator Chris Sonnenburg most recently has been boarding on Gravity Falls and Futurama and Shane Prigmore has designed characters on projects as diverse as The Boxtrolls, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, and Mr. Peabody & Sherman.
The studio hasn’t revealed if the series will be 2D or CGI, but the publicity artwork released by Disney today is drawn, and considering Disney TV’s current Toon Boom pipeline and Prigmore’s well regarded character design skills, all signs point to a 2D series.
Marsh said, "The genius of the original movie was its seamless blending of cinematic adventure, character-driven comedy and touching emotion.  And we are fortunate to have several of the creative talent from that movie on board with this new production.  With the addition of Chris and Shane as Executive Producers, we have the perfect team in place to create a series worthy of the original film."
Set between the events of the 2010 feature film and the start of the 2012 short film, Tangled Ever After, which centered on the wedding of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, the animated series unfolds as Rapunzel acquaints herself with her parents, her kingdom and the people of Corona. Her irrepressible spirit and natural curiosity about the world drives her to the realization that there is so much more she needs to learn before she can truly accept her royal destiny. She boldly puts her ascension to the crown and impending marriage on hold to seek out epic adventures, much to the dismay of the King who, after missing out on Rapunzel's youth, must accept that his daughter is now an independent young woman. Accompanying Rapunzel on her journey will be Eugene; the slick, plucky chameleon sidekick, Pascal; the awesome, no-nonsense steed, Maximus; the Snuggly Duckling Pub Thugs; and newcomer Cassandra, a tough-as-nails handmaiden, who becomes Rapunzel's confidant, according to Disney — who will likely also find that frying pans make great weapons.
In 2012, Disney Channel presented the Tangled Ever After short, which delivered 5.0 million Total Viewers, 2.6 million Kids 2-11 and 1.4 million Adults 18-49.
Sonnenberg is the executive producer and supervising director and Prigmore is co-executive producer and creative director.  Jase Ricci ("Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles") is story editor. Celebrated artist Claire Keane ("Frozen," "Tangled"), daughter of Disney Legend Glen Keane who was animation supervisor on the feature film, consulted on development of the animated series. Emmy Award-winning Kevin Kliesch ("Tangled Ever After") will serve as score composer.
Walt Disney Animation Studios' 50th animated feature Tangled introduced audiences worldwide to long-locked Rapunzel and charming bandit Flynn Rider in one of the most hilarious, hair-raising tales ever told. Debuting over Thanksgiving in 2010, Tangled opened with $68.7 million and went on to earn $200 million domestically and more than $593 million globally, becoming one of Walt Disney Animation Studios' biggest releases of all time. Featuring music by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater, the film was nominated for Golden Globe and Critics Choice awards for best animated film, as well as best song for “I See the Light,” which also won a Grammy Award and was nominated for an Academy Award. Rapunzel, Flynn and their friends Pascal and Maximus returned to the big screen for a royal wedding in the 2012 short film Tangled Ever After. Guests can experience the magic of Tangled at Disney Parks around the world, including dazzling encounters with Rapunzel herself at Magic Kingdom, Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland. Rapunzel is not only one of the top-selling roleplay dresses at Disney Store but one of the most popular Disney Princess characters overall across licensed, Disney Store and Disney Publishing merchandise.
It’s not exactly Tangled 2, which failed to get off the ground because “her hair was gone,” but it still sounds as if the TV show might tide over fans of the Tangled film franchise until a feature sequel finally arrives.
The studio also released this full length teaser image (below):

Concept art for the “Tangled” TV series released by Disney Channel.

Animation Legend Eric Goldberg Joins USC School of Cinematic Arts Faculty To Teach Character Animation

Veteran animator Eric Goldberg has joined USC School of Cinematic Arts’ John C. Hench Division of Animation and Digital Arts.
Goldberg will teach classes on the fundamentals of character animation beginning in the fall of 2015, it was announced by Tom Sito, Chair of SCA’s John C. Hench Division of Animation and Digital Arts.
Eric Goldberg is widely known within the international animation community as one of the leading character animators working today. In his forty-year career he has given life to some of cinema’s most beloved animated characters, including Robin Williams' unforgettable Genie in Aladdin, Phil in Hercules, and Louis in the Oscar-nominated Best Animated Feature The Princess and the Frog.
Comments Sito: “We are thrilled that Eric is coming aboard. His incredible talent, and vast knowledge of character animation gleaned from years working with such masters as Chuck Jones, Richard Williams, Ken Harris, Tissa David and Art Babbitt, will be an invaluable resource to our program.”
Goldberg is joining an already formidable SCA Animation faculty that includes Peter Chung (Aeon Flux), Eric Hanson (The Fifth Element) and Sito himself (Beauty and the Beast, Roger Rabbit).
Eric Goldberg is a veteran director, designer and animator who has worked extensively in New York, London and Hollywood creating feature films, commercials, title sequences and television specials.

Goldberg is best known for his work with Walt Disney Animation Studios. His first Disney assignment in 1990 was Supervising Animator of the wise cracking Robin Williams-voiced Genie in “Aladdin.” Subsequently, he co-directed the successful “Pocahontas,” and animated the feisty Danny DeVito-voiced satyr Phil in “Hercules.” Following that he directed two critically acclaimed sequences in “Fantasia 2000,” “Carnival of the Animals” and “Rhapsody in Blue.” The latter was a labor of love inspired by both George Gershwin and the legendary theatrical caricaturist Al Hirschfeld, who served as artistic consultant on the film.
In 2003, Goldberg served as animation director on Warner Bros.’ live-action/animation feature Looney Tunes: Back in Action, directed by Joe Dante. For the film, he handled the legendary characters Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Wile E. Coyote, Yosemite Sam and the entire Warners stable, as well as providing the voices for Speedy Gonzales, Tweety, and Marvin the Martian.
Most recently Goldberg has been animating at his alma mater, Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he served as Supervising Animator for Louis (the trumpet-playing alligator) in Academy Award Best Animated feature nominee “The Princess and the Frog.” In addition, he supervised both the character of Rabbit, and the “Backson Song” sequence in “Winnie the Pooh.” He also was the Supervisor of hand-drawn animation in the 2013 Oscar-nominated short film, “Get a Horse.”
Currently, Goldberg is creating exploratory animation for the upcoming Walt Disney Animation Studio feature, Moana.
In February 2011, he also received the prestigious Winsor McCay Award from ASIFA-Hollywood for lifetime achievement in animation.

PBS Unveils New Two-Part Documentary Special "American Experience: Walt Disney" Set To Premiere September 14-15

PBS' American Experience will offer an unprecedented look at the life and legacy of one of America's most enduring and influential storytellers in Walt Disney, a new two-part, four-hour special premiering Monday and Tuesday, September 14-15, 2015, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).
Executive produced by series EP Mark Samels, directed and produced by Sarah Colt, and written by Mark Zwonitzer, American Experience: Walt Disney features rare archival footage from the Disney vaults, scenes from some of his greatest films, and a host of interviews with biographers and historians, experts and contemporaries, animators and artists who worked on Snow White and other early films, and designers who helped create Disneyland.
“For many Americans — and for me — the twinkle and swish of the Sunday night Disney logo was pure magic. It was an invitation to a special event,” said Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Officer and General Manager, General Audience Programming for PBS. “For my kids, introducing them to animated Disney movies from Beauty and the Beast to The Lion King brought us great joy and taught them life lessons. Now viewers of all ages can learn about the life and legacy of the man behind the magic and his continuing impact on our lives and culture.”
The Walt Disney program includes interviews with artists who worked at the studio, including Rolly Crump, Robert Givens, Don Lusk, Floyd Norman and Ruth Tompson, Imagineer Marty Sklar, Disney producer Don Hahn, costume designer Alice Davis, composer Richard Sherman, son-in-law Ron Miller, and academics and authors who have written extensively about Walt Disney including Neal Gabler, Susan Douglas, Richard Schickel, Steven Watts, Ron Suskind, and Carmenita Higginbotham.

"Walt Disney is an entrepreneurial and cultural icon," said American Experience Executive Producer Mark Samels. "No single figure shaped American popular culture in the 20th century more than he."
In 1966, the year Walt Disney died, 240 million people saw a Disney movie, 100 million tuned in weekly to a Disney television program, 80 million bought Disney merchandise, and close to seven million visited Disneyland. Nearly fifty years later, his reach remains enormous. Few creative figures before or since have held such a long-lasting place in American life and popular culture.
Disney’s movies grew out of his own life experiences. He told stories of outsiders struggling for acceptance and belonging while questioning the conventions of class and authority. As Disney rose to prominence and gained financial security, his work was increasingly celebratory of the American way of life that made his unlikely success possible.
A polarizing figure — though true believers vastly outnumber his critics — Disney’s achievements are indisputable. He created one of the most beloved cartoon characters in history, Mickey Mouse; conceived the first ever feature-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; pioneered the integration of media and marketing with thousands of branded products; invented the anthropomorphic wildlife documentary; and conceived Disneyland, the world’s first theme park and the fulfillment of a lifelong desire to create a world unto itself.
From Steamboat Willie to Pinocchio to Mary Poppins, Disney's movies grew out of his own life experiences. He told stories of outsiders struggling for acceptance and belonging, while questioning the conventions of class and authority. As Disney rose to prominence and gained financial security, his work became increasingly celebratory of the American way of life that made his unlikely success possible.
Major funding for Walt Disney provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence. Additional funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and public television viewers. American Experience is produced for PBS by WGBH Boston.