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The 18th Annual Animation Show of Shows Sva Theater, NYC

I became an animation fan -- a true aficionado -- early in life. It had little or nothing to do with children's shows on television (Hanna-Barbera, Speed Racer, Gigantor, et al), though I watched and liked most of them. Rather, it was probably when I first saw Fantasia (likely mid-1960s), and then The Jungle Book (1967) and (of course!) The Beatles' Yellow Submarine (1968). By that time, I was actively looking for good (or great) animation. I was not a fan of Disney (though I have a sentimental fondness for The Aristocats (1970)), and anime feature films did not become widely known in the U.S. until the 1980s.

So when I heard about something called the Fantastic Animation Festival in 1977, I made sure to check it out. Comprised of a series of 18 animated short films, it was exactly what animation aficionados were looking for.

I love the art of stop-motion animation, and I couldn’t be happier that there’s a studio like Laika keeping the art form alive. They recently released the film Kubo and the Two Strings, which is easily one of the best films I’ve seen this year. As a tribute to the art of stop-motion, Vulgar Efendi created a wonderful video that shows us how stop-motion animation has evolved through the years. It starts with the year 1900 and takes us all the way through 2016. It’s 116 years of stop-motion awesomeness in only three minutes! You'll find a full list of films featured in the video below.

The films included are:

- The Enchanted Drawing (1900)

-Fun at the Bakery Shop (1902)

-El Hotel Electrico (1905)

-Humorous Phases of Funny Faces (1906)

-The Cameraman's Revenge (1912)

-The Night before Christmas (1913)

-Häxan (1922)

-The Lost World (1925)

-The Tale of Fox (1930 version)

-King Kong...

So, you’ve enjoyed most of last year’s animated feature films? Yes, 2015 was a pretty good year, but doesn’t match up to the gold standard of 1999 (Toy Story 2, The Iron Giant, Disney’S Tarzan, and South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut). Still Pixar had its best work in years with Inside Out and that Shaun The Sheep was a loving tribute to classic silent comedies, but the other major hits like Minions and The Good Dinosaur were geared toward the small fry (not that Out and The Peanuts Movie didn’t appeal to all ages). For this new film, definitely leave the kiddos at home. Yes we did have an “R” rated animated film last year with Hell And Back, but that flick was chocked full of sophomoric sex jokes and “gross-out” gags. This holdover from ’15 (now getting a wide release) is truly adult in subject matter and graphics,...

Gnosis Moving Pictures and Vinton Entertainment have signed a co-production deal on a slate of CG animated features for Oscar winner Will Vinton to direct.

The slate includes The Quest, a Monty Python-esque comedy set in outer space that Vinton (pictured) co-wrote with Andrew Wiese and Peter Crabbe. The film will feature the voice of John Cleese.

Jack Hightower, based on the Dark Horse graphic novel, is a comedic action adventure about a macho secret agent who shrinks to the size of a hotdog.

Moby & Dick, inspired by the Herman Melville novel and tells of the bond between fathers and sons.

Nicholas, a mix of 3D stop-animation and CGI, is an action–adventure story based on L Frank Baum’s novel, The Life And Adventures Of Santa Claus.

“Our partnership with animation icon Will Vinton is poised to produce engaging and thought-provoking animated content for children and families from one of the best in the business,” said...

By Darren Allison, Soundtrack Editor

Perseverance Records to attend huge soundtrack signing event

Our friend Robin Esterhammer of Perseverance Records will be hosting a signing event at Dark Delicacies of Burbank at 2pm on July 28th. The list of composers is certainly looking impressive and names are still being added.

Confirmed already are: John Debney, Richard M. Sherman (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Elia Cmiral (The Deaths of Ian Stone, Journey to the End of the Night), Edwin Wendler (Escape), John Massari (The Puppet Master Soundtracks Box, 5 CD box), Brian Ralston (Crooked Arrows), Dennis Dreith (The Punisher, Gag, Creep Van), Craig Safan (Remo Williams, Fade to Black, Circus, Lesser Known Favorites), Donald Rubinstein (Martin, Pollock, Knightriders), Romina Arena (Morricone Uncovered), Peter Bernstein (The Puppet Master Soundtracks Box), Mader (The Wedding Banquet, Cinemusica), Phillip Lambro (Chinatown - The Rejected Score, Crypt of the Living Dead, Murph the Surf, The Film Music of Phillip Lambro), Richard Band (Mutant,...

With Criterion staple, and all around film legend (and my personal favorite filmmaker of all time) Jean Luc-Godard (Breathless, A Woman Is A Woman, Made In The U.S.A, just to name a few) set to receive an honorary Oscar from the Academy Of Motion Pictures Arts And Sciences, it looks like the Academy is set to honor yet another legend in the world of film.

According to the Criterion blog, the Academy is set to play host to the La premiere of a new exhibition, entitled Ingmar Bergman: Truth And Lies, all organized by the Deutsche Kinemathek, along with the Bergman Foundation.

Exhibition Information When September 16 through December 12, 2010 Where The Academy’s Fourth Floor Gallery Public viewing hours Tuesday – Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday – Sunday: Noon to 6 p.m.*

Closed Mondays.

*Sunday, October 10: 1 to 6 p.m. Admission Free

The show will feature movie clips...

Wanna honor Labor Day but not work at it? Check out any of these pop culture expressions from the last year. Just in time for your nod to Labor Day, lets give props to those who have amplified workers' voices in one form or another this year. The List (* indicates best in category) Television (Reality) *Undercover Boss Ice Road Truckers 30 Days Dirty Jobs America's Toughest Jobs Television (Comedy) *The Office The Simpsons 30 Rock Parks and Recreation Television (Drama) *Nurse Jackie The Closer United States of Tara Rescue Me Music (For Listening) *"Even If Its So" - Q Tip "Two Step Blues" - Little Brother "21st Century Breakdown" - Green Day "Hope" - Rahel Music (For Rallying) *"Fight Smash Win" - Street Sweeper Social Club "Drop It (Like a Hot Muppet)" - Magic Drum Orchestra Art Shows *"Myth and Manpower" - Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles "Closed Mondays" - grayDUCK Gallery,...

Cinema Retro has received the following event schedule from A.M.P.A.S.

Lost and Found: “Upstream”

Wednesday, September 1, 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater

The U.S. “re-premiere” of the long-lost 1927 John Ford silent film that was recently discovered in the New Zealand Film Archive and preserved by the Academy Film Archive.

8949 Wilshire Boulevard

Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

All seating is unreserved.

General Admission – $5

Students with a valid ID – $3

(310) 247-3600

www.oscars.org

3D Rarities: From 1900 and Beyond

Tuesday, September 7, 7:30 p.m. at the Linwood Dunn Theater

A show highlighting archival rediscoveries of early 3D filmmaking, including rare works by the Lumière brothers, Georges Méliès, the Disney Studios and others, presented by internationally recognized film historian Serge Bromberg of Lobster Films, Paris.

1313 Vine Street

Hollywood, CA 90028

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

All seating is unreserved.

General Admission – $5

Students...

Cinema Retro has received the following press release from A.M.P.A.S

2009–2010 Contemporary Documentaries Series

Wednesdays at 7 p.m., through December 9

The latest installment of the free Contemporary Documentary series showcases 2008 feature-length and short documentaries. In October: “The Garden,” “Encounters at the End of the World,” “Flow” and more.

Linwood Dunn Theater

1313 Vine Street

Hollywood, CA 90028

Wednesday evenings, through December 9, at 7 p.m.

Doors open at 6 p.m.

Admission is free; tickets are not required.

(310) 247-3600

www.oscars.org

Academy Seminar Series: Perspectives on Editing

October 6 and 14 at 7-10 p.m. at the Linwood Dunn Theater

The final two sessions in the seminar series on film editing focus on editing for documentary films (Tuesday, Oct. 6) and the accomplishments of Oscar winner Anne Coates (Wednesday, Oct. 14).

Linwood Dunn Theater

1313 Vine Street

Hollywood, CA 90028

Doors open at 6 p.m.

General Admission – $10 per evening

Academy members and students with a valid ID – $7.50 per evening

(310) 247-3600

www.