SF – PIG: The Dam Keeper Poems Screening

Press Release:

Join SFFILM Education and Academy Award nominated animation studio Tonko House on Sunday, December 10, 2017 at 10:00 AM for a special Bay Area premiere screening of their newest work PIG: The Dam Keeper Poems, and a book signing of their debut graphic novel The Dam Keeper. Since 2014, SFFILM Education has been proud to support and showcase the beautiful filmmaking and storytelling from this local treasure of the independent animation community, founded by former Pixar art directors Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi. This event, perfect for educators, families (with children ages 5 and up), and fans of independent animation will feature a screening of the new work, a Q & A and behind the scenes peek into the making of the series with a live drawing demo, and a meet & greet session where attendees will have an opportunity to get autographs and photos with our guests. Just in time for the holidays and last minute present buying, Tonko House will also have a number of unique items for sale, including their brand new graphic novel, written and illustrated by Robert and Dice. All children in attendance will also be eligible for a free raffle of a few special items, including a signed drawing from Erick Oh.

About the series:

In Tonko House’s first short-form series, written and directed by Erick Oh, we see how Pig remembers becoming the Dam Keeper. Seen through Pig’s youthful perspective, the visuals are abstract and surreal, but the source of his pain and his joy are clear. Produced in both Berkeley and Tokyo by a variety of international and domestic artists, the series showcases Tonko House’s global community through a story featuring universal themes, such as family, grief, responsibility, and growing up. The series is made up of over 31,000 frames, all individually hand drawn and painted.

Space is limited, so click here to reserve your FREE ticket today…

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Castro Theatre
429 Castro Street San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 621-6120

SF – The Dam Keeper Signing

Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi appear at Kinokuniya in San Francisco on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 2:00 PM to sign the new graphic novel adaptation of THE DAM KEEPER! 

Based on the Oscar-nominated animated short film of the same name, The Dam Keeper is a lush, vibrantly drawn graphics novel series by animation studio Tonko House co-founders Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi.

In early 2012, art directors Dice Tsutsumi and Robert Kondo found themselves searching for ways to expand upon their filmmaking experience in Pixar’s art department. They decided to write and direct an independent animated short film together. The film, The Dam Keeper, was an 18-minute short that garnered an Academy Award Nomination.

About the Author:
Robert Kondo lends his unique design sensibilities and passion for storytelling to The Dam Keeper. Originally from Southern California, Robert graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and has worked at Oblique Strategies and Angel Studios. Robert’s film credits include Sets Art Director for Ratatouille, Toy Story 3, and most recently Monsters University.

Daisuke ‘Dice’ Tsutsumi, originally from Japan, is a celebrated illustrator, painter and philanthropist. Dice’s paintings have exhibited around the world, and in 2009, his first children’s book ‘I Can Hear’ was published in Japan. A graduate from The School of Visual Arts in New York, Dice has worked as a visual development/color key artist at Blue Sky Studios on Ice Age, Robots and Horton Hears a Who! His credits at Pixar Animation include Lighting Art Director for Toy Story 3 and Monsters University. Dice is passionate about charity work and spearheaded both The Totoro Forest Project and Sketchtravel.

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Kinokuniya Bookstore
1581 Webster St, San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 567-7625

NYC – Icons of Animation Exhibit

Press Release:

The Society of Illustrators celebrates the work of four iconic illustrators- Peter de Sève, William Joyce, Carlos Nine, and Bill Plympton – with an exhibit featuring the original illustrations from numerous movies and shorts.

A film screening and panel will take place on Thursday, June 5th at the Academy Theater at Lighthouse Guild, and an Opening Reception will take place on Friday, June 6th at. 6:30 pm

 

About the Artists

Peter de Sève:
Peter de Sève’s illustration and character designs are known throughout the world. His work spans three decades and various media, including magazines, books, print and televised advertising, animated feature films and magazines. Best recognized for his many New Yorker covers and his character designs for the three blockbuster Ice Age movies (“Scrat” is now an international icon), de Sève has also contributed to such films as Mulan, A Bug’s Life, Tarzan, and Finding Nemo.

His many distinctions include the prestigious Hamilton King Award from the Society of Illustrators, a Clio Award for a Nike television commercial, a Spectrum Annual of Fantastic Art gold medal, a Soleil d’Or award from the Festival BD Sollies-Ville in France, and a Visual Effects Society Award nomination for outstanding animated character design for Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

Peter was honored with an Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Design for his work on Sesame Street’s Abby Cadabby’s Flying Fairy School. He has received three Annie Award nominations for Character Design in a Feature Production, the most recent for his work on Arthur Christmas.

Peter lives in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife Randall (with whom he recently collaborated on his first children’s book, The Duchess of Whimsy) and their two daughters, Paulina and Fia.

William Joyce:
William Joyce has achieved world-wide recognition as an author, illustrator and pioneer in the digital and animation industry.

In February 2012, he won an Academy Award for The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, an animated short film about the curative powers of story. In the past two years, he has also written seven hard copy Simon & Schuster children’s books including The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, The Guardians of Childhood book series: The Man in the Moon, The Sandman: Story of Sanderson Mansnoozie, Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King, E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth’s Core! And Toothania: Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies.

Named by Newsweek magazine as “One of the 100 people to watch in the new millennium”, William has been heavily involved in the world of digital animation from its full-scale inception at Pixar Animation. His projects have been produced by nearly every major film studio including Disney, Twentieth Century Fox and DreamWorks Animation. His feature films include Rise of the Guardians, Robots and Meet the Robinsons and his television series George Shrinks and Rolie Polie Olie for which he won three Emmy Awards.

Additionally, he is the writer, producer, and production designer on the Blue Sky Studios feature film, Epic, inspired by his book The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs.

Carlos Nine:
Carlos Nine is a renowned illustrator, comics author, painter, sculptor, animation film writer, and author of several books. His works have been published in Argentina, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, U.S.A., Brazil, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

He was awarded awarded on several occasions the Silver Clio in Illustration (Clio Awards, New York, 1993), the Caran D’Ache award for best illustrator (Rome, Italy, 1995), the Prix de l’Ecole Supérieure de l’image (France, 2001) and the First Prize at the Angoulême Festival (France, 2001). He has published books and held exhibitions in numerous countries. He has been invited to give seminars, workshops, and courses in his country and in France.

He has also worked for several magazines and journals, including Le Monde (Paris), The New Yorker (USA), Noticas, Humor, and the newspapers La Nación and Clarín.

Bill Plympton
Mr. Plympton is considered the King of Indie Animation, and is the only person to hand draw an entire animated feature film. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he graduated from Portland State University in Graphic Design. Bill moved to New York City in 1968 and began his career creating cartoons for publications such as New York Times, National Lampoon, Playboy and Screw.

In 1987, he was nominated for an Oscar® for his animated short Your Face. In 2005, Bill received another Oscar® nomination, this time for his short Guard Dog. Push Comes to Shove won the prestigious Cannes 1991 Palme d’Or; and in 2001, another short film, Eat, won the Grand Prize for Short Films in Cannes Critics’ Week.

After producing many shorts that appeared on MTV and Spike and Mike’s, he turned his talent to feature films. Since 1991, he’s made 10 feature films. 7 of them, The Tune, Mondo Plympton, I Married A Strange Person, Mutant Aliens, Hair High, Idiots and Angels, and Cheatin’, are all animated features.

Bill Plympton has also collaborated with Kanye West and Weird Al Yankovic in a number of music videos and book projects. In 2006, he received the Winsor McCay Lifetime Achievement Award from The Annie Awards.

Society of Illustrators
128 East 63rd Street, New York, NY 10065
212-838-2560

MA – Rio Festival Day

Meet animation director Carlos Saldanha on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 1 p.m. He will share a rare behind-the-scenes look at the making of Rio, the acclaimed feature length film that has received rave reviews since its worldwide release this spring. Set in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the film traces the adventures of Blu, a domesticated blue macaw, and reflects the color, beauty and excitement of Saldanha’s native city. This lively look at the complex process of creating a 3D animated film is sure to delight! Carlos Saldanha is also the director of Robots and the beloved Ice Age series. Art activities and a reception with the director will follow. Free with Museum admission.

Norman Rockwell Museum
9 Route 183, Stockbridge, MA 01262

MA – Blue Sky Lecture

Animation Artist William H. Frake III appears on Thursday, July 21, 5:30

Join us for an engaging evening of conversation with William H. Frake III, an innovative artist who will create drawings on the spot as he shares stories of his extraordinary career in animation—from the art of the traditional cel to the digital world.

During his outstanding career, William H. Frake III has worked as a layout and story artist on many animation projects for television and feature length films. Alvin and the Chipmunks, Cabbage Patch Kids, Scooby Doo Meets the Boo Brothers, Pound Puppies, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Muppet Babies, Hercules, Pocahontas, the Ice Age series, Robots, Horton Hears a Who!, and Rio, are among his many credits.

The evening talk is presented as part of the Museum’s “Blue Sky & Beyond” summer program series, that celebrates the art of visual storytelling and the contributions of noted American illustrators and filmmakers. These visionaries combine artistry and technology to create compelling new realities.

A reception with the artist will follow the program. Free for members, or with Museum admission.

Norman Rockwell Museum
9 Route 183, Stockbridge, MA 01262

MA – Blue Skies Family Day

Nick Bruno, Scott Carroll, Paul Downs, and Peter Paquette on Saturday, July 16 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Meet The Lost Boys?four talented artists from Blue Sky Studios?during this exciting look at the process of digital animation for feature length films. Nick Bruno, Scott Carroll, Paul Downs, and Peter Paquette will offer insights into how beloved characters from Robots, Ice Age, and Rio are brought to life. Family exhibition tours, hands-on workshops, and the opening of Robot Nation, a special outdoor exhibition, will delight visitors of all ages. Free with Museum admission.

Norman Rockwell Museum
9 Route 183, Stockbridge, MA 01262

MA – ICE/HOT Exhibition

Press Release:

Join the Norman Rockwell Museum for a special evening to preview this summer’s hottest exhibition “Ice Age to the Digital Age: The 3D Animation Art of Blue Sky Studios” and celebrate award-winning artist and Blue Sky Studios character designer Peter de Sève on Friday, June 10, 6:00  to 9:30 p.m.

The evening will include a cocktail buffet, raw bar, winetasting, private preview tour with Peter de Sève, music, champagne and dessert. On the lawn at historic Linwood House, located on the scenic grounds at Norman Rockwell Museum.

Limited tickets available. Ticket prices start at $125 and table sponsorship are available — call 413.298.4100, ext. 230 for more details and to make reservations.

In addition to his work in animation, Peter de Sève’s elegant drawings grace the covers and pages of The New Yorker, and appear in many illustrated books, including Mark Twain’s A Murder, A Mystery, and A Marriage;” The Duchess of Whimsy by Randall de Sève; Fin McCoul by Brian Gleeson, among others.

All proceeds from this event support Norman Rockwell Museum.  Additional support provided by Winetasting.com

Exhibition Opening Celebration
Saturday, June 11, 6 to 8 p.m.
Animazing opening night with the stars!

Commentary at 6:30 p.m. by award-winning illustrator and Ice Age character designer Peter de Sève.

Celebrate the art of animation with a first-ever look behind the scenes at the world of digital animation at Blue Sky Studios, where cutting-edge creativity and technique brings imaginative characters and stories to life. Meet members of the Blue Sky creative team.

A festive reception and party will follow (think Hollywood premiere crossed with a Berkshire-style family picnic!).

Tickets– Members: $20 per person, or $50 per family*. Non-members: $30 per person, or $75 per family*. *Family:maximum 2 adults and 3 children under 12.

Reserve tickets by: Email: events@nrm.org , call 413-931-2221, by mail– send your check payable to Norman Rockwell Museum, PO Box 308, Stockbridge, MA 01262

Blue Sky Studios specializes in photo-realistic, high resolution, computer generated animation and rendering. Critically acclaimed for their animated films Ice Age and its popular sequels, Robots, and Rio, as well as special effects and animation work for TRON, Alien Resurrection, Star Trek: Insurrection, Joe’s Apartment and numerous others. Rarely-seen conceptual drawings, character illustrations and expression sheets, 3D models, story boards, and background paintings illuminate the years of development behind the films. Visit the exhibition webpage!

Norman Rockwell Museum
9 Route 183, Stockbridge, MA 01262