The Ann Arbor Comic Arts Festival (A2CAF) has announced the programming schedule for this year’s show on June 17-18th at the Ann Arbor District Library. Guests include: Raina Telgemeier, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Ben Hatke, Kean Soo, Tory Woollcott, and more! RSVP on Facebook!
Friday, June 16
9:30-11:45 am A2Inkubate Roundtables
The kickoff event for the annual A2CAF preconference!
Getting Comics into the Hands of Readers (from the point of view of teachers, librarians, cartoonists, and retailers). We all want the same thing — more people reading comics. These sessions will explore the specific approaches and concerns each party faces and allow everyone to join in on the conversation.
- 9:30-10:00 am – Welcome, bagel breakfast, and roundtable topic suggestions.
- 10:00-10:45 am – Roundtable Session 1
- 11:00-11:45 am – Roundtable Session 2
The Shapiro Design Lab
Registration Required – Register Here
2:00-4:00 pm Secret Lab Hands-On Sessions
Experience and learn how to use screen printing, letterpress, and 3D printing tools.
AADL’s Secret Lab will be open for you to explore. You’ll get a chance to create your own design to print at our screen printing stations, or set some type and print your own business card or small print. There will also be a few surprise stations.
The Ann Arbor District Library
Registration Required – Register Here
4:00-5:00 pm Super Random Element Comics Challenge
Apply and level up your comics-making skills with a fun, interactive workshop. Take your comic-making skills to another level in this storytelling challenge! Participants will be given design constraints and a limited amount of time to create a mini-comic.
The Ann Arbor District Library
Registration Required – Register Here
Reception for Ben Hatke’s Exhibit “Art and Adventure”
Join us for food, a chance to mingle, and an overview of this great exhibit. We’ll also have our annual Draw Wall outside the Downtown Library on the corner of Fifth Avenue and William Street. Here’s your chance to draw along side some of the fabulous guests of A2CAF and help create a giant comics mural!
Saturday, June 17
11:00 am – 12:00 Noon
Kickoff Event – Iron Cartoonist!
Watch Ben Hatke, Raina Telgemeier, and even more of your favorite cartoonists battle it out in a series of themed drawing rounds with random elements thrown in by you! Will you help them draw toward victory, or make them squirm? Watch guest cartoonists fight for the title under the watchful eye of your host, Zack Giallongo! Your choices will help determine this year’s Iron Cartoonist!
Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room – All Ages
Noon – 12:15 pm
The Dwayne McDuffie Award
The third annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Kids’ Comics will be announced at this year’s A2CAF. Named for the highly respected comic book and animation writer and co-founder of Milestone Media, the award honors Dwayne McDuffie’s values and his legacy as a champion for meaningful, top-quality and broadly inclusive comics for young people.
Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room – All Ages
Noon – 6:00 pm
Artists Alley
Artist Alley features over 50 working artists and writers from the worlds of print and web comics, animation, book publishing, and videogames who’ll be displaying their work–with material for sale, the occasional free giveaway, and codes for AADL’s Summer Game. They’ll also be happy to talk comics with fans of all ages!
Downtown Library 1st Floor – All Ages
12 Noon – 3:00 pm
Super Awesome Kids’ Spot! – Build a Buddy
Stop by the Youth Story Corner to participate in some fun comics and storytelling activities for kids. In need of a sidekick for your next adventure? Look no further! Make a sock buddy that will stay by your side!
Downtown Library 1st Floor Youth Story Corner – Kids
The Super Secrets of the Secret Lab
Lumberjanes Merit Badges
Make a totally rad merit badge to celebrate your top-notch triumphs!
Mighty Jack Seed Starters
Grow your own glorious garden with these DIY seed starters! (Biting pumpkins and mysterious dragons not included.)
Downtown Library Secret Lab – Kids
Screen Printing with Modati Studios
Bring in an item to print an A2CAF logo on! Or you can print on a tote we’ll provide. Learn the basics of screen printing from Modati Studios.
Downtown Library Secret Lab – All Ages
12:30 pm- 1:30 pm
Signing – Ben Hatke
The creator of Zita the Spacegirl and the Mighty Jack series makes a special signing appearance at Vault of Midnight!
Vault of Midnight (219 S. Main St ) – All Ages
Signing – Raina Telgemeier
Stop by the A2CAF table to meet the author of Smile, Sisters, Drama, and Ghosts and get your copies signed!
Downtown Library 1st Floor – All Ages
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm
Quick Draw!
Imagine an episode of “Whose Line Is it Anyway?” starring a group of quick-thinking cartoonists, and you’ll begin to get the picture of Quick Draw. It’s improvisational cartooning with plenty of audience participation, brought to you with courage and cheer by our guest artists.
- Kean Soo & Connor Bond – Ann Arbor Art Center (117 West Liberty Street) – All Ages
- Zack Giallongo & Jerzy Drozd – Robot Supply & Repair (115 East Liberty Street) – All Ages
- Jay Fosgitt & James Anderson – Downtown Library 1st Floor – All Ages
- Rachel Polk & Joe Foo – Vault of Midnight (219 S. Main St ) – All Ages
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Animate in Photoshop! with Hannah O’Neal
Have you ever wanted to try your hand at animation but didn’t have access to the tools necessary to do that? Did you know that you can actually make pretty amazing animation in Adobe Photoshop? Animator Hannah O’Neal will show you some easy steps to getting started making your own cartoons. You’ll get some hands-on experience using the hardware and software in the Ann Arbor Art Center’s ArtLab. Seating is limited!
Ann Arbor Art Center (117 West Liberty Street) – Teens
Story Structure Is a Joke! with Bruce Worden
Do you know the secrets to how a good story is built? Have you heard of something called 3-act story structure? No? Well, that’s okay, because it’s just a joke! (And you’ve heard of jokes, right?) In this workshop you’ll make a four-panel comic of your very own, using unforgettable tips to tell a great story at ANY length!
Robot Supply & Repair (115 East Liberty Street) – All Ages
The Shake Ups Dance Party!
Your favorite Steven Universe/My Little Pony themed band is rocking the Library! Come down to the Multi-Purpose room for some awesome music and dancing.
Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room – All Ages
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Quick Draw!
More improvisational drawing fun with our guest artists!
- Joshua Buchanan & James Anderson – Ann Arbor Art Center (117 West Liberty Street) – All Ages
- Ellie Moody & Courtney Hahn – Robot Supply & Repair (115 East Liberty Street) – All Ages
- Katie Shanahan & Bruno Hohn – Downtown Library 1st Floor – All Ages
- Joe Foo & Rachel Polk – Vault of Midnight (219 S. Main St ) – All Ages
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Signing: Raina Telgemeier
Raina Telgemeier, author of Smile, Sisters, Drama, and Ghosts, makes a special appearance at Vault of Midnight!
Vault of Midnight (219 S. Main St ) – All Ages
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Making Mini Comics! with John Novak
Try your hand at making mini comics with John Novak (colorist of Giants Beware!, Dragons Beware! and the Tricky Journey series). Learn how to come up with fun characters and story ideas. Discover new ways to tell your story!
Ann Arbor Art Center (117 West Liberty Street) – All Ages
Robot & Creature Creation Station, with John Martin
Doodle your way to an unstoppable robot and monster army! John Martin (Vordak the Incomprehensible, Sci-Fi Junior High) will show you how to draw everything from their appearance, function, and how to give them a role in their own comic stories.
Robot Supply & Repair (115 East Liberty Street) – All Ages
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Jarrett J. Krosoczka Presentation
The author of the Lunch Lady series, Platypus Police Squad, and the latest Star Wars: Jedi Academy is at the Library! Jarrett will demonstrate the process of making stories that people will care about, and you’ll be able to ask him some questions of your own.
Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room – All Ages
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Lunch Lady Snackdown & Book Signing
Get your Lunch Lady books signed by Jarrett J. Krosoczka and create not just a snack, but a JUSTICE SNACK! Smack down your ingredients, roll up the power of goodness, and triumph over your hunger!
Downtown Library Secret Lab– All Ages
Art & Adventure with Ben Hatke
Get an up-close look at the original art behind Nobody Likes a Goblin, Zita the Spacegirl, Julia’s House for Lost Creatures, and a few surprises. The cartoonist behind the artwork will talk about his process of making comics and children’s books. Bring your curiosity and questions!
Downtown Library 3rd Floor Gallery Space– All Ages
Sunday, June 18
12:30 pm- 5:30 pm
Artists Alley
Artist Alley features over 50 working artists and writers from the worlds of print and web comics, animation, book publishing, and video games who’ll be displaying their work–with material for sale, the occasional free giveaway, and codes for AADL’s Summer Game. They’ll also be happy to talk comics with fans of all ages!
Downtown Library 1st Floor – All Ages
12:30 pm -1:30pm
Signing – Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author of the Lunch Lady series, Platypus Police Squad, and the new Star Wars: Jedi Academy, makes a special appearance at Vault of Midnight!
Vault of Midnight (219 S. Main St ) – All Ages
Signing: Raina Telgemeier
Stop by the A2CAF table to meet the author of Smile, Sisters, Drama, and Ghosts and get your copies signed!
Downtown Library 1st Floor – All Ages
Making Mini Comics! with John Novak
Try your hand at making mini comics with John Novak (colorist of Giants Beware!, Dragons Beware! and the Tricky Journey series). Learn how to come up with fun characters and story ideas. Discover new ways to tell your story!
Downtown Library Secret Lab– All Ages
12:30 pm -2:30pm
COLOR! CUT! CREATE! Superhero Paper Toys! with Merrill Rainey
Have you ever wanted to build your own Superhero toys and then be able to play with them? Join Master Doodler Merrill Rainey as he helps you cut, color, and create your very own 3D paper toy Superhero and paper play set.
Downtown Library Youth Area– Kids
1:00-1:30 pm
Quick Draw!
Imagine an episode of “Whose Line Is it Anyway?” starring a group of quick-thinking cartoonists, and you’ll begin to get the picture of Quick Draw. It’s improvisational cartooning with plenty of audience participation, brought to you with courage and cheer by our guest artists.
- Seth Kimball & Joshua Buchanan – Vault of Midnight (219 S. Main St ) – All Ages
- Katie Shanahan & Sophie Bugala- Downtown Library 1st Floor – All Ages
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
The Kids’ Comics Awards Ceremony!
Which comic in 2016 had the most rolicking adventure? Which character did kids love the most? Kids voted in these and other categories, including their favorite characters and graphic novels! Help us celebrate the third annual Kids’ Comics Revolution Awards as we reveal the winners! No black tie required, but you can wear your favorite comics-inspired costume! With live music and lots of laughs!
Hosted by Ben Hatke, Zack Giallongo, and Jerzy Drozd, with a bevy of special guests!
Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room – All Ages
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Quick Draw!
More improvisational drawing fun with our guest cartoonists!
Ellie Moody & Rachel Polk – Vault of Midnight (219 S. Main St ) – All Ages
James Anderson & Courtney Hahn – Downtown Library 1st Floor – All Ages
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Signing: Raina Telgemeier
Raina Telgemeier, author of Smile, Sisters, Drama, and Ghosts, makes a special appearance at Vault of Midnight!
Vault of Midnight (219 S. Main St ) – All Ages
Signing – Signing – Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Stop by the A2CAF table to meet, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author of the Lunch Lady series, Platypus Police Squad, and the new Star Wars: Jedi Academy, and get your copies signed!
Downtown Library 1st Floor – All Ages
