The Animaticus Foundation is presenting the inaugural 2D Or Not 2D Animation Festival in Everett, Washington Nov. 17-19. Taking place at the historic Everett Theatre, the event will feature classically animated masterworks of the past as well as contemporary productions competing for ‘Golden Pencil’ awards. Keynote addresses will be delivered by Roy E. Disney and Ziggy cartoonist Tom Wilson.
The fest is the brainchild of Animaticus president Tony White, a fulltime associate professor at the DigiPen Institute of Technology, Redmond and author of the recently published Animation from Pencils to Pixels ~ Classical Techniques for Digital Animators. White says the event is unique in that it will not only recognize the best animated films, but also the best animation in a film. ‘This means that great animation in bad films and great films (albeit sometimes with bad animation) can both be recognized,’ he explains.
Films will be presented in the categories 2D Film, All-Category Film, Student Film and Electronic Media Production. Students will be able to enter finished sequences from complete college projects or finished pencil animation from a single class assignment. Disney will also present the inaugural Roy E. Disney Award, a non-competitive kudo that will be presented to the person or organization identified as making the most outstanding achievement in 2D animation in the preceding year.
In addition to delivering the keynote address and presenting the award named after him, Disney will offer a retrospective of award-winning and breakthrough Disney short films from 1928’s Steamboat Willie to 2004’s Lorenzo. Wilson will be on hand to re-introduce the Emmy award-winning TV special Ziggy’s Gift, and White will present Endangered Species for the first time in public. More information on the event can be found at www.2dornot2d.org. The Animaticus Foundation can be found on the web at www.animaticus.com.
