The ANIMA Report

From Animator’s Association Chairman David Jefferson.

The first ANIMA Festival, held in September, was considered to be a big success and plans are already being made for next year’s festival.

A grand total of forty seven films were shown during the day plus a talk on animation by Sheila Graber and the first Annual General Meeting of ANIMA.

The Festival was held in Baden Powell House in London, This is the headquarters of the Scouting movement. This is a large building with an imposing entrance of marble and glass. It has extensive hostel facilities for Scouts, a restaurant and committee rooms of various sizes.

The way to the rooms was down into the basement, through a labyrinth of passages and then up a lift. An alternative route was offered over a roof and down a fire escape but this was not used.

The day began with an informal gathering in the foyer where people could get to meet each other over a cup of coffee.

Then the group split into two for the morning programmes. ANIMA members went to the General Meeting and the others were entertained by a programme of films.

WHAT WILL ANIMA. BECOME

A discussion was held at the AGM to determine the future direction of ANIMA. An article ‘What is ANIMA?’ had been circulated to meters with Animator’s Newsletter six and it’s author Chris Krupa was asked to open the discussion.

Chris pointed out that the stated aim of ANIMA was to promote the exchange of ideas and techniques between animators but that there was no indication of how this should be done. He felt that a single annual festival would be insufficient and that regional meetings should be held more frequently, and that the only way this could be done was if someone in each area became the area organiser. He had organised one meeting in London and was prepared to continue in this role, but other regional organisers were needed.

There was a lot of discussion on this subject and included the possibility of a group project along the lines of the old Grasshopper group. It was decided that a group project was outside the scope of ANIMA at the moment and that local meetings would consist of viewing members films, hiring some of the more interesting but little seen commercial animated films, visiting animation studios etc.

Sheila Graber said that one of the great advantages of ANIMA at present was that it was flexible enough to accommodate almost anyone interested in any form of animation and that we should try to maintain this. She applauded the register which enabled any member to find out where his nearest neighbours were and get in touch with them.

THE AFTERNOON SHOW

After lunch everyone gathered in the main hall to see the remaining films. At the back of the hall was a display of cels, puppets and drawings from the various films. There were plasticine puppets by Lew Cooper and David Coleman, exquisitely crafted puppets from Cohn Dunn and cels by David Jefferson.

Along one of the side walls were the entries for the storyboard competit¬ion. The winning entry is shown on page 26 of this issue. Also displayed was a large version of Neil Carstairs map showing where ANIMAL members live.

Filmcraft had a stand displaying animation goods and books. The books seemed to be of particular interest to people.

page 1 | page 2