Animation? You want ANIMATION?!?

For the International Animation Day (IAD) celebration this Thursday, October 28th, ASIFA Central is providing a Vimeo-hosted program of 17 short animated films from the local group and the WHOLE WORLD. This program is available for single or group viewing, and if you are interested in accessing this LIMITED TIME OFFER to create an instant ‘toon party or fill in an hour of cultural class time, here’s your chance!

Seating is limited to only the first 300 who apply! Who do you have to kidnap for this? How many cartloads of zinc must you provide to the program coordinators? IT’S FREE. FREE FREE FREE. “All you have to do” is email the ASIFA Central Secretary, Jim Middleton, at jim.middletonrx@gmail,com and ask for the SECRET INSTRUCTIONS on WHAT IT TAKES TO BE THE TALK OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. Why, just look at what you can see —

THE PROGRAM (61 minutes, 66 for the “Special Edition”)

1. Toast for ASIFA – Deanna Morse, Christine Veras, Steve Leeper, et al – 1:11

2. Two Little People – ASIFA Australia – Xin Li – 3:00

3. Springtime in CoVid Land – Julie Goldstein – 2:08

4. Mala – Too Otaghia Group – Iran – 2:15

5. Large Scale Absurdities Volume 3 – “Docile Town” – Kimonos Animation Studio – Charalambos Margaritis – ASIFA Hellas – 4:21

6. Horsepower – Christine Veras, et al – 1:00

7. Notun Fasal (New Harvest) – Sovan Dutta – ASIFA India – 2:30

8. Tchisti – Sarah Tabibzadeh – Iran – 4:25

9. Candy Shop – Patrick Smith – ASIFA South – 2:30

10. Espresso Doppio – Mika Koskinen – Finland – 3:54

11. Eli – Jeff Martell – ASIFA South – 3:32

12. Connecting – Melissa Bouwman – 2:06

13. Happy Banana – Ali Raies – Iran – 8:20

14. Animated Doodle – ASIFA Hellas – 4:00

15. NamaStay – Margo Pierce – ASIFA South – 2:45

16. time passing : passing time – Polly Wolly Doodlers (Jim Middleton, Deanna Morse, Gretchen Vinnedge, Suzanne Zack) – 5:05

17. A Tale of Self-Preservation – Shannon Fleming – ASIFA South – 5:30

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!!!! If you act before midnight, December 15, you’ll also get access to the SPECIAL COORDINATOR CUT, featuring a “you are there” installation experience for “time passing : passing time” as seen by DOZENS UPON DOZENS of Cichlids at the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery during the recent ArtPrize in Grand Rapids!

You will curl your toes with GLEE. You’ll want to cavort! Frolic! Scamper! But you must act NOW! (Well, before December 15th, anyway)

Drop an email to jim.middletonrx@gmail.com while he is still permitted access to a keyboard!

The program, ASIFA/Central “Celebrating Global Animation” features 19 Animations from around the world, representing the countries who offered films freely for International Animation Day 2020. Films from Australia, Finland, Hellas/Greece, Iran, India, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the USA are featured.

ASIFA/CENTRAL members are welcome to join in the community celebrations and screen our program online this year to recognize 2020 International Animation Day. You can have a few friends (who are already part of your COVID bubble) over for a salon style screening, share with your classes, or show in your backyard, of course at a small socially distanced screening event. 

Eight countries, 19 animations, total running time is 1 hour 22 minutes. With a variety of styles, techniques and intended target audiences, it is an impressive line up. It would be rated R for some animated nudity. Attached is a .pdf with the selected films. 

Remote screenings for International Animation Day can occur between October 26 and November 15, 2020. The program is password protected, please write Deanna Morse morsed@gvsu.edu, describe how you intend to view it, and ask for the password.