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Can Pixar release two great films in one year?

Cartoon Brew at Animation Breakdown, currently going on this week at The Cinefamily, is incredibly proud to present a special advance screening of Pixar’s newest Oscar ’short-listed’ short film La Luna, a full six months before it hits the mainstream movie audiences! After the screening there will be a Q&A and a “Making of La Luna” presentation by its director, Enrico Casarosa. Casarosa will discuss the journey that led him to create the short and illustrate the roots, influences, and inspirations that led him to tell this very personal story. Join us at 2pm on Saturday (12/3) – Advance tickets available now.

Cartoon Brew: Leading the Animation Conversation | Permalink | No comment | Post tags: Enrico Casarosa, La Luna

Fresh off of last weekend’s Telluride screenings, the new Pixar short, La Luna, will be screening in New York City this Sunday, along with Hiroaki Ando’s 24-minute anime Five Numbers (aka Norageki!). The screening will be followed by a conversation with Enrico Casarosa (Director / Head of Story, Pixar Animation Studios) on the making of La Luna and with Dai Sato (Scriptwriter of Cowboy Bebop) to discuss post-3/11 Japan and the anime community.

Below is the screening information, it’s part of a festival entitled “Films For Hope,” taking place at the Japan Society. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to help Japan’s rebuilding efforts.

Sunday, September 11, 5:30 PM — 7 PM

La Luna, 2011 – New York Premiere
6 min. 51 sec., 35 mm, color, Directed by Enrico Casarosa

Five Numbers!, 2011 – U.S. Premiere
24 min., DVD, color, Directed by Hiroaki Ando (CGI director of Steamboy and art director for Tekkon Kinkreet)

Followed by a reception. 50% of the proceedings will go to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. for tickets and more info, Click Here.

Cartoon Brew: Leading the Animation Conversation | Permalink | No comment | Post tags: Enrico Casarosa, La Luna

I just wanted to briefly share a couple of really wonderful books I read recently. In keeping with my unofficial rules these books are illustrated ( I try to only "review"books with pictures ) . They are also very different. Varjak Paw is a young adult novel all about cats. It's a quest story and is told with a wonderful economy and eloquence. I bought it for thew pictures but was delighted to find the story was great too. Varjak Paw is written by S F Said and illustrated by Dave McKean. A glance at Mr. McKean's work-especially his pen and ink work-will tell you what a profound impact he has had on me. He did an amazing comic series in the 90's called Cages but I think his children's book stuff is his best work. He also illustrated The Graveyard book, which i talked about in a previous post. I highly recommend this book.
Next is Enrico Casarosa's comic book story The Venice Chronicles, which is like a sketch log/story about visiting the country of his birth with his girlfriend. Enrico is an amazing artist and animator and is the founder of the international SketchCrawl. And is also one of the wonderful people responsible for the Totoro Forest Project. This book is just beautiful. The story is simple and engaging but for me the highlight is the paintings of Venice accompanied by childhood memories.I could't put the book down, I was transported to distant Venice. For anyone who's been to Venice it will recall what an incredible place it is to you. Really magical.