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An animation legend celebrates his birthday today.

The post Happy 92nd Birthday, Gene Deitch appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

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Last night marked the U.S. theatrical debut of Tomm Moore's "Song of the Sea."

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Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the 99th birthday party of animator Willis Pyle. Pyle has had a cartoon career for the ages. On Pinocchio, he cleaned up Milt Kahl’s scene of Jiminy Cricket getting dressed while running to work. He was a key animator during the early days of UPA and animated on the studio’s first theatrical short for Columbia, Robin Hoodlum, as well as the first Mister Magoo short Ragtime Bear. In the classic UPA film Gerald McBoing Boing, Pyle animated the climactic scene of Gerald performing sound effects at the radio station.

I’m incredibly grateful that we still have living links to the Golden Age of animation like Willy, and attending his party made me wonder who else is still around. The list below is every animation industry veteran I can think of who is 85 years or older. I’m sure there are plenty of others too, and I invite you to help fill out the list. The growth and development of our art form owes much to these men and women.

• Bob Balser – 86 years old

Dean Spille – 86 years old

Rudy Cataldi – 86 years old

Sam Clayberger – 87 years old

Stan Freberg – 87 years old

Ken Mundie – 87 years old (?)

Walt Peregoy – 88 years old (?)

Ray Favata – 89 years old

Gene Deitch – 89 years old

Charles Csuri – 91 years old

David Weidman – 92 years old (?)

X. Atencio (pictured right) – 94 years old

Martha Sigall – 95 years old (?)

June Foray – 95 years old

Bob Givens – 95 years old

Stan Spohn – 98 years old

Willis Pyle – 99 years old

Don Lusk – 99 years old

Tyrus Wong – 102 years old

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This morning, Comic-Con International: San Diego released the event schedule for Thursday, July 18th, the first day of programming at the annual SoCal pilgrimage of pop culture geeks. To help make your lives easier, we’ve combed through the schedule and compiled all the animation-related events in one handy place. Keep in mind, this is only day one! Among the major animation names who will appear on Thursday are Dean DeBlois, Rob Minkoff, Bill Plympton, Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Craig Bartlett.

There will also be a couple major treats for classic animation fans. Firstly, 88-year-old animation legend Gene Deitch (Tom Terrific, UPA, Terrytoons) will be visiting from Prague for his first-ever Comic-Con appearance. He’ll be promoting his new book Nudnik Revealed! which is a great collection of storyboards and model sheets from his 1960s cartoon creation. Another vintage-themed animation panel is “The Legendary Animators of Classic ’60s Cartoons,” featuring an esteemed group of veteran industry artists: Bob Singer, Art Leonardi, Willie Ito, and Iraj Paran.

Animation Events: Thursday, July 18

MAD Screening and Q&A
The MADness continues in San Diego as MAD once again descends on Comic-Con with their usual-but mostly unusual-brand of hijinks and hilarity. Producers Kevin Shinick and Mark Marek and other hilarious minds from the show promise a wisecracking discussion about the series inspired by the beloved and bestselling humor magazine. Producers will also share new footage featuring all the fan-favorite elements of the show, from animated parodies and crazy commercials to pretend promos and classic gags. This panel is sure to leave everyone feeling MAD. From Warner Bros. Animation, MAD airs Mondays at 8:30/7:30c on Cartoon Network.
Thursday July 18, 2013 10:15am – 11:15am
Room 6DE

Hasbro: Transformers Prime Beast Hunters
Members of the Hasbro and Hasbro Studios team as well as special guests give fans a peek behind the curtain of the popular animated series currently airing on the Hub TV Network. Attendees will learn details about the upcoming epic conclusion of the award-winning series, including the Predacons Rising DVD launching in October and a TV movie event airing on the Hub.
Thursday July 18, 2013 11:00am – 12:00pm
Room 25ABC

Dreamworks Animation Filmmaker Focus
Join chief creative officer Bill Damaschke and directors David Soren (Turbo), Rob Minkoff (Peabody & Sherman), and Dean DeBlois (How to Train Your Dragon 2) as they discuss putting a great story through the animation process and onto the screen. Moderated by Anthony Breznican (Entertainment Weekly).
Thursday July 18, 2013 11:45am – 12:45pm
Room 6A

The 14th Annual Animation Show of Shows
Ron Diamond

(program curator, president of Acme Filmworks and AWN.com) presents the best and newest in international animation. Included is Disney's Oscar winning Paperman along with 10 animated shorts culled from the most notable festivals from around the world. Shows annually at Pixar, Dreamworks, Disney, ILM, Blue Sky, Sony, EA, UCLA, SVA, USC, SCAD, NYU, RISD, Harvard and CalArts.
Thursday July 18, 2013 11:50am – 12:50pm
Hall H

Bill Plympton’s Cheatin’ and Kickstarter Funding for Animation
Two-time Oscar-nominated director Bill Plympton (Idiots and Angels) will preview his new animated feature Cheatin'. He will screen pencil tests and finished sequences and discuss the successful Kickstarter campaign that raised funds to complete the film, plus his plans for distribution. Bill will also screen some of the short films from his new DVD release Dogs and Cows and answer questions about his career. Plus, all attendees will receive a free Bill Plympton sketch!
Thursday July 18, 2013 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Room 23ABC

The Pitching Hour
Jermaine Turner

(director, current series, Disney TV Animation), Ted Biaselli (VP programming, The Hub Network), Jill Sanford (VP, Nickelodeon Animation Development), Derek Hoffman (VP, Donner Co.), Ivan Brandon (writer/publisher, Offset Comics), Charlie Chu (editor, Oni Press), Lindsay Rostal (game producer, The Odd Gentlemen), Jennie Kong (PR strategist), and moderator Dan Evans III (freelance writer, Stoopid Monkey), will take an idea from conception through production for various media. This process will include creating a pitch document, obtaining agents, and getting a pitch meeting. The panelists will explain, through hypothetical example and humorous stories, the process that new creators should adapt to make their way through the creative battleground of the entertainment industry. Knowing that each project is unique, there will be a Q&A to allow the audience to really hone in on the solutions to obstacles they may encounter. Also on hand will be Brendan McFeely (IP lawyer, Kane Kessler) to give creators insight on protecting their ideas as they navigate Hollywood!
Thursday July 18, 2013 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Room 5AB

Spotlight on Gene Deitch
Comic-Con special guest Gene Deitch is a legendary cartoonist, animator, Academy Award-winning filmmaker, and creator of Tom Terrific. Join him for a tour thru his 70-year career, including his years directing cartoons for UPA and Weston Woods, as well as creating the comic strip Terr’ble Thompson and crossing paths with everyone from Pete Seeger and John Lee Hooker to Maurice Sendak and Jules Feiffer. Moderated by animation historian Jerry Beck and famed movie critic and author-and Comic-Con special guest-Leonard Maltin!
Thursday July 18, 2013 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Room 8

Cartoon Network: Annoying Orange
The cast and crew of Annoying Orange offer a slam-packed, manic musical mash-up, featuring an exclusive look into the show's unique production process, an epic episode premiere, a live musical number, a Toby Turner dance, and insight into the emerging creative bridge between Internet and traditional television entertainment. Panel includes Dane Boedigheimer (creator, Orange, Pear, Midget Apple, Marshmallow), Toby Turner (Nerville), iJustine (Passion Fruit), Tom Kenny (Coconut, Guava), Rob Paulsen (Broccoli Alien Overlord), Tom Sheppard (co-creator, director, Li'l Squishy, Old Man Banana), Gary Binkow (EP), and Conrad Montgomery (Cartoon Network creative executive).
Thursday July 18, 2013 12:45pm – 1:45pm
Room 6DE

Hanna-Barbera
After a pair of droids set the world on fire in a galaxy far, far away, Hanna-Barbera reconvened their super-terrific Sixties space superheroes for a second round of intergalactic adventures. Joining the already iconic masterpieces of Alex Toth design Space Ghost and the Herculoids were newcomers Teen Force and Astro and the Space Mutts (yes, THAT Astro) – and best of all, the heroes would frequently unite in fantastic team-up finales. Warner Archive Collection presents a look at the legacy of Space Ghost and the Herculoids, preview the upcoming release of Space Stars, take a detour to examine everyone’s favorite pre-historic superhero Captain Caveman, and discuss a very special upcoming Blu-ray release. Join WAC Podcast hosts Matthew Patterson and DW Ferranti and notable guests James Tucker (Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox) and Steven Melching (Batman: The Brave and the Bold) for this entertaining survey of some truly super-toons.
Thursday July 18, 2013 12:45pm – 1:30pm
Room 6A

Cartoon Hangover: Bravest Warriors, Bee and Puppycat, and Friends
Breehn Burns

(writer/director of Bravest Warriors) and the cast of Bravest Warriors, Tara Strong (voice of Plum), Alex Walsh (voice of Chris), John Omohundro (voice of Danny), Ian Jones-Quartey (voice of Wallow), Michael-Leon Wooley (voice of Impossibear), along with Bob Boyle (storyboard artist), discuss season 1 and the upcoming season 2, moderated by Eric Homan (producer of Bravest Warriors, VP of development at Frederator). Don't miss sneak previews of new Bravest Warriors episodes and other exclusive news. Seven-year-old Sam Lavagnino (voice of Catbug) will make a special appearance. Natasha Allegri (creator, Bee and Puppycat) will talk about her first original cartoon and will present a sneak peak of Bee and Puppycat part 2, as will other Cartoon Hangover stars Miss Kelly Martin (creator, Dr. Lollipop) and Aliki Grafft (director, Dr. Lollipop).
Thursday July 18, 2013 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Room 28DE

Nick Re-Mix: It’s Time to Go Behind the Slime!
Nickelodeon brings together Craig Bartlett (creator, Hey Arnold!), Chris Viscardi and Will McRobb (creators, The Adventures of Pete and Pete), Jay Howell and Jim Dirschberger (creators, Sanjay and Craig), and Steve Borst and Gary Doodles (creators, Breadwinners) to offer an insider's look at the creative process behind some of our funniest, most endearing, and fan-favorite cartoons. These creators will discuss what inspired them and reveal what it's really like to bring a show to life at Nickelodeon. Plus get a sneak peek at Nickelodeon's new animates series Breadwinners. Moderated by Chris Hardwick.
Thursday July 18, 2013 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Room 7AB

Animated Effects in Live Action
When the word animation is used, we think of cartoons. However, the line between live action and animation is becoming blurred due to technological advances. This panel includes industry professionals who create some of the most memorable animated visual effects, discussing how they blend animation with live action seamlessly. Appearing: Daniel Jeannette (animation director, Happy Feet and animation supervisor, Where The Wild Things Are), Roger Kupelian (matte painter, The Lord of the Rings trilogy), and James Parris (animator, Spider-Man and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).
Thursday July 18, 2013 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Room 7AB

How to Build a Portfolio for the World of Animation
Industry leaders share an insider's look at what it takes to build the right portfolio to enter the world of animation. Attendees will gain an understanding of the creative roles of animated television, feature animation, and visual effects industries. Dawn Rivera-Ernster (director of talent development and recruitment, Walt Disney Animation Studios), Brooke Keesling (manager, animation talent development, Cartoon Network), and Diane St. Clair (VP, recruiting and artist development, Sony Pictures Imageworks) offer an insider's look at what it takes to build a creative animation portfolio.
Thursday July 18, 2013 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Room 23ABC

I Know That Voice: The Documentary: Special Preview and Q&A
John DiMaggio

(executive producer of IKTV, also voice of Bender from Futurama, Jake The Dog from Adventure Time, IFC's Out There, and many more) brings the cast and crew of IKTV together for an exclusive sneak peek at the most anticipated film about voice-over (in animation and video games) ever made! Included in the panel are Billy West (Futurama, Ren and Stimpy), Rob Paulsen (TMNT, Pinky and the Brain), Dee Bradley Baker (Clone Wars, Ben 10, American Dad), Fred Tatasciore (Hulk, Ben 10, Mad), Tom Kenny (Spongebob Squarepants, Brickleberry), Andrea Romano (25-time Emmy nominee, 8-time Emmy winner for Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, and more), Tommy Reid (producer, IKTV), and Lawrence Shapiro (director, IKTV). You won't want to miss this panel, especially with this bunch! You never what's going to come out of their mouths!
Thursday July 18, 2013 4:45pm – 5:45pm
Room 6BCF

PAC Is Back! PAC-MAN and the Ghostly Adventures
PAC-MAN returns for a new generation of fans! PAC-MAN producer Kunito Komori from Namco Bandai Games and Avi Arad, founder and director of Marvel Studios, discuss rebooting the iconic video game character for an exciting new animated series for Disney XD and a blockbuster video game for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, and PC.
Thursday July 18, 2013 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Room 25ABC

The Legendary Animators of Classic ’60s Cartoons
Legendary and award-winning animators Bob Singer (character and background designer, Bugs Bunny/Scooby Doo), Art Leonardi (designer/director, Pink Panther), Willie Ito (layout artist/Bugs Bunny, Flintstones), and Iraj Paran (character and title designer, Super Friends, Josie and the Pussycats), share their vast experience shaping animation history and creating hundreds of classic characters and cartoons we love from Disney, Warner Brothers, and Hanna Barbera, with over 100 years of experience among them. Leslie Combemale of ArtInsights Animation and Film Art Gallery moderates.
Thursday July 18, 2013 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Room 9

South Park: The Stick of Truth
The creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, will discuss their upcoming South Park videogame, South Park: The Stick of Truth. Parker and Stone will talk role playing games, their vision for an interactive South Park adventure, and creating The Stick of Truth, the epic quest to become…cool.
Thursday July 18, 2013 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Room 6BCF

The Goon Kickstarter and Beyond with Eric Powell and Blur Studios
Back in November, legions of fans rallied together to raise over $400,000 to put together a story reel for the David Fincher-produced feature film based on Eric Powell's hit comic book series The Goon! Now, Kickstarter supporters and Comic-Con attendees alike will have a chance to catch an exclusive glimpse of this work in progress! Creator Eric Powell, Blur Studios owner Tim Miller, and veteran visual effects guru Jeff Fowler present an update on this crowdfunded full-length motion picture.
Thursday July 18, 2013 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Room 9

A New Generation of Spike and Mike’s Festival of Animation
A dazzling collection of the most artistic, award-winning and funny animated shorts from around the world. Featured are 15 international, critically acclaimed animated short films, including Oscar nominees and winners. Entries include Bill Plymptons new film Drunker Than a Skunk, Pound Dogs, Dumb Ways to Die, and many more.
Thursday July 18, 2013 7:15pm – 8:15pm
Room 6BCF

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The 4th edition of Anifilm International Festival of Animated Films will take place in Třeboň, Czech Republic from May 3 to 8. The festival recently announced its competition line-up which includes 10 animated features and 50 short films. Anifilm will also present tributes to the legendary animation studios Zagreb Film and United Productions of America (UPA) with multiple programs dedicated to the films of those studios. Special guests include legendary filmmakers Borivoj Dovnikovic of Zagreb Film and Gene Deitch of UPA.

I’m excited to be heading to the festival to moderate a panel about UPA that will include Gene Deitch and filmmaker Emily Hubley (John and Faith Hubley’s daughter). I will also be serving on the feature film jury with filmmaker Regina Pessoa (Kali the Little Vampire, Tragic Story with Happy Ending) and Igor Prassel, programming director of the Slovenian festival Animateka International Animated Film Festival.

(Anifilm photo by Danica Kovacevic)

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Tra la!  It’s May!  The lusty month of May!  The time that  . . . . what?

It’s March?

Seriously?  Forget it then.  I’m going back in my hidey-hole.  Call me when it’s May.  But before I go, here’s a swath of delicious Fusenews.  Good for what ails ye.

First off, a gem.  I got the following email from buddy and Top 100 Polls guru Eric Carpenter: “So this weekend while working on a project on Weston Woods for one of my school library media courses (yes, I’m getting a library degree!!!) I came across Gene Deitch’s blog/website. http://genedeitchcredits.com.  Not sure if you’d seen this but if not take a look, just understand it might be a long, long look.”

Eric couldn’t have been more right.  Gene’s a fascinating fellow and he’s quick to recount his Weston Woods days working with Maurice Sendak, with Morton Schindel, with Jules Feiffer, or with E.B. White!  And that’s not even counting all the good stuff you’ll find if you go here.   Eric, buddy, I owe you yet again.

• So I told myself that I wouldn’t read any reviews of my own book Giant Dance Party (due out 4/23).  I figured that was a pretty safe promise to keep.  I mean, I review books myself.  Why invite trouble by reading other folks?  And that noble intention lasted me all of *checks watch* 45 seconds before I caved.  Not much is out yet, but I can say with certainty that 8-year-old Jacob at City Book Review liked the book.  He is a man of fine and discriminating taste.  Well played, young Jacob.

• A special congrats to Mara Rockliff for winning the 2013 Golden Kite Award for her truly awesome Me and Momma and Big John for Picture Book Text.   Why I do so rightly believe I made that one of my 100 Magnificent Books of 2012, did I not?  Yup.  Surely did.

• In other Me Stuff, this past Saturday I hosted a Children’s Literary Salon in the main branch of NYPL.  The topic was Diversity and the State of the Children’s Book and featured panelists Zetta Elliott, Connie Hsu, and Sofia Quintero.  It was also, to put it precisely, a hit.  We’ll have the audio up soon, I hope, but in the meantime Lucine Kasbarian has reported over at We Love Children’s Books.  Thanks, Lucine!

• One of the many advantages of joining The Niblings (four numerical children’s literary blogs joined in bringing you only the best in children’s literary news and entertainment) is that I now have a way of actually keeping up with my fellow bloggers.  Trust me when I say that I’m ashamed of how rarely I read the best folks out there.  But now, thanks to the handy dandy Facebok page, I got to see the 100 Scope Notes Newbery Medal Infographic. I dare say I’m a better person for it too.

• To be frank, I probably would have also have missed the recent 2013 Ezra Jack Keats Award winners too!  Back in the day these awards were given in New York Public Library.  Now they’ve moved to south where the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi makes the announcements.  And the winners?

The 2013 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award Winner Is:

Julie Fogliano for And Then It’s Spring

And Then It’s Spring is illustrated by Erin E. Stead.

The 2013 Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award Winner Is:

Hyewon Yum for Mom, It’s My First Day of Kindergarten!

VERY excellent choices.

• And the Acme Powder Company strikes again.  This may be your favorite link of the day, I’ll wager.  Recently Robin Rosenthal of Pen & Oink took a trip to what may well be the world’s most adorable shared studio of children’s book illustrators.  Good looking too, if we’re going to be honest about it.  Hear them in their own words and get a glimpse into what an artist’s studio space ACTUALLY looks like.  Hint: Lots o’ creepy Victorian photographs.  Once you’ve finished with that you can then head on over to Sergio Ruzzier’s new and updated website.

• Aw, what the heck.  You know I don’t usually like to do anything with YA stuff, but a friend of mine asked me to mention this and I don’t see the harm.  There’s a rather sweet little Delirium Fandom offer going on right now.  Prove you’ve pre-ordered Lauren Oliver’s Requiem and you can get a nifty little signed bookplate.  Aww.

• Did you know that there was a conference out there dedicated SOLELY to children’s nonfiction?  Learn something new every day, eh?  Here’s the deets:

It’s a time of re-invention, re-education, and revolution in children’s publishing.  There are important developments that teachers, students, writers, and illustrators want to know about. A faculty of publishers, authors, illustrators, digital designers, and educators will inform and inspire at the 21^st Century Children’s Nonfiction Conference at the State University of New York at New Paltz on June 14-16.

Topics will range from “Nonfiction and the Common Core Standards” to “Creating E-books and Apps.” The weekend will offer intensives, workshops, one-to one consultations and critiques, an illustrators’ showcase, book fair, meals, and a reception at SUNY’s beautiful Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art. Full details are at www.childrensNFconference.com.

Daily Image:

And last but not least, utterly ridiculous bookshelf wallpaper!

Thanks to BB-Blog for the link.

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Happy birthday from Jerry and Amid to the one and only Gene Deitch who turns 88 today! A true legend and someone we are proud to call a friend.

In honor of his birthday, here’s a few of his greatest hits:

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Cartoon Brew | Permalink | One comment | Post tags: Gene Deitch

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Animation director Gene Deitch (Kim’s father) talks about his collaboration with Maurice Sendak on the official animated version of Where The Wild Things Are (as well as In The Night Kitchen) that was produced by Weston Woods during the 1970s. Storyboards, notes, video clips, and correspondance from Maurice himself make for a fascinating read for both animators and illustrators alike.

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It’s Gene Deitch’s 87th birthday today – Happy Birthday, Gene! – and to celebrate, Deitch has started a new blog based around his latest book, a work-in-progress, called Roll The Credits.

For the few reading this unaware of Gene’s career, Mr. Deitch is an Academy Award winning (Munro, 1960) animation director who began his career at UPA where he ultimately ran the New York studio directing Bert and Harry Piels commercials, ran the Terrytoons studio where he created Tom Terrific and Sick Sick Sidney, moved to Prague in 1959 where he directed Tom & Jerry shorts for MGM, Popeye and Krazy Kat TV cartoons for King Features and Nudnik theatricals for Paramount. He spent many years directing animated films for Weston Woods, includsing an adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Oh, and he’s the father of acclaimed underground cartoonist Kim Deitch.

Gene’s new blog will (on a somewhat regular basis) post chapters from the new book, each one devoted to a person who inspired him, “the 65 freaky people – many who have been so far hidden from you – who’ve pushed and prodded me into whatever it is that I’ve accomplished.” The first posts are devoted to his mentor John Hubley, author-illustrator Tomi Ungerer, filmmaker Jan Svankmajer and his mother, Ruth. Gene says this about the book and website:

I’ve tried to keep it light, bright, and short-winded where possible, but a couple of chapters are necessarily semi-sagas. Please cue me if I induce boredom! It’s a “Living Book” because YOU are invited to correct, add, deny, refute, or argue with anything I’ve written. Sadly, many of the people I’ve written about have gone beyond the point of no return, so it’s up to you to challenge my memory. A true history is the goal.

It sounds like a present to all of us who love Gene and the history of animation. Here’s to Gene Deitch, his new blog and our best wishes for his continued success and good health. Happy Birthday, Gene Deitch!

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A full house of animation fans had a blast at our Tribute to Gene Deitch last night at the CineFamily/Silent Movie Theatre in Hollywood. My thanks to all who attended - Gene especially appreciated the audience reaction to his films. He told me later that he really enjoyed that the crowd got all the gags and laughed right where they were supposed to during Flebus, Munro, Here’s Nudick and Self Defense For Cowards. He was truly touched by all the love he felt at the tribute.

Animator Jeaux Janovsky sent me some of his sketch-notes he took at the show (click below thumbnails to enlarge); next to that is a scan of Charles Solomon’s LA Times story (7/5/10), which was never posted online. Below that Mike Clark snapped this photo (second row, below left) of Gene, his wife Zdenka, me and Terrytoon animation Len Glasser after the show. I myself took a few snaps (center and right) of Gene and Zdenka with my iPhone before the show. Jamie Kezlarian Bolio also took some great photos (like the one above) and posted them on a Facebook Album. Jamie also shot video of our Q&A and will post that after she edits it. Thank you everyone - but especially THANK YOU to Gene for making this special appearance and a lifetime of great films.

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