This year's audience ~ bigger and more enthusiastic than ever!

This year’s “2D OR NOT 2D Animation Festival” lived up to all expectations. The entries were bigger than ever before, the audience was larger than before and the enthusiasm and appreciation for the films shown was louder and more evident than ever before. Indeed, I was reminded that it is only when sitting in an audience and sharing the collective responses to everyone around you that the real value of making films comes out. It is one thing looking at a DVD alone or playing a video game in isolation or in contact with others online but it is entirely another when you are there to see how a collective group of people laugh, cry and applaud (hopefully for the right reasons) at something you have spent months – maybe even years – working on. It is that ‘rock star’ moment, when you feel the crowd carrying you along with their enthusiasm. There is nothing that compares to that, which is one reason why we put the event on in the first place and why I believe the quality of films is so much better this year.

Paul Fierlinger answering questions at DigiPen.

Speakers like Max Howard and Paul & Sandra Fierlinger offer perspective too. Speaking from each end of the independent animation spectrum they both offered valid and inspirational motivation for continuing a commitment to animated filmmaking. By having such opposing and yet complimentary ideas on production and process it allows the animator to recognize where they fit on that spectrum and move forward accordingly.

Max Howard in the spotlight.

And finally we have to thank all those who have contributed to the success – indeed the very existence – of the “2D OR NOT 2D Animation Festival”. First and foremost is DigiPen Institute of Technology  - through the commitment of COO Raymond Yan and the marketing expertise of Tarsi Hall – and the Pacific Science Center. Other individuals who have given so much to make this year’s festival such a success are Ken Rowe, Saille Schumacher, Isaac Alexander, Barbara Mones, Brad Tollefson and Ryal Hansen. The entire event was filmed in hi-definition by Brad and if the winning filmmakers agree to allowing us to feature their films, we hope to finally bring out a DVD of the event to mark its coming of age this time around. Selected highlights of the event will also be streamed at sometime in the future.

Max in front of the huge IMAX screen that did the short film entries proud!

Of course we cannot wrap up the event this year without thanking each and everyone who turned up and made it the enjoyable experience it was. Thank you one and all – and we hope to see you all back next year when we are determined to make the event even better than this year. (Are you listening filmmakers? There’s still time to finish that award-winning film that could just take one the next Golden Pencils we’ll be offering!) Bottom line, the bigger the success the festival is, the more chance there is of encouraging a real production presence for animated films in the region.

SEE THIS FILM TODAY AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN THE EAMES THEATER, PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER IN SEATTLE!

MAN AND CAT (Adam Marr/Australia)

A man trades places with his cat to avoid the rat race.

ALSO SEE THIS FILM TODAY AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN THE EAMES THEATER, PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER IN SEATTLE!

THOUGHT OF YOU (Ryan Woodward/USA)

Thought of You is a contemporary dance animation, drawn in a figurative style of conte on newsprint. The theme allows the viewer viewer to form an independent interpretation of the complexities of intimate relationships.

Note: "Thought of You" is my own personal favorite from all of this year's entries - you should not miss this exquisite film!  Tony.   :^{)}=-

SEE THIS FILM IN 1 DAY AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 22ND!

MONDO CLAYMO (Christophe Lopez-Huici/USA)

ALSO SEE THIS FILM IN 1 DAY AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 22ND!

SORRY FILM NOT READY (Janet Periman/Canada)

SEE THIS FILM IN 2 DAYS AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 22ND!

KINGS (Barbara Mones/USA)

ALSO SEE THIS FILM IN 2 DAYS AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 22ND!

IF A TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST… (Gabriel London/USA)

Timberland wanted us to imagine a life without trees. We may not all be in the forest, listening for the sound - bearing witness - when a clear cut occurs, but we can all imagine a life without trees. It's like the old saying: If a tree falls in the forest, and there's no one around to hear it, does it make a sound? Yes it does. It sounds like this...

SEE THIS FILM IN 3 DAYS AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 22ND!

DEATH BUY LEMONADE (Kyu-bum Lee/Canada)                                               

A little girl running a lemonade stand has run in with death.

ALSO SEE THIS FILM IN 3 DAYS AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 22ND!

DON’T TEXT & DRIVE  (Adrian Garcia/USA)                       

A choreographed waltz depicts the consequences of irresponsible driving.

SEE THIS FILM IN 4 DAYS AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 22ND!

BRIDGE (Ting Chian Tey/USA)                                                                       

Bridge is a story about four animal characters trying to cross a bridge, but ending up as obstacles to one another in the process. The moral behind this story revolves around how there are often disagreements or competing paths in life, and the possible results of pride, obstinance, and compromise.

ALSO SEE THIS FILM IN 4 DAYS AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 22ND!

LIZARD  (John Skibinski/Australia)                                               

An Australian frilled neck lizard's simple attempts to get a meal escalate into a full blown dilemma and quest to stay alive.

Just a quick glimpse of some of the amazing animated goodies being shown during the "2D OR NOT 2D Animation Festival" at the Pacific Science Center on January 22nd. (Keynote speakers Max Howard and Paul & Sandra Fierlinger are not included - you just have to show up on the day to hear them talk, watch the movie "My Dog Tulip" and have a great time all round!) Further details and online tickets: www.2dornot2d.org

SEE THIS FILM IN 5 DAYS AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 22ND!

THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO VILLAINY (Aidan McAteer/Ireland)           

A 1920s instructional silent moving picture for the discerning gentleman villain.

ALSO SEE THIS FILM IN 5 DAYS AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 22ND!

KIDNAP (Sijia Luo/USA)

SEE THIS FILM IN 6 DAYS AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 22ND!

HOW THE COYOTE GOT HIS CUNNING  (Claire Niebergall/USA)                                   

In this adaptation of a Native American folktale, the Coyote schemes to become the strongest of all the animals. With a visual style that simulates cut-paper and uses the cultural motifs of the Pacific Northwest, we follow a story about the creation of the world, the ranking of all its creatures, and the world's first (failed) all-nighter.

ALSO SEE THIS FILM IN 6 DAYS AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 22ND!

MYO-A  (Minji Kang/South Korea)                                               

Myo-A. The cat I loved became night sky.

SEE THIS ANNIE-NOMINATED FILM IN 7 DAYS AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON JANUARY 22ND!

THE RENTER (Jason Carpenter/USA)                                                           

Based on a true story, 'The Renter' follows the journey of a young boy who is cared for by an elderly woman during the day. Her house is part of an aging, impoverished world where a strange man has taken up residency. Through a struggle he cannot fully understand, the boy finds caring can be shown in confusing ways.

ALSO SEE THIS FILM IN 7 DAYS AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON JANUARY 22ND!

IRASSHAI (Yia Tien Tu/USA)                                               

The epic journey of a group of sushi escaping from a restaurant after nearly being eaten, and confronts a giant octopus guarding the exit in order to make their way to freedom.

SEE THIS FILM IN 8 DAYS AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON JANUARY 22ND!

PHILADELPHIA CHICKENS (Sandra Boynton/USA)

An overenthusiastic animated music video of the title song from Philadelphia Chickens, the Grammy-nominated Gold record album written and produced by cartoonist Sandra Boynton and composer Michael Ford. Two pigs from Connecticut travel down Interstate 95 to go watch the renowned chickens swing-dancing in a park near the Schuylkill River. Wild and wooly. Or, rather: feathery. The original singers of the track, Kevin and Michael Bacon, make spiffy cameo appearances.

ALSO SEE THIS FILM IN 8 DAYS AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON JANUARY 22ND!

SEE THIS FILM IN 9 DAYS AT THE "2D OR NOT 2D ANIMATION FESTIVAL" IN SEATTLE ON JANUARY 22ND!

"PRAYERS FOR PEACE"  (Dustin Grella/USA) 8 mins.

Prayers for Peace is a narrative stop-motion animation confronting the memory of the artist's younger brother killed in the current conflict in Iraq. Drawn entirely with pastels on a slate chalkboard, the materials used to create the animation become a metaphor for the impermanence of life.