Saturday, January 28, 2006
Archive: 2005 Year In Review
The ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive is now open to the public in its facility on Burbank Bl in Burbank. Volunteers and ASIFA members are working to build out a virtual archive of material for the use of researchers, artists and students. Three workstations are networked to a main server used for digitizing. There is an extensive library of books related to animation, and an exhibit space for displaying artifacts from the history of animation. It is quickly becoming one of the foremost facilities devoted to animation in the world.
In the past year, the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive has reached several of its initial goals. Through the generous donations of ASIFA members and corporate sponsors, we funded the purchase of the computer equipment- top of the line Macintosh computers with high resolution digitizing ability. We leased the building in Burbank, networked it and set up the equipment, and mounted the first two exhibits- a collection of drawings from the Fleischer Studios, including Grim Natwick's original character designs for Betty Boop; and the Annie Award nominated submissions for the character design, production design and storyboard categories.
Annette O'Neil takes a break from helping to organize the Annie Awards Ceremonies to look over the submissions from this year's nominees for Character Design.
Over 600 rare cartoons have been digitized and entered into the database- including the Fleischer Popeye cartoons, an important collection of rare B&W Terrytoons, and important Eastern European films from the Kratky Studios. We have also scanned original artwork from the 1950s commercial animation house, Ray Patin Studios, classic illustrated books by Disney concept artists Gustaf Tenggren, Mary Blair and Kay Nielsen; and comics by cartoonists Virgil "Vip" Partch and Milt Gross.
The physical archives have been growing as well. John Kricfalusi donated the archives of Spumco Studios to ASIFA-Hollywood. The collection includes the original hand drawn storyboards to all of the original episodes of Ren & Stimpy, reference and training manuals, and a collection of rare cartoons on broadcast quality 3/4 inch tapes. Terry Thoren donated the archives of the Animation Celebration, containing a wealth of information on independent animation. Lee Klynn, the son of Format Films founder, Herb Klynn donated some marvelous material from his father's collection as well.
The ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive is currently open two days a week- Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1pm to 9pm. In the coming year, it is our goal to secure funding to be able to open the archive to the public five days a week. This will allow us to continue building out the animation database as quickly as we can and to design the user interface.
Once the database reaches "critical mass" and is fully functional, we will be able to pursue grants to sustain the project. But until then, we depend on the support of the members of ASIFA-Hollywood and the animation community to make this all possible. We have plans for several fundraising events to benefit the archive during the coming year. We hope that all of you will generously support this project.
Stephen Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood
Animation Archive ¶ 3:51 PM
In the past year, the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive has reached several of its initial goals. Through the generous donations of ASIFA members and corporate sponsors, we funded the purchase of the computer equipment- top of the line Macintosh computers with high resolution digitizing ability. We leased the building in Burbank, networked it and set up the equipment, and mounted the first two exhibits- a collection of drawings from the Fleischer Studios, including Grim Natwick's original character designs for Betty Boop; and the Annie Award nominated submissions for the character design, production design and storyboard categories.
Annette O'Neil takes a break from helping to organize the Annie Awards Ceremonies to look over the submissions from this year's nominees for Character Design.
Over 600 rare cartoons have been digitized and entered into the database- including the Fleischer Popeye cartoons, an important collection of rare B&W Terrytoons, and important Eastern European films from the Kratky Studios. We have also scanned original artwork from the 1950s commercial animation house, Ray Patin Studios, classic illustrated books by Disney concept artists Gustaf Tenggren, Mary Blair and Kay Nielsen; and comics by cartoonists Virgil "Vip" Partch and Milt Gross.
The physical archives have been growing as well. John Kricfalusi donated the archives of Spumco Studios to ASIFA-Hollywood. The collection includes the original hand drawn storyboards to all of the original episodes of Ren & Stimpy, reference and training manuals, and a collection of rare cartoons on broadcast quality 3/4 inch tapes. Terry Thoren donated the archives of the Animation Celebration, containing a wealth of information on independent animation. Lee Klynn, the son of Format Films founder, Herb Klynn donated some marvelous material from his father's collection as well.
The ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive is currently open two days a week- Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1pm to 9pm. In the coming year, it is our goal to secure funding to be able to open the archive to the public five days a week. This will allow us to continue building out the animation database as quickly as we can and to design the user interface.
Once the database reaches "critical mass" and is fully functional, we will be able to pursue grants to sustain the project. But until then, we depend on the support of the members of ASIFA-Hollywood and the animation community to make this all possible. We have plans for several fundraising events to benefit the archive during the coming year. We hope that all of you will generously support this project.
Stephen Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood
Animation Archive ¶ 3:51 PM
