This Issue:

Azur and Asmar
Local Screenings
ASIFA Seattle forums
Classes and Workshops

AZUR & ASMAR

SIFF Cinema
January 9 to 15
Various Times
www.siff.net
France, Michel Ocelot, 2006/2008
Rated PG - Recommended for ages 6+
99 min - In English

The new animated film from Michel Ocelot
former President ASIFA International

"Impossibly Gorgeous!”
“The year’s most beautiful animated film!”
– Salon

Set in the Middle Ages, Azur and Asmar is the story of two boys raised as brothers. Blonde, blue-eyed, white skinned Azur and black-haired, brown-eyed, dark-skinned Asmar are lovingly cared for by Asmar's gentle mother, who tells them magical stories of her faraway homeland and of beautiful, imprisoned Fairy Djinn waiting to be set free. Time passes, and one day Azur's father, the master of the house, provokes a brutal separation. Azur is sent away to study, while Asmar and his mother are driven out, homeless and penniless.

Years later, as a young adult, Azur remains haunted by memories of the sunny land of his nanny, and sets sail south across the high seas to find the country of his dreams. Arriving as an immigrant in a strange land, Azur is rejected by everyone he meets on account of his "unlucky" blue eyes, until finally he resolves never to open those eyes again. The once-beautiful child clad in gold is reduced to a blind beggar. Yet, blind though he is, little by little and step by step, he discovers a beautiful and mysterious country. Meanwhile, back in her homeland, Azur's nanny has become a wealthy merchant and Asmar has grown into a dashing horseman. Reunited but now as adversaries, the two brothers set off on a dangerous quest to find and free the Fairy of the Djinns.

The film plays for one week only

January 9 to 15, at the SIFF Cinema in Seattle

Showtime and ticket info at the SIFF website, www.siffcinema.com.

The film will also play:

January 16-23 in Olympia at the Capitol Theater
January 24-25 in Bellingham at the Pickford Film Center

Local Screenings

Films4Families at SIFF Cinema

Kirikou and the Sorceress
January 10th, 10:00 AM
Saturday Morning at the Movies!

Kirikou is a surprisingly talkative newborn who uses his creativity to help his village release the curse of an evil sorceress. Based on African folklore, this animated film abounds with vibrant colors and the music of life.

Seattle Children's Film Festival

January 23rd — Feburary 1st
Northwest Film Forum
1515 12th Ave, Seattle WA 98122
http://www.nwfilmforum.org/go/childrensfilmfest/schedule.htm
206-329-2629

Lots of wonderful animation!
Here's just a sample...

The Adventures of Prince Achmed
January 25, 7:00 PM
(Lotte Reiniger, Germany, 1926, 67 min)

The oldest extant feature-length animated film - is a breathtaking work of art. Created in 1926 by 23 year-old German teacher Lotte Reiniger, the film tells the story of an Arabian prince, an evil sorcerer, and a captured princess using silhouette-animation techniques.

Witaj Polsko!
Three Decades of Animation from Poland
(Various directors, Poland, 1947-1968, 72 min)

Say hello to Poland in this three-ring circus of joyous and masterful animated films spanning the 1940s, 50s and 60s. This program celebrates an incredible contribution to the children's film canon by taking a look back at visually dazzling, award-winning short films that tell funny, tender, thrilling, and unexpected stories. From a groundbreaking 1947 puppet animation about a rampaging dragon, to a painterly wild West fantasy, to a groovy 1960s fable about a peaceful world where time stood still, this program has it all

Animated Genius:
The Films of John and Faith Hubley
(John and Faith Hubley, USA, 1957—75, 35mm, 70 min)

Beginning in the 1950s, the husband and wife team John and Faith Hubley broke from traditional styles of animation and made films with a completely unique visual style and poetic sensibility. Their passion, humor and joyous family life informed their work together, and is evident in this collection of innovative films celebrating jazz music. This swinging program highlights the best of the Hubleys' jazz films, featuring their collaborations with Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Quincy Jones and Benny Carter.

Rise and Shine! - a collection of short animation
(Various directors, various countries, 2005-2008, 76 min)

Here's a blast of sunshine sure to brighten any day! In this collection of mostly animated short films, you'll bask in the glory of a perfect spring day in the park, reach for the tastiest thing on a table filled with treats and go on wild adventures with unforgettable characters. Meet a mischievous toddler on a quest to improve her appearance, brave kids who are guide a lost bear back to safety, a dog that follows his tail to find a new friend and some grumpy lumps of clay that finally see the light.

Gentle Planet
(Various directors, various countries, 50 min)

This program of animated films celebrates all creatures great and small--from kids who love pancakes, ducks, bugs and broccoli, to gentle globetrotting elephants. Watch a bean sprout grow, learn to tell the truth and travel with some bunnies to a warm and cuddly place.

ASIFA Seattle Web Fourms

Check out the discussions on the forum pages

The forums are for you to express yourself, spread news, talk about upcoming events, ask for help, contribute tips and techniques, and anything else you want to share with the local animation community!

ASIFA Seattle Forums

Classes and Workshops

911 Media Arts Center
www.911media.org

Hands on Animation Lab: Stop Motion
Wednesdays January 21 - February 18, 6:00-9:00pm
Cost: $300 ($255 911 Members)
Instructor: Clyde Petersen
Class limit: 12

Stop motion animation is an animation technique to make a physically maipulated objects appear to move. This workshop introduces and covers the basics. Possibilities include drawing, working with clay, or any non - drawn objects, including toys , blocks, dolls. If puppets and characters are your interest you can explore character and puppet construction technique as well. Emphasis is placed on the use of camera and lighting for effective storytelling. This class is open to young and old animators, and all skill levels. Students recieve extra 4 hours of animation time at 911 with the Animation Lunchbox. (Tools you will learn to use in the class.)

That's all for now...

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