Animation Celebration Recap

It's really taken me a week to gather all my wonderful thoughts on MAPA's first Animation Celebration, presented by CinemaKC.  It was overwhelming and humbling to see a community of artists come together in such a spectacular venue, the Boulevard Drive-in. (Thank you Brian and Wes Neal!)  The wonderfully cool evening after the long, hot drought of 2012 set the tone perfectly for what was to become one of the most memorable nights of my life.  (Special thanks for co-host Michelle Davidson for keeping my nerves cool.)

Thank you Kansas City for supporting our amazingly talented animators.  Here is the final line up for the evening:

Student Program (Special thanks to Doug Hudson, Chair of the Animation Department, Kansas City Art Institute and Vonda Yarberry, Professor of Art & Design, Missouri State University)

“Spooky Ghost” by Ryan Comiskey, Kansas City Art Institute

“Pillow Fight” by Matt Arnold, Missouri State University

“Elm” by Mike McCubbins, Kansas City Art Institute

“Mannequin” by Art Wiesen III, Missouri State University

“Hell for Bread” by Trent Coffin, Kansas City Art Institute

“Apollo Trailer” by Missouri State University, in associate with Electronic Arts

“Remix” by Douglas Meloche, Kansas City Art Institute

“The Adventures of Malachi Winter: Chapter 1” by Thomas Beard, Missouri State University

“Luchadorable” by Ryan Tonner, Kansas City Art Institute

“Morning Rush” by Bintner, Missouri State University

“Zorgo” by Josephfilm, Missouri State University

CAPS: An Inside Look

Segment produced by Leah Karchin, Interactive Design Instructor at the Center for Advanced ProfessionalStudies (CAPS), Blue Valley Schools

The Films of the Broadmoor Technical Center, (Special thanks to Bryan Johnson, Animation and Interactive Media Instructor, Shawnee Mission School District)

“1969 Dodge Charger” by Sam McManness

“Final Project” by Daniela Sanchez

“Eva” by Daniela Sanchez

“Animation” by Daniela Sanchez

“”My Jeep” by Daniela Sanchez

“Presenting the Ford Model T!” by Rachel Traul

“Rocket Fuel” by Josh Glenn

“Chess Club” by Sam McManness

The Films of ReelSpirit, (special thanks to Barbara Noble, Director)

“Billy and Blob and Billy Blob” by Emily Perisho, Elementary

“Kaleidoscope Heart” by Christina Waddle, Colleen Wouters & Lauren Larkins, Middle School

“The Hungry Car” by Tobin Wise, Elementary

“The Hungry Monsters” by Morgan Wehner, Elementary

“Mr. Prickles Explodes” by Owen Bailey

“Beautiful Changes” by Evan Williams & Robin Brudage, Middle School

“Fire Tractor” by Evan Miller, Elementary

“Un-erasable Friendship” by Emma Moore, Rachel Dustman, Donna Borer & Haley Burge, Middle School

“Nursery News at 5:00” by Kathleen Didion, age 12

Professional Program

“Follow the Sun” by MK12

“Beach Bums” by Bazillion Studios

“Demo Reel 2011” by T2+BackAlley Films

“Descendant” by Dan Wood, Architect at Populous

“World Builder” by Bruce Branit of BranitFX

Independent Program (some student submissions moved to this program because of content)

“Another Dress, Another Button” by Lyn Eliott

“Aliens in Wonderland” by Jim McCullough

How to Put a Square Peg into a Round Hole,” or “Square Peg” by Mary C. Taylor (thanks for the T.V. time)

“Again and Again” by Jim McCullough

“Corporate City” by Trent Coffin

“Vanishing Twin” by Rhianna James, Kansas City Art Institute

Handheld Monster by Alison Dixon, Kansas City Art Institute

“Clocked In” by Issac AhLoe, Kansas City Art Institute

“Space,” “Bubbles & Blankets” and “Familiarity of the Stranger” by Brodie Rush

“History of America” by MK12

The folks that make it possible

MAPA would like to thank all of our area sponsors:

CinemaKC

The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City

The Film Society of Greater Kansas City

Independent Filmmaker's Coalition

Kansas City Women in Film and TV

Reel Spirit

Thank You Walt Disney

UMKC Film Department

41 Action News

Women of the Motion Picture Industry

Blue Valley North Caps Program, Blue Valley Schools

The Broadmoor Technical Center, Shawnee Mission School District

Missouri State University

The Kansas City Art Institute

But we're not done promoting animation in the Midwest, so stay tuned for future MAPA seminars and shows promoting the very best in special FX and animation from the Heartland.  Let's make next year's event even bigger and more spectacular!  Submissions begin March 15, 2013.

Dylan Dietz
Director, Midwest Association of Professional Animators (MAPA)