Monday, October 25, 2021

Post 444 - 2021 International Animation Day Celebration from ASIFA Central

International Animation Day commemorates the first public performance by Charles-Émile Reynaud of his Théâtre Optique at the Grevin Museum in Paris.  That October 28, 1892 premiere represented the beginning of modern animation, and the date has been celebrated by animators with showings and performances since 2002, coordinated by ASIFA International and its many chapters around the globe.



Animation? You want ANIMATION?!? For the International Animation Day (IAD) celebration this Thursday, October 28th, ASIFA Central is providing a Vimeo-hosted program of 17 short animated films from the local group and the WHOLE WORLD. This program is available for single or group viewing, and if you are interested in accessing this LIMITED TIME OFFER to create an instant 'toon party or fill in an hour of cultural class time, here's your chance! Seating is limited to only the first 300 who apply! Who do you have to kidnap for this? How many cartloads of zinc must you provide to the program coordinators? IT'S FREE. FREE FREE FREE. "All you have to do is email the ASIFA Central Secretary, Jim Middleton, at jim.middletonrx@gmail,com and ask for the SECRET INSTRUCTIONS on WHAT IT TAKES TO BE THE TALK OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. Why, just look at what you can see --
THE PROGRAM (61 minutes, 66 for the "Special Edition")
1. Toast for ASIFA - Deanna Morse, Christine Veras, Steve Leeper, et al - 1:11
2. Two Little People - ASIFA Australia - Xin Li - 3:00
3. Springtime in CoVid Land - Julie Goldstein - 2:08
4. Mala - Too Otaghia Group - Iran - 2:15
5. Large Scale Absurdities Volume 3 - “Docile Town” - Kimonos Animation Studio - Charalambos Margaritis - ASIFA Hellas - 4:21
6. Horsepower - Christine Veras, et al - 1:00
7. Notun Fasal (New Harvest) - Sovan Dutta - ASIFA India - 2:30
8. Tchisti - Sarah Tabibzadeh - Iran - 4:25
9. Candy Shop - Patrick Smith - ASIFA South - 2:30
10. Espresso Doppio - Mika Koskinen - Finland - 3:54
11. Eli - Jeff Martell - ASIFA South - 3:32
12. Connecting - Melissa Bouwman - 2:06
13. Happy Banana - Ali Raies - Iran - 8:20
14. Animated Doodle - ASIFA Hellas - 4:00
15. NamaStay - Margo Pierce - ASIFA South - 2:45
16. time passing : passing time - Polly Wolly Doodlers (Jim Middleton, Deanna Morse, Gretchen Vinnedge, Suzanne Zack) - 5:05
17. A Tale of Self-Preservation - Shannon Fleming - ASIFA South - 5:30
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!!!! If you act before midnight, December 15, you'll also get access to the SPECIAL COORDINATOR CUT, featuring a "you are there" installation experience for "time passing : passing time" as seen by DOZENS UPON DOZENS of Cichlids at the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery during the recent ArtPrize in Grand Rapids!
You will curl your toes with GLEE. You'll want to cavort! Frolic! Scamper!
But you must act NOW! (Well, before December 15th, anyway) Drop an email to jim.middletonrx@gmail.com while he is still permitted access to a keyboard!






Friday, October 08, 2021

Post 442 - 1907 - Battle Creek "The City Beautiful" - Images from an Early 20th Century Promotional Booklet

Worked on a restoration of the 1907 booklet some time back, likely in time for the centennial of the original publication.  The map shows the location of the buildings against the city's current configuration.  Most of the buildings are now areas for parking lots, areas that are also now without a reason for parking, because... well, the buildings aren't there!  Oh that progress!

But I digress.  Here are the pictures! (click on the image for enlarged viewing of the jpg)



















































Friday, October 01, 2021

Post 441 - Disney World Hits 50 - Here's What I Remember When It Hit 9

Lugged around my new Elmo Super 8mm sound camera with a 200 foot cartridge on that trip, but not much of the sound was worth recording, so I shot a LOT at 18fps thinking I could edit the sound later, mixing in some 24fps material.  It took until 2013 to get around to it, and then the surgery was performed digitally.  My featured little brother is now retired and works for The Mouse, loving every moment.

(cc) 2013 Jim Middleton, The Animating Apothecary, may use with credit given