TAG rallies in Burbank, alleged Disney art theft, recent passes and more

March 22 2022

This Sunday, hundreds of members and supporters of The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839 (animationguild.org), gathered in Burbank, California to rally in support of TAG's new contract applications from the Alliance of Motion Picture. & Television Producers. Following COVID-19 talks delays and 12 days of unprecedented negotiations, TAG continues to push for # NewDeal4Animation. Speakers included representatives from IATSE, TAG and the Negotiation Committee.

The Guild is asking AMPTP for a contract that provides fairer compensation for animation employees than for live-action workers. Some of the key elements include improved conditions for those working on animated “new media” projects, including online streaming and other experimental platforms; adequate pay and benefits for animation writers, both personal and short-term; and streamline the classification of storyboard artists. For now, progress on these discussions is in the media blackout phase, but COVID production holds up and the rise in demand for animated content should give TAG's stance weight.

John Korty's Twice Upon a Time was released by Warner Bros. in 1983

Oscar and Emmy winning director / documentary / animator John Korty passed away on March 9 at his home in Point Reyes Station, California at the age of 85. Korty's death was reported in the Marin Independent Journal. His notable works include the award-winning documentary Who Are the DeBolts?, The short documentary Breaking the Habit, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and Go Ask Alice. He leaves his wife Jane Silvia; sons Jonathan, David and Gabriel Korty; and brothers Doug and Nancy Korty.

Born in Lafayette, Indiana, Korty began as a commercial animator while still studying at Antioch College in Ohio, developing a mixed style of cropping, mixed media, and experimental imaging methods that he used throughout his career. In the 70s and 80s, his San Francisco studio Korty Films produced animated shorts that appeared on Sesame Street and The Electric Company, including science-themed segments "Thelma Thumb", using his "Lumage" backlit cropping technique. ". He directed the surrealist fantasy comedy Twice Upon a Time (with Charles Swenson, produced by George Lucas) in 1983, but did not return to animation until the early 2000s, when he created the webtoons "Brock and Throck". .

Akira Takarada at the Japanese premiere of Godzilla (2014)

Toho Studios have announced the death of actor and voice actor Akira Takarada, best known for starring in the 50s original Godzilla movies. Born on April 29, 1934 in Chongjin, Korea during Japanese imperial control, the prolific interpreter died on March 14 at the age of 87 of unknown causes.

Takarada's numerous credits also include some notable dubbing works, including Jafar's Japanese voice in Disney's Aladdin - reprized for the Kingdom Hearts video games and a ride to Tokyo Disney - as well as Ragitan in The Great Mouse Detective and Bendu in Star. Wars Rebels. He has worked continuously over the past few years, including shooting cameo appearances in new Godzilla films and voicing Jafar for Kingdom Hearts Re: coded.

Disney World 50's tiki drummer (left) and Andrew Martin's fan-art sculptor (right); images provided by Andrew Martin

The latest allegation that Disney used someone's work outside the studio with no credit surfaced online, with Canadian artist Andrew Martin (Monstercaesar) claiming that his fan-art sculpture of one of the crocodile drums The Enchanted Tiki Room theme park attraction was used to create a commemorative piece of Disney World 50th anniversary merchandise, priced at $ 125.

Replica of Disneyland's 50th tiki drummer from 2006, launched by Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily from the original Rolly Crump mold. (Photo: Potter and Potter auctions)

As Mashable reports, Martin originally created the sculpture during a seven-hour live stream in 2018 and posted the design online for other fans to 3D print the figure. This year, the entertainment giant has started selling the "exact same" music box design on a DisneyWorld 50 platform. Side by side show that the two sculptures share some very specific details and imperfections that don't seem to be present in the replica created. for the 50th anniversary of Disneyland (2006). The music box has reportedly been removed from Disney's online store, but park visitors say it's still available in Disney World stores.

my neighbor Totoro

At the conclusion of the last few months of its opening exhibition on the living legend of Japanese animation, the Academy Museum will present Hayao Miyazaki Encores: Screenings of seven key films directed by the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, in 35 mm print with English subtitles (the most new - hit by the Academy Film Archive) from April 1st to May 27th. The lineup, planned by Bernardo Rondeau, includes:

April 1 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
April 8 Castle in the sky
April 15 My neighbor Totoro
April 29 Princess Mononoke
May 6 The enchanted city
May 13 Howl's Moving Castle
May 27 Ponyo

Harold Moss and his company FlickerLab were recently commissioned to create the animated introduction for the new interactive Reading Rainbow Live, based on the beloved PBS show. The team wanted to honor the 80s / 90s classic as they worked to create an animated opening for the show's next chapter, creating something unique and suitable for its new live format. Like its predecessor, the new introduction celebrates the infinite worlds found between the pages of books and the infinite adventures that can be experienced there.

“Reading Rainbow was one of the greatest educational television programs of all time. Not only does it survive in the hearts of generations of children who invented it, but the show remains an absolute gold standard for anyone who creates educational content that is meaningful to children, ”said Moss. “I've had the privilege of learning the art of creating such media at the feet of some of the people behind the original show, so it's just an incredible honor to be a part of this reboot, bringing a wonderful, participatory, live turn to the project. We are at the limit of our seats, along with a lot of fans, to see it first, in what we expect will be worth many years of new Reading Rainbow shows, and I can't wait to be part of that journey to come. "