Q&A with Director Guillermo del Toro!
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro reinvents Carlo Collodi’s classic tale of the wooden marionette who is magically brought to life in order to mend the heart of a grieving woodcarver named Geppetto.
This whimsical stop-motion film directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson follows the mischievous and disobedient adventures of Pinocchio in his pursuit of a place in the world.
Q&A with Director Mascha Halberstad
Nine year old Babs lives a fairly content life in her idyllic Dutch town, but it’s turned a bit upside down when her wild-card American Grandfather shows up and camps out in the back of the family home. To Babs’s delight–and her vegetarian, cautious parents’s horror–he gives Babs a pet piglet named Oink. Babs always wanted a puppy but Oink is close enough, right? He is certainly just as charming. Her parents decide that if he can pass puppy training school then he can stay. If his schooling isn’t a big enough challenge, the town’s infamous Sausage King competition is gearing up. Danger seems to be lurking around every corner but could the biggest threat be closer to Babs than she thinks? The lovingly handcrafted stop-motion film by Mascha Halberstad is alive with humor and humanity.
Q&A with Director Kajsa Næss
Italian airship engineer Umberto Nobile lives a peaceful life in Rome with his beloved rescue dog, Titina. Umberto’s peaceful life is uprooted when the famed Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen, befriends and hires him to make an airship capable of embarking on the dangerous journey to the North Pole. With trusty Titina by their side, the two make history after they return from the treacherous trail but success has bitter side effects and soon the two men are embattled over their newfound fame. Their insatiable thirst for glory threatens their friendship as they test the limits of just how far they can go.
Based on the real life story that captured the hearts and headlines of Europe in the 1920s, Titina employs artful, graphic animation to capture the majesty of a world not just seen from the sky but also through the eyes of an instantly-lovable four-legged adventurer.
NOTE: The Q&A with Perlimps’s director, Alê Abreu, has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict. We apologize for the inconvenience.
One of two films in this year’s lineup set in enchanted forests (the other being the tonally opposite UNICORN WARS), Alê Abreu’s colorful, hand-drawn panorama is among the most visually stunning films of the year. In a world on the brink of destruction, Claé and Bruô, agents from rival kingdoms of the Sun and the Moon, must put aside their age-old conflict and find the elusive Perlimps (from “pirilampos,” Portuguese for “fireflies”) the only thing that can save the world. Presented in collaboration with the Latino Film Institute, LALIFF, and LatinX in Animation.
In the almost twenty years since his iconic feature film debut, Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) has brought to the screen the perversely macabre worlds of Tim Burton, Roald Dahl, and Neil Gaiman. For his newest film – his first since 2009’s Coraline – he joins forces with master of modern horror, Jordan Peele, adapting an unpublished story by Selick himself, to delight and terrify a new generation with his stop-motion artistry.
When guilt-stricken orphan Kat (voiced by Lyric Ross) arrives at Rust Bank Catholic, a fancy All-Girls school that takes in the occasional troubled youth – for a fee, of course! – she discovers a long dormant connection to another world. There she meets Wendell and Wild (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele), two scheming demons who, in exchange for entry to the Land of the Living, promise to fulfill Kat’s only wish. A Netflix release.
Q&A with Director Inna Sahakyan
At only 14 years old, Aurora lost everything during the horror of the Armenian genocide. Four years later, through luck and extraordinary courage, she escaped to New York, where her story became a media sensation. Starring as herself in Auction of Souls, an early Hollywood blockbuster, Aurora became the face of one of the largest charity campaigns in American history. With a blend of vivid animation, interviews with Aurora herself, and 18 minutes of surviving footage from her lost silent epic, Aurora’s Sunrise revives a forgotten story of survival.
Animation Is Film is proud to present this Behind-the-scenes, making-of presentation of Walt Disney’s 61st animated feature STRANGE WORLD. Academy Award-winning producer Roy Conli (Tangled, Big Hero 6) takes you on this exclusive, one-of-a-kind journey. This one hour presentation and Q&A is a rare opportunity to see exclusive footage from the new film with commentary from its Producers and filmmaking team.
Q&A with Creator/Director Dice Tsutsumi, and Producers Robert Kondo, Sara K. Sampson, Kane Lee, and Momona Tamada (“Onari”).
Animation Is Film is immensely proud to present the theatrical World Premiere of the 4-episode series on Netflix Anime from the visionary team at Tonko House.
In a world filled with the oddball gods and monsters of Japanese mythology, one of the creature’s free-spirited daughters, Onari, is determined to follow in the footsteps of the mighty heroes of lore, but her unique powers are yet to be revealed. Does she have what it takes to protect her peaceful village from the encroaching presence of the mysterious “Oni” who threaten the gods? Presented in partnership by CAPE and Gold House.
Animation Is Film is proud to present this Behind-the-scenes, Making of presentation of one of the most hotly anticipated films of the year – Dreamworks Animation’s PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH. This one hour presentation and Q&A – led by Director Joel Crawford and the filmmaking team – is a rare opportunity to see footage from the new film with exclusive commentary.
Panel includes: Joel Crawford (Director), Mark Swift (Producer), Heidi Jo Gilbert (Head of Story), Ludovic Bouancheau (Head of Character Animation), and James Ryan (Editor)
A must for animation fans, students and enthusiasts of all ages.
Q+A with Director Nora Twomey
Co-founder of Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon, Oscar nominated Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner, AIF ’17) returns to Animation Is Film with this glorious adaptation of Ruth Stiles Gannett’s beloved children’s novel.
After their family store is forced to close, Elmer (Jacob Tremblay) moves to the big city with his mother to start anew. A random act of kindness to a stray cat (a talking cat, it turns out) sets Elmer off on an extraordinary voyage to Wild Island, home to beasts of all sizes, including a young dragon named Boris (Gaten Matarazzo.) What starts as a scheme to “rescue” his new friend turns into the adventure of a lifetime in this magical, big-hearted adventure from the studio that brought you Wolfwalkers and Song of the Sea. A Netflix release.
Q+A with Director Domee Shi and Producer Lindsey Collins
Disney and Pixar’s “Turning Red” introduces Mei Lee (voice of Rosalie Chiang), a confident, dorky 13-year-old torn between staying her mother’s dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. Her protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming (voice of Sandra Oh), is never far from her daughter—an unfortunate reality for the teenager. And as if changes to her interests, relationships and body weren’t enough, whenever she gets too excited (which is practically ALWAYS), she “poofs” into a giant red panda! A Pixar release.
Q&A with Director Alberto Vázquez
The Bears, engaged in an ongoing war with the Unicorns who they believe stole their ancestral land, are sent deep into the Magic Forest in search of a platoon that never returned from a previous mission. Deep behind “enemy” lines, the divide between two brothers, Tubby and Bluey, is exacerbated in the face of war.
Said by its director to be a cross between Bambi, Apocalypse Now, and The Bible, Alberto Vázquez’s nightmarish vision of Hell-on-Earth, contrasted with the cuddliest of teddy bears and most majestic of unicorns, is the newest arrival from one of the most evocative artists working in animation. Returning to Animation Is Film for the first time since 2017’s Birdboy: The Forgotten Children, Vázquez’s story contains visual and narrative references to Hamlet, Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, and John Milton, and is as damning a portrait of war as anything you’ll see on-screen this year.
Presented in collaboration with the Latino Film Institute, LALIFF, and LatinX in Animation.
NOTE: Contains images of extreme violence, drug use, cannibalism, and full frontal bear nudity, and is recommended for Adult audiences only.
Q&A with Director loundraw
A local urban legend claims that lighting fireworks at an abandoned airfield will call the “summer ghost,” a spirit that can answer any question. Three troubled teenagers – Tomoya, Aoi, and Ryo – do not know each other yet, but each has their own reasons to show up one day. When a sparkler is lit, a ghost named Ayane appears, and she reveals she is only visible to those “who are about to touch their death.” The three teens return home, but Tomoya soon begins visiting the airfield alone, as he becomes obsessed with the mystery surrounding Ayane and the true purpose of her visits.
Inspired by one of his own drawings, this remarkable directorial debut from the celebrated illustrator loundraw brings his lush visual sensibility to a poignant supernatural drama about the struggles of growing up, and the importance of living life to the fullest. A GKIDS release.
Q&A with Peggy Holmes (Director), David Eisenmann (Producer), and Kiel Murray (Screenwriter) – moderated by Academy Award® winner Rich Moore (“Zootopia”)
From Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation comes the story of Sam Greenfield, the unluckiest person in the world! Suddenly finding herself in the never-before-seen Land of Luck, she must unite with the magical creatures there to turn her luck around. An Apple Original Films release.
Be among the first to experience new footage from Frozen 2, the breathlessly anticipated sequel to the 2013 phenomenon Frozen. For your guide, Director and Academy Award® winner Chris Buck takes you on a journey out of Arendelle in pursuit of the origin of Elsa’s powers. Featuring behind-the-scenes insight and footage from from the upcoming film, this exclusive sneak peek at the making of the film is one ticket worth melting for.
RUSH TICKETS AVAILABLE
SPECIAL SCREENING AND DISCUSSION WITH COLOROOM FOUNDER, YI QIAO
Academy Award nominated director Max Lang will be here in-person to introduce the film and answer your questions afterward!
Animation Is Film is proud to present this exclusive sneak peek at one of the most highly anticipated animated features of the year – Netflix’s KLAUS! Hear from filmmakers – director Sergio Pablos (live, via satellite) and Animation Supervisor Matt Williames (live, in-person) – about the production, and see never-before-seen footage of this groundbreaking new film.
INTRO & Q+A w/ DIRECTOR JÉRÉMY CLAPIN AND PRODUCER MARC DU PONTAVICE
Los Angeles Premiere, presented in partnership with COLCOA French Film Festival
The most celebrated animated film so far this year, Jérémy Clapin’s I Lost My Body claimed the Nespresso Grand Prize in Critics’ Week at Cannes as well as both the Cristal for Best Feature Film and the Audience Prize at Annecy.
INTRO & Q+A w/ DIRECTOR YONFAN
Weathering With You is the highly-anticipated new film from director Makoto Shinkai and producer Genki Kawamura, the creative team behind the critically-acclaimed, global smash hit Your Name.
The summer of his high school freshman year, Hodaka runs away from his remote island home to Tokyo, and quickly finds himself pushed to his financial and personal limits. The weather is unusually gloomy and rainy every day, as if to suggest his future. He lives his days in isolation, but finally finds work as a writer for a mysterious occult magazine. Then one day, Hodaka meets Hina on a busy street corner. This bright and strong-willed girl possesses a strange and wonderful ability: the power to stop the rain and clear the sky. With stunning visuals, depicting both the intricate detail of the Tokyo streets, to the sweeping beauty of a rain streaked sky, Weathering With You combines the artistry and powerful emotional pull that has come to define director Makoto Shinkai’s films.
Already a box office hit in Japan, Weathering With You is Japan’s official International Feature Film entry to the 2020 Academy Awards®. A GKIDS release.
From October 18-20, visit JAPAN HOUSE Library, Level 5 (located in Hollywood & Highland) to see Weathering With You storyboards created by Makoto Shinkai. This exhibit is free, visit www.japanhouse.jp/losangeles for more details.
INTRO & Q+A w/ CO-DIRECTOR JI ZHAO!
Featuring an introduction and a Q&A after the showing with Director Makoto Shinkai.
INTRO & Q+A w/ DIRECTOR ELÉA GOBBÉ-MÉVELLEC
INTRO & Q+A w/ DIRECTOR ANCA DAMIAN
INTRO & Q+A w/ DIRECTOR AYUMU WATANABE
Event will feature world premiere of the 2D version of the film, followed by the making of the film and Q&A with filmmakers.
This event is free to the public, but you must reserve seats to guarantee admission
Q+A with the Filmmakers
Get a sneak peak at new scenes of the eagerly anticipated sequel to the 2012 smash hit Wreck it Ralph, and an exclusive look at the making of the film. Hear from one of the creators herself, writer Pamela Ribon, as she takes you reveals how they brought the famously analog Ralph into the digital era.
Q+A with producer Yoshiaki Nishimura
Q+A with the Filmmakers
Be the first to see exclusive extended footage from the upcoming animated Spidey movie! Key members of the creative team will show how the radical visual approach to the new film was developed, with artists striving to bring the graphic ink and pen look of comic books to state-of-the-art CGI using methods and technologies never employed before. The workshop will take the audience through numerous deconstructed scenes to show step-by-step and layer-by-layer how the characters, backgrounds, and environments were created and set in motion.
Q+A with Filmmaker
Q+A with director Denis Do and producer Sebastien Onomo
Q&A with Director!
Warner Animation presents a special screening of this year’s critical and box office hit, Lego Batman. Event includes Q&A with filmmakers and special guests (check back here for updates) plus Lego Batman audience prizes for all families.
Q&A by producer John Walker
Limited-edition gift for all families!
Plus sneak peek of upcoming Disney • Pixar release, Coco
Celebrate the past, present, and future of the iconic Pixar Animation Studios! Prior to a screening of Academy Award® winner (and beloved favorite) The Incredibles, get a special sneak-peek clip of upcoming Disney•Pixar release Coco before it arrives in theaters Nov. 22nd. After The Incredibles, the film’s producer John Walker joins us to answer your questions about the film and studio. Each guest will also receive a special limited-edition Incredibles 2 art print.