Hannes Rall

Tradigital Mythmaking-New Asian Design Ideas for Animation

Abstract: The paper will give an overview of Southeast Asian animation and explore how to create content for the multi-cultural puzzle. Singapore, with its vibrant multi-cultural society, provides an ideal springboard for such explorations. The research investigates how to develop new design ideas for animation from Asian art and mythologies.

Biographical statement: The German filmmaker Hannes Rall came to Singapore to join the School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University as an Assistant Professor in 2005. His films have been shown in over 100 film-festivals, exhibitions and screenings worldwide and won multiple awards. These films are informed by the artistic intention to create animation in a genuinely German design style. In his research projects in Singapore he is continuing the approach of creating animation, which is strongly informed by cultural identity. He is exploring new Asian design styles for animation, which are not derived from Western or Japanese concepts.

Shira Avni

Animating Disability: Screening and Discussion

Abstract: Portrayals of people with disabilities remain rare in animated media. The animated documentary uses symbolic imagery to bring personal histories to life, portraying the essence of emotion and memory. Animation is unique in its capacity to address difficult topics in ways that break down people's habitual barriers, subverting prejudices and providing a vehicle for artistic expression and self-advocacy by people with disabilities. Filmmaker Shira Avni will present and discuss excerpts of three films created in collaboration with people who have Down syndrome. She will discuss the animated documentary as well as issues of self-representation of people with disabilities in animation.

Biographical statement: Shira Avni has been an animation filmmaker at the National Film Board of Canada since 1997, and is currently an Assistant Professor of Animation at Concordia University. Her current research looks at animation, documentary, and the Disability Arts movement. Avni’s recent film, John and Michael, a tender love story between two men with Down syndrome, garnered 18 international awards and grants. John and Michael screened in over 60 festivals worldwide, as well as on PBS, CBC, and TV5 television networks. Tying Your Own Shoes, a collaborative animated documentary completed in the summer of 2009, provides an intimate glimpse into the lives of four artists with Down syndrome.

Raz Greenberg

The Israeli Animation of Jewish Tradition in "The Animated Haggadah"

Abstract: The paper examines the Israel television special "The Animated Haggadah" (1985), directed by Rony Oren. The special remains a rare example of Israeli animation that managed to become successful both in the international market, and among Israeli audience. The Animated Haggadah" is also a unique example for Israeli animation that builds upon and links between the visual tradition of both Jewish and Israeli cultures. Using clay models, the animated special dramatizes both the text and the different rituals related to the Passover holiday feast, linking Israeli modern life with the traditional Jewish tale of exile, exodus, and return to the homeland.

Biographical Statement: Raz Greenberg is a PhD student at the Communication Studies Department of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His research aims at building an overall theoretical framework for animation, focusing on the definition of animation as text, and the analysis of such text. In addition, Raz also researches how Jewish culture – in Israel and around the world – has influenced the development of comics and animation in the media.

Travel to and around Edinburgh

BY AIR
Edinburgh International Airport is only 12 kilometres (8 miles) from the city centre and has very good connections to the city via taxi, express coach and bus. Over 100 destinations are served by more than 40 airlines including New York, Amsterdam, Brussels, Geneva, Frankfurt, Paris, Prague, Madrid, Munich, Stockholm and Warsaw. There are over 100 flights from London airports every day, and numerous flights to other major cities in the UK including Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol.

See www.edinburghairport.com for full information

From Edinburgh Airport to the city
• Taxi – no need to book, always available at the Airport taxi rank - approx £18-20
• Express bus - Airlink 100 – every 10 minutes, (approx 25 minutes to Waverly Bridge) £3.50 each way, return £6
(Edinburgh Convention Bureau have negotiated a special rate for the Airlink bus (& bus tours) if you book online here)
• Lothian buses service 35, and night bus N22


Glasgow airport (approx 55 miles) also serves several international destinations and has a good bus service direct to Glasgow Buchanan Street Bus Station and Queen Street train station, both of which have frequent direct links to Edinburgh.
http://www.glasgowairport.com/


BY TRAIN
Edinburgh is approximately 4 ½ hours by train from London, and there are great rail links to other major UK cities – York, Newcastle, Inverness and Aberdeen are all around two hours away by train. Glasgow is just 50 minutes, with a shuttle service running every 15 minutes. The high-speed link to London gets you from the heart of one city to the other in just over four hours, while the Eurostar service connects Paris to Edinburgh in around eight hours.
See www.nationalrail.co.uk

The city’s main station is Edinburgh Waverley Station. Some trains will also stop at Edinburgh Haymarket station. The College is conveniently situated between the two, about a 15 minute walk from each. Taxis are also widely available at the stations, or you can catch a bus (see Transport within Edinburgh below).

BY ROAD
Motorways and a network of quiet trunk roads ensure Edinburgh is easily accessible by road.

The recently-refurbished coach station at St Andrew Square in the heart of the city offers connections to all major cities in Britain.
See www.nationalexpress.com

TRANSPORT WITHIN EDINBURGH
Edinburgh is a very easy city to get around in. It has a good public transport network and many of the city's attractions are within walking distance of the city centre.
Edinburgh's public transport systems are excellent. There is a comprehensive network of bus routes in and around town. Lothian Buses services 23, 27, 35 and 45 stop on Lauriston Place, outside Edinburgh College of Art.

Visit www.lothianbuses.co.uk for timetables and maps

Taxis in the city are numerous with several black cab companies. These taxis (similar to those in London) can be hailed on the street. There are also private hire companies, but these need to be called and booked first.

EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF ART
Edinburgh College of Art is located on one campus in the heart of the historic Old Town of Edinburgh. Many of its studios have breathtaking views of the spectacular skyline dominated by Edinburgh Castle.

Postal address:
Edinburgh College of Art
Lauriston Place
Edinburgh
EH3 9DF
Scotland
United Kingdom

Early schedule intormation

Hello everyone

Though the schedule and panel details will be confirmed later on, in the interest of helping people plan travel, I can tell you a little about the conference schedule.

Registration will start on Friday 9th at 8-9am with the conference starting just after.
Each day will run approx 9-6 (with some variations). The conference will end on Sunday 11th at 6pm.

Registration will also be available on Saturday morning (late arriving delegates can still register throughout but there wont be a dedicated table for the whole weekend).

There will be a surprise event early Friday evening and a conference party (catered) on Saturday night. Football fans dont worry, you will be able to watch the World Cup runners up game from the party venue on Saturday, and we will be finished with plenty of time before the final.

If anyone has any questions please mail me at animationevolution@animationstudies.org

I'll be posting travel information soon.
Nichola

Registration and Accommodation Booking Now Available

Edinburgh Convention Bureau has negotiated hotel rates for Animation Evolution, 09 – 11 July 2010 and is pleased to offer a free online accommodation/registration booking service to delegates attending this meeting. (Hotel Rates 8-11th inclusive)

To register for the conference and to view and book the various accommodation options please click on the link below.

Animation Evolution Booking

Credit card details are required to register for the conference and to make an accommodation booking and the confirmation will be sent directly to your e-mail address. Please note payment for registration is taken at the end of the booking process; in the WorldPay section. Payment for the accommodation should be made directly with the accommodation provider at the time of your stay. If you require registration booking only, please click "continue" at the very bottom of the page to go through without accommodation.

To contact Edinburgh Convention Bureau, either e-mail: bookings@conventionedinburgh.com or telephone on +44 (0) 131 473 3874.

Review process complete

The review panel have completed their long task and the responses have now been sent out. If you have not received a response to your proposal please email animationevolution@animationstudies.org

My thanks to the panel who worked very quickly and patiently through an unprecedented number of submissions.

As presenters confirm their places we will be putting together the schedule which will be listed on the website.

Registration and accommodation bookings, as well as travel information, will soon be available online. Keep checking here for updates.

See you in July!