CENTER FOR COMPUTATION & TECHNOLOGY

TigerWeekly By Brian Fontenot The cutting edge world of animation is set to unveil a new festival that organizers hope will do to downtown Baton Rouge what “Jazzfest” has done for New Orleans. Artistic innovators such as those who brought us Finding Nemo and The Incredibles will gather in Baton Rouge April 21 – 23 for the first annual “Red Stick International Animation Festival.” The festival, which is hosted by LSU’s Center for Computation and Technology, will be the first of its kind in the United States. Over three days, Red Stick will feature a combination of animation-related workshops, lectures, screenings, and—of course—awards. Animators from all over the world have submitted work to be judged. “We want to expand the horizons of what people in Louisiana think is possible,” Stacey Simmons, the director of Red Stick, said. “Baton Rouge may not be known for animation historically, but Louisiana has all the pieces to make it happen. The resources, talent, and people are here.” Red Stick’s sister festival, “Animex,” is credited for reviving the once stagnant economy of Middlesbrough, England, a community that is home to the University of Teesside. England’s Animex recently held its 6th annual festival (www.animex.net). ‘Adult Swim’-style late night planned As the kiddies are sent to bed, Red Stick will entertain those of you old enough to appreciate cartoons like “Southpark” and “Aqua Teen Hunger Force.” Screenings that have been dubbed Red Stick’s “After Hours” will feature adult-appropriate animations from comedies such as Cartoon Network’s late night program block “Adult Swim,” Comedy Central’s hit show “Southpark,” as well as grotesque sketches from “Sick and Twisted” innovators Spike and Mike. After Hours begins at 10 p.m. While some creations ignore the rules of American political correctness, incorporate sex and illegal substances to get laughs, other not-for-the-faint-of-heart animations use blood, gore and violence to make an impact. The success of an abundance of animated programming not intended for young viewers reflects a strong adult interest in this type of programming. “College students, specifically male college students, are some of the most devout audiences of adult animation programming,” the Red Stick website said. To preview Spike and Mike’s animations such as “Hangnail,” “Llyod’s Lunch Box” and “Home Honey I’m High” online, log onto www.spikeandmike.com/animations-gallery.htm. To see what “Adult Swim” is all about, tune into Cartoon Network between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., and see popular adult animations such as “Family Guy,” “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex” and “Robot Chicken.” Mark Walsh from Pixar Studios will be leading a class for animation students, art students, and anyone else interested in animation. Walsh worked on “Monsters, Inc.” and was the animation director for “Finding Nemo.” More recently, he worked on the Academy Award winning film, “The Incredibles.” With the recent explosion of celebrity voice acting in full-feature animated films, it is no surprise that animation legend Ed Hooks will be giving a workshop on acting for animators. Hooks has been creating in this unique field for more than two decades. People interested in the popular Japanese animation known as anime can also find something at Red Stick. Anime classics “Ghost in the Shell 1 & 2,” “Spirited Away,” “Princess Mononoke,” and other anime films rarely seen in a theatre setting will be screened for free. LSU professor Darius Spaeth will also be delivering a lecture and screening on the origin of anime. For those of you in touch with the continually morphing world of video games, Red Stick offers a workshop on game development by Clint Ourso, a senior production manager with Volition Games—the creators of games like The Punisher and the Red Faction franchise. Enthusiasts may also view an exhibit of “Kick-Ass Kung Fu,” a revolutionary video game using motion capture cameras. Panel discussions will be held for the animation intellectuals. One will focus on the future of animation, and will feature animal animation specialist Stuart Sumida, former Disney animator Tony West, professional artistic recruiter Rachelle Lewis and independent animator Mark Simon. And don’t leave the kids at home. In addition to programming that caters to the 18-plus crowd, there is an extensive amount of family animation to be seen. Ratings will be available for all screenings to help parents gauge appropriateness. Children friendly free screenings include “The Iron Giant,” “The Powerpuff Girl’s Movie,” “Shrek 1 & 2” and “The Incredibles.” Also, Curtis Jobbling, the designer of the hit children’s television show, “Bob the Builder,” is scheduled to give a workshop for families on animation for free. Red Stick International Animation Festival downtown locations: Louisiana Old State Capitol Louisiana Art and Science Museum Shaw Center for the Arts *all locations within walking distance Schedule of Events A complete schedule can be viewed at www.redstickfestival.org. While some events are free, others workshops and screenings require registration and payment. To purchase a spot for the any of these events you must register online where remaining available seats are displayed.