Bee and Puppycat series premiere on November 6th

Only two more days until the series premiere of "Bee and Puppycat", created by Natasha Allegri. I'll admit, much like "Bravest Warriors", when I first watched the show, I didn't get it. Liked the wit and the character designs, but just didn't get it.

And then I heard Natasha talk about her show at the Toronto Animated Arts Festival International, what it was like to be a show creator, how the Kickstarter campaign surpassed all expectations, and now she's got a series... and I still didn't get it. Eh, had the same problem with "Bravest Warriors" when it came out. So I watched the pilot ten more times.

I still don't get the show, but it really grows on you and, much like the phrase "I am Catbug", I started hearing "you took too long, now your candy's gone... that's what happened" every time I'm standing in the checkout line at the supermarket. So now I'm looking forward to the "Bee and Puppycat" series premiere on Thursday, November 6th at Frederator Studios' Cartoon Hangover YouTube channel.

Now if I can only stop binge watching the previous seasons of "Bravest Warriors" looking for Catbug...

If you haven't seen the pilot yet, watch it below before Thursday!

Women Animators: Auril Thompson (1917 - 2014)

Auril Thompson

On October 3rd, artist and animator Auril Thompson passed away at the age of 97. As was stated on the Women in Animation Facebook post:

"Her career of over fifty years spanned working in Walter Lantz’s building, at Jay Ward’s studio, at Disney, at MGM and in her own ink and paint studio. She collaborated with notables including John Hubley and Chuck Jones..."

For those who are interested in learning a little more about this extraordinary woman of animation, Soraya Fallah produced a short documentary on her life for World's Women for Life back in 2010.

Part One:


Part Two:


Part Three:

And between IMDB and the Internet Animation Database, a partial filmography of her career can be constructed below:

1963
- The Great Rights

1964
- The Hangman
- William Tell Ink and Paint
- Moby Dick Ink and Paint
- Don Quixote de la Mancha

1965
- Snow White
- Rip Van Winkle Ink and Paint
- Don Quixote de la Mancha
- King Arthur Ink and Paint
- The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo
- Mr. Magoo's Dick Tracy and the Mob
- Mr. Magoo's Rip Van Winkle
- The Man from Button Willo

1970
- The Phantom Tollbooth

1980
- Animalympics

1982
- TRON

1991
- Rover Dangerfield


* Photo of Auril Thompson from Women in Animation Facebook post.

Animated News: Kirsten Lepore interviewed on Skwigly

Kristen Lepore

Just in case you missed it, on March 19th, Laura Beth Cowley interviewed stop-motion animator Kirsten Lepore for Skwigly Online Animation Magazine.

Chock full of information on her process and punctuated by her short films (streamed through Vimeo), this interview is an inspirational resource for animators who are straddling the line between producing personal works of art and commercial art for clients.

Excerpts from the audio interview can be read on the Skwigly website at the following link. And the full audio interview can be heard in the second half of their audio podcast found at the following link. Kristen's interview begins around time marker 48:20 (after a short introduction).

Additionally, you can view more of Kristen's films (both personal and for clients) on her website at www.kristenlepore.com.

* photo from Skwigly Online Magazine article: http://www.skwigly.co.uk/interview-director-animator-kirsten-lepore/.

"Rocks in my Pockets" Opens in the United States

Signe in Latvia

After a successful showing in her native Lativa, animator Signe Baumane has brought her first feature-length animated film to North America.

Starting today, September 3rd, and running until September 11th, Rocks In My Pockets will be screening at the IFC Center in New York. As a bonus, Signe will be in attendance for each screening and after four of them, Signe will hold an official Q&A session.

For those who would like to see her film, Signe is hosting a page with all of her North American screenings here.

And if you'd like to know more about Signe's film, you can read a review on the NY Times website as well as visit Signe's website for Rocks In My Pockets. Additionally, Tunde Vollenbroek has just posted his review on Cartoon Brew.

The official trailer for Rocks In My Pockets is below.



* image and video copyright Signe Baumane

Women in Animation Summer News Update #1

Well, just because I've been on a break over the Summer festival season doesn't mean that the industry has slowed down any. So, here's a couple news updates over the past couple months that you might have missed.

1. Medusa to be directed by Lauren Faust
Back in June, Sony pictures announced that they will be producing an animated film based on the Greek mythological character "Medusa" and directed by Lauren Faust, the woman who masterminded the relaunch of Hasbro's My Little Pony franchise. More info can be found at the following Animation Magazine article: "SPA Buys ‘Medusa’; Lauren Faust to Direct".

2. Dawn Brown and crew hard at work on House of Monsters: the stop-motion web series
As per the two latest updates from Dawn Brown, they've finished the lab set and are hard at work on the village set. Best of all, they just received a new 3d printer for creating puppets. If you'd like to follow their progress, be sure to like their Facebook page for more updates.

Christina Miller

3. Christina Miller new President and General Manager at Turner Broadcasting
Back on July 16th, Animation Magazine reported that the former SVP for Cartoon Network Enterprises and former SVP of brand licensing for HIT Entertainment is now in charge of Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and Boomerang. You can read the entire article here.

4. Women In Animation launches mentoring pilot program
This summer, the international organization "Women In Animation" launched a program in the Greater Los Angeles area designed to educate and support women animators in their careers. While the deadline for applicants has passed as of last Friday, if the pilot program is successful, plans are in the works to extend this program in other WIA chapters. More on the program can be read in the following Animation Magazine article: WIA Launches Mentoring Pilot Program.